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1 Samuel

1 Samuel 1

The family of Elkanah
Hannah's vow

1 Samuel 1:1

The name of this city, Ramathaim, means high place dedicated to idols.  This may be named such because that was what it previously was.  Although, coming out the time of Judges it is very possible this was a place that actively worshiped idols.  This certainly can't be dismissed.  While this city was in the mountains of Ephraim, it was located in Benjamin.  Elkanah was a Levite from a line of Levites.  Zuph may be called an Ephraimite because he was living there. 

There in this place was a certain man.  His name meant redeemed, possessed by God.  In this time of the Judges, this man's faithfulness would have been noteworthy.  God always has a remnant. 

 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

 

1 Samuel 1:2-3

Elkanah had two wives.  This was common in the Old Testament but shouldn't be taken as God's stamp of approval.  It is always a source of contention and problems, as it is here when one has children and the other does not. 

Elkanah went yearly to the tabernacle to worship as prescribed by the law.  This shows the faithfulness of Elkanah in spite of the presence of Eli's wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas. 

 

1 Samuel 1:4-7

Hannah means grace.  The inability to have children made Hannah miserable; she felt as though she couldn't do as a woman was supposed to do.  It made it worse that Peninnah rubbed salt in the wound.  Elkanah had compassion and love for Hannah and honored her with a double portion when they ate their portion of the offering (Deuteronomy 12:17-18)

 

1 Samuel 1:8-11

Hannah was terribly grieved, even beyond what Elkanah could understand.  Hannah didn't wallow in self pity though; she took her problem to the Lord.  She wept before the Lord and asked that the Lord would not forget her.  She wanted a child and if the Lord gave her a child, she would give that child right back to the Lord.  Hannah made a Nazarite vow.  She is willingly offering her very best, here only to the Lord. 

A Nazarite vow was usually made for a specified period of time.  But this vow was from Birth.  Samson's parents made a similar vow. 

 

1 Samuel 1:12-18

Was it common for someone to come into the tabernacle drunk?  I hope not.  But Eli observed Hannah praying and thought just that.  Upon rebuking her, Hannah sets Eli straight.  She was a woman of sorrowed spirit who cried to the Lord out of the abundance of her complaint and grief.  It seems Eli wasn't used to seeing this at all.  Having been corrected, Eli blessed her.  Hannah goes away and is no longer sad.  In this we can see her faith and trust in the Lord.  She had turned the problem over to Him.  She had unburdened her soul before the Lord.

 

1 Samuel 1:19-20

The Lord blessed Hannah and Elkanah with a child.  This happened in the course of time.  We get impatient with prayers that take time to answer.  We often give up on God and forget what we even prayed for.  Hannah's prayer was answered; she had a son and called him Samuel because God had heard her request.  Samuel means "Asked of God". 

 

1 Samuel 1:21-23

It's probably safe to assume Hannah wasn't in a hurry to deliver Samuel to the Lord.  It was normal for a child not to be weaned until he was two or three years old.  Elkanah is okay with her decision but gently reminds her to do what was promised and let the Lord establish His word. 

A modern day argument against honoring the promise might sound like this:

  • I changed my mind; its a mother's perrogative.
  • God doesn't want me to be unhappy, so I'm not honoring the vow.
  • He can be a Nazirite here in Ramah and serve the Lord here.

We could probably go on and on thinking of all the excuses we might come up with.  Giving her child up this way wasn't any easier for her in that day than it would be for any of us to give up our child.  To honor the promise three years or more after the face requires integrity and character.  While most people didn't know or care about this vow, God knew.  That made it important to Elkanah and Hannah.

 

1 Samuel 1:24-28

How hard would it be to worship the Lord as you gave up your child?  Elkanah and Hannah were faithful in the worship of the Lord.  Hannah fulfills the vow to put her son in the service of the Lord all his days.  The Lord will establish His word through his faithful followers

 

©2015 Doug Ford