Word of the Day: Devoted
Dedicated or consecrated
Hanna was the wife of Elkanah, her husband belonged to the Levi tribe. Hanna's name meant "gracious" which is the same meaning for these other names: Anna, Ann, and Anne. Elkanah was considered to be a godly man but practiced polygamy which was the custom in those days and it brought marital problems due to having two wives and not being approved by God.
The Bible does not tell us which one was the first wife, some scholars suggest that the other wife Peninnah might have been the second wife due to Hanna being barren.
1 Samuel 1:2
And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
Hanna traveled to Shiloh the national place of worship with her husband and the other wife Peninnah who have given Elkanah sons and daughters. Shiloh had become the place to rest for the tabernacle and the religious center to worship and to sacrifice for Israel. Shiloh was situated about 20 miles north of Jerusalem. Although, Hanna was barren the Bible says that her husband loved her and treated her tenderly.
1 Samuel 1:3–5
And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.
4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.
But Peninnah was jealous of Hanna and made her life miserable every time they went up the hill to worship the Lord. Therefore, Hanna wept and did not eat, and although her husband was godly he did not know how to talk to a woman as they don't see our burdens the same way we do. Don't take this as a bad thing, that is how God created men. As the years went by her agony grew and became more intense as she wanted to have a child. And even though, the Lord shut her womb her heart was still open to seek Him.
1 Samuel 1:6–8
And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.
7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
Her pain found refuge in the Lord, and this is exactly what we all need to do, our burdens or trials should get us closer to Him. Hanna felt the need to rise after they had eaten in Shiloh, she prayed, cried in anguish and just poured her heart to God. Has there ever been a time when you have prayed for a son or a daughter in their bedroom or outside their doors with some much anguish? I have and this is something we all mothers need to do more often.
1 Samuel 1:9–10
So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.
Hanna made a vow to the Lord and this was a serious vow. She pledges to the Lord that if He gave her a son she would consecrate this son as a Nazarite meaning that no razor would come upon this child. This child was going to serve God for the rest of his days.
1 Samuel 1:11
And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto theLordall the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
Her prayer was internal, her lips moved but words did not come out and because of the sound she was making Eli the priest thought she was drunk and asked her to put the wine away. Hanna made it clear that she was not drunk and told Eli that she was a woman of a sorrowful spirit. Eli then responded "Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked him".
1 Samuel 1:12–17
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.
13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.
16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
This is what I love about Hanna the Bible says that she ate and was no longer sad, this means that right after she poured her heart to the Lord, she did not carry that burden anymore, she left it there at the place where she made her altar. This is something we need to apply in our lives when we have an agony in our hearts, we need to nail to the cross (pour our hearts) and move on as Hanna did.
1 Samuel 1:18
…So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
Hanna conceived the son she had been wishing for so long and his name was Samuel "because I have asked him of the Lord". When she was no longer nursing her son she took him unto the house of the Lord.
1 Samuel 1:19–20, 24
And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.
20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.
24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young.
Conclusion: For any trial or burden that we may carry Hanna teaches us that we have to leave it at the altar, let's not carry them for we are not designed to carry our burdens.
*Please let me know if this post has been a blessing to you through a comment, for it would be a blessing for me to know.
have added some verses down below for those who are not sure if heaven is your future home. Please share with me if you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior through this post. I will be happy to rejoice with you!
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:9–13
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