Hannah’s Little Temple Tot

1 Samuel Chapters 1 - 3

- When we are first introduced to Hannah, it is written that the LORD had closed her womb. Every year as a family Hannah, her Husband Elkanah and his other wife and kids went up to Shiloh and presented their sacrifices to the LORD. Elkanah gave offering portions to Peninnah and her kids and also to Hannah. Every year Elkanah’s other wife would provoke Hannah and make her cry because she was childless, but this year was different.

- It was Hannah alone that went to pray to GOD for a child, not both of them as a couple because for Elkanah it was not important. Up to this point the yearly visits, sacrifices, and worship were expected things to do, but GOD was not part of the equation. Does that describe some of our present day Church gatherings and activities?

- Again GOD’s timing is perfect, Hannah is praying at the same time Eli is sitting by the door post to the Temple. Coincidence? because of their interaction and conversation, Eli not only learns that the woman is not drunk as he supposed, but Hannah explains she was speaking to the LORD out of great anxiety and vexation.

- It is written that GOD remembered Hannah (answered her prayer) and she conceived a son and named him Samuel, because she asked the LORD for him.

- When Samuel is weaned he is taken to the tabernacle at Shiloh and presented to the LORD he is given into Eli’s care. This would put little Samuel somewhere between 2 and 4 years of age. Eli is reminded that little Samuel is GOD’s answer to Hannah’s prayer about which they had a conversation at the door post of the Temple.

- Hannah’s prayer is full of interesting points, first there is no one like GOD, second he is a GOD of knowledge, Third he turns all the devices of man and life topsy-turvy, Fourth she mentions the adversaries of the LORD will be broken in pieces, interesting who are they? Fifth, He will give strength to his king, wait what? Israel doesn’t have a king yet. Finally GOD will exalt the horn of his anointed, is she referring to the Messiah? I think if the Adversary wasn’t paying attention he would be now, who is this kid, who is Samuel?

- Eli’s two sons Hophni and Phinehas, both Levites, priests, sons of the High Priest, that should have known God, but they did not. In 1 Samuel 2:12 it describes them as worthless men, they did not know the LORD.

- They took offerings that were meant for GOD, threatened people for their offerings, used their power and position for sexual gratification. Times may change, but similar types of religious leaders in authority do not.

- In verse 22 it is written that Eli was old and he kept hearing about what his two sons, were doing. He had heard about these things before and chose his sons over the LORD and chose not to address the problem. Then when it’s to late he finally confronts them about their sin and they refuse to listen.

- GOD sends a human messenger to Eli to declare the judgement on his family because Eli chose to honour his sons above the LORD. Eli’s sons would both die on the same day and the Priesthood would return to Eleazar's descendants and no longer be in the house of Ithamar.

- Now when Hannah went up to the temple yearly to present her sacrifices, she would bring things like clothes, for little Samuel and every time Hannah visited her son she was reminded that GOD indeed hears our prayers, also she got to spend time with and her answered prayer. The LORD also blessed Hannah with more children, three sons and two daughters.

Considering the many times Hannah had gone up to Shiloh, when she finally decides to take her troubles to GOD directly, this makes me wonder if sometimes it’s not us waiting for something to happen because we say we are GOD’s people, but it’s GOD patiently waiting on us to finally come and have a conversation and ask for his help. Are we waiting on GOD or is GOD waiting on us?

Next – No Sleep, No Priest, No glory, No good.