19 Early the next morning THEY AROSE AND WORSHIPPED BEFORE THE LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife and THE LORD REMEMBERED HER. 1 Samuel 1
We said yesterday, the Longest Day, June 21, that the earth had come to a Change/Turning Point, the days had begun to shorten very slowly. Hannah, had prayed out of her great anguish for a son, because of the malicious taunting of her rival, Peninnah. The thing which hurt her the most, was what finally drove her in great desperation to the Lord. The greater purposes of God for a life may only be accomplished through pain and suffering, but we must never look to assume that role of ourselves.
10 GODLY SORROW BRINGS REPENTANCE that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but WORLDLY SORROW BRINGS DEATH. 2 Corinthians 7
Paul makes a clear distinction between these two types of Sorrow. One is for God’s purposes and may require pain and sacrifice, (The Lord’s Crucifixion) but the other brings only death.
12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli OBSERVED HER MOUTH. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli THOUGHT SHE WAS DRUNK 14 and said to her, ‘How long will you keep getting drunk? Get rid of your wine.’ 1 Samuel 1
It’s interesting that the old priest assumed Hannah was under the influence of alcohol and not God’s Spirit. There are some similarities, but Hannah wasn’t talking to herself, she’d come to plead with God. Alcohol can provide a brief lift for an anxious soul, but it’s only temporary and the aftertaste may be terrible.
Hannah was respectful, but refuted Eli’s accusation, stating her motives were pure. People who are earnestly seeking God are often misunderstood and berated by others!
15 ‘Not so, my lord,’ Hannah replied, ‘I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.’
Eli repented of his words to Hannah and instead spoke a blessing over her, which as the Priest at Shiloh, he was well able to do.
18 She said, ‘May your servant find favour in your eyes.’ Then she went her way and ate something, and HER FACE WAS NO LONGER DOWNCAST.
Hannah had Peace of mind and heart, she was no longer clothed in sadness and God had received the Promise He needed. How remarkable that the opening verses of Hannah’s prayer were quoted by Mary when she too was pregnant with the Messiah, in Luke 1:46-53.
God’s Hand is many times at work in ways unseen in the lives of individual believers and on the level of the nations. Surely we live in such a Change Point in our present world.
God bless and keep you today.