By The Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist

Read 1 Samuel 1:1-2:12

The Rev. Ron Purkey

“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” (1 Samuel 1:15).

First, Hannah’s sorrow (1 Samuel 1:1-10). While God’s perfect pattern for the family from the very beginning had been one husband and one wife, “because of the hardness of men’s hearts” (Matthew 19:8), God permitted polygamy. See Deuteronomy 21:15-17. Elkanah was a godly man but he had a divided home, and his favorite wife, Hannah (“grace”), carried a constant burden of sorrow because of her barrenness and because of the persecution of the other wife.

Second, Hannah’s supplication (1 Samuel 1:11-19). Hannah was a woman of prayer, so it is no surprise to find her son Samuel a great man of prayer. So burdened was her heart that Hannah left the feast without eating and went to the tabernacle to pray. (The world “temple” in 1 Samuel 1:9 simply means “a large public building” and does not refer to Solomon’s temple which had not yet been built.)

Hannah did not “bargain” with the Lord; rather, she proved her spirituality by willingly offering God her best — her firstborn son. Verse 21 suggests that her husband agreed with the vow; see also Numbers 30:6-16. The Nazarite regulations are found in Numbers 6. Eli, the high priest, certainly judged Hannah severely (Matthew 7:1-5), especially considering that his own sons were “sons of Belial (Satan)” (see 1 Samuel 2:12).

Third, Hannah’s surrender (1 Samuel 1:20-28). God answered Hannah’s prayers and sent a son, so she named him Samuel, “asked of the Lord.” Jewish women weaned their children at about the age of 3; at that time Hannah took Samuel to Eli and fulfilled her vow to the Lord.

The three bullocks were probably for the sin offering, burnt offering, and special offering for the Nazarite vow; see Numbers 15:8. “For this child I prayed.” What a testimony from a godly mother! See 2 Timothy 1:5. If we had more parents like Elkanah and Hannah, we would have more godly people like Samuel. “Lent” means “given;” Samuel belonged to the Lord for the rest of his life.

Fourth, Hannah’s son (1 Samuel 2:1-12). While Elkanah was worshiping (1 Samuel 1:28), his wife was praying and praising God. Compare this passage with Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-55. In both cases, the women praise God for his victory and for honoring the prayers of the humble. Notice the two names of Christ in 1 Samuel 2:10—“His King” and “His Anointed” (Messiah, Christ)—for Hannah’s burden was for the glory of the Lord among his people. Hannah certainly exemplifies a godly mother, for she put God first, she believed in prayer, she kept her vows, and she gave God all the glory.

Read Ron Purkey’s Bible study outlines free at rcpbibleoutlines.com. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.