Text: 1 Samuel 1:1-20
(1) Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: (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. (3) 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. (6) 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? (9) 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. (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 the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. (12) 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. (18) And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. (19) 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.
Shiloh = Tranquil.[1] A description for the Messiah, but also a description of the Church.
A safe place. A habitation of peace.
She came to the Tabernacle, to safety, to pray and to pour out her sorrow.
Samuel = heard of God.[2]
God heard her prayer and he remembered her.
She left Shiloh to go home with a promise from the man of God.
Make sure that when you say, “the Lord said,” that the LORD truly said it.
So many of our people are already broken-hearted and don’t deserve the added burden of a false word.
The reason they leave isn’t that they are disappointed in God, but they are hurt from the false word of propheliars (those who speak a false prophetic word).
Elkanah was a Levite, as was his son Samuel and Samuel’s grandson Heman:
(33) And these are they that waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel [Samuel], (34) The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, (35) The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, (36) The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, (37) The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, (38) The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.[3]
Heman = Faithful[4]
He was “the chief of the singers…composed psalms and hymns, which are in the book of Psalms.”[5]
Heman wrote Psalm 88. The most sorrowful and despairing psalm of the 150, it ends without any resolution.
Still, Heman keeps his focus on God, despite questioning God. “Why” is ok.
Like his great-grandmother Hannah, even though he feels forgotten he continues faithfully praying, seeking and worshipping God.
The psalm ends with no answer, but Heman never gives up His belief that God is the only source of deliverance and salvation.
Psalms 88:1-18 (A song and a psalm by the people of Korah for the music leader. To the tune “Mahalath Leannoth.” A special psalm by Heman the Ezrahite.)
(1) You keep me safe, LORD God. So when I pray at night, (2) please listen carefully to each of my concerns. (3) I am deeply troubled and close to death; (4) I am as good as dead and completely helpless. (5) I am no better off than those in the grave, those you have forgotten and no longer help. (6) You have put me in the deepest and darkest grave; (7) your anger rolls over me like ocean waves. (8) You have made my friends turn in horror from me. I am a prisoner who cannot escape, (9) and I am almost blind because of my sorrow. Each day I lift my hands in prayer to you, LORD. (10) Do you work miracles for the dead? Do they stand up and praise you? (11) Are your love and loyalty announced in the world of the dead? (12) Do they know of your miracles or your saving power in the dark world below where all is forgotten? (13) Each morning I pray to you, LORD. (14) Why do you reject me? Why do you turn from me? (15) Ever since I was a child, I have been sick and close to death. You have terrified me and made me helpless. (16) Your anger is like a flood! And I am shattered by your furious attacks (17) that strike each day and from every side. (18) My friends and neighbors have turned against me because of you, and now darkness is my only companion.
God hears your prayer, even when you don’t think He does.
God hears Your whispers.
Samuel then heard God: Samuel! Samuel! — Speak for thy servant heareth.
[1] Strong’s. H7886.
[2] Strong’s. H8050.
[3] 1 Chronicles 6:33-38
[4] Strong’s. H1968.
[5] John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible. 1 Chr. 6:33-38.
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