The beauty of commitment
God almighty, the creator of all things and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is a God of new beginnings. When we’re given a new start by Him, we’re called to hold tightly to Him through the changes that come, surrender to Him in every area of our lives and commit ourselves fully to Him. Hanna and her son Samuel are a great example of this kind of commitment to God, and reveals to us the great blessing of starting a new with Him every day through faith in Jesus Christ and by the power of His Holy Spirit..
Scripture
1 Samuel 1:12-18 ESV As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. [13] Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. [14] And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” [15] But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. [16] Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” [17] Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” [18] And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
Bible Study Questions
Hanna’s pain
Wherever polygamy is mentioned in scripture it associated with conflict, sin, and suffering. We don’t know why Elkanah chose to marry two wives, but since Hanna is mentioned first, it’s possible he married Peninnah because Hanna was unable to give him an heir. What do you think this situation would have done to Hanna’s sense of purpose and value?
1 Samuel 1:1-2 ESV There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. [2] 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.
1 Samuel 1:6-7 ESV And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. [7] So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.
Hanna’s promise
Hanna prays earnestly for a son. She may be seen to be bargaining with the Lord, or perhaps she is showing deep gratitude in faith, before her prayers are answered. Regardless of her motive, what qualities of God is she placing all her faith in?
1 Samuel 1:10-11 ESV She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. [11] And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
Psalms 116:5-9 ESV Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful. [6] The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. [7] Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. [8] For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; [9] I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
Numbers 6:1-5 ESV And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, [3] he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried. [4] All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. [5] “All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the LORD, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long.
Hanna’s wrestling
How would you define Hann’s interaction with God in prayer, reading from verse 10-16 what can we see about the way she was praying? Was Hanna earnest, honest and fervent in prayer?
1 Samuel 1:12-14 ESV As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. [13] Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. [14] And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” [15] But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. [16] Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” [17] Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”
Hanna’s answered prayer
God graciously answers Hanna’s prayer. What does Hanna’s choice of name for the boy tell us about what she has learned about the character of God?
1 Samuel 1:18-20 ESV And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. [19] They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. [20] And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the LORD.”
Hanna’s faithfulness
It’s one thing to make promises to God especially one as deep and demanding as Hanna’s, but it’s quite another to keep that promise. How difficult do you think it was for Hanna to send Samuel into God’s service and to see him once a year from the age of about 4?
1 Samuel 1:26-28 ESV And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. [27] For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him. [28] Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.
Hanna’s commitment
Hanna has been faithful to God after He changed her life by answering her prayer. In this new beginning Hanna continues to honour God and God continue to bless her. Do you think that a large family is God’s greatest blessing to Hanna, when she only asked for one son?
1 Samuel 2:19-21 ESV And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. [20] Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the LORD give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the LORD.” So then they would return to their home. [21] Indeed the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD.
The Lord God’s blessing
The Lord blesses Hanna and her son Samuel for her love, faith and commitment. How is Hanna blessed, apart from being given a family? What does her prayer tell you about her relationship with God, and how He has revealed Himself to her? How was Samuel blessed by the Lord God, and how does his name testify to God’s blessing his mother and himself?
1 Samuel 2:8-10 ESV He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and on them he has set the world. [9] “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. [10] The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
Luke 1:50-55 ESV And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. [51] He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; [52] he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; [53] he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. [54] He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, [55] as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
1 Samuel 3:19-20 ESV And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. [20] And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD.