A Prayer and a Promise

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 1 Samuel 1:1-18

TO CHEW ON: “'Not so, my lord,' Hannah replied. 'I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer. I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.'” 1 Samuel 1:15

An Israelite man named Elkanah had two wives. Their names were Peninnah and Hannah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. This made her very sad.

Whenever the family went on their yearly trip to Shiloh to worship at the temple, Elkanah would give Hannah an offering twice as big as Peninnah’s because he loved her even though she didn’t have children. Then Peninnah, jealous of Hannah's big offering, teased Hannah and reminded her that she didn’t have the one thing she wanted most - a child.

One year, when this happened again, Hannah was so distressed she couldn’t even eat. Instead she went by herself to the temple to pray. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she silently talked to God, only moving her lips. She begged for a son. She even made a promise or vow to God. If God would give her a son, she would (1 Samuel 1:11) _______________

The priest Eli was sitting in the temple watching her. He saw her tears and her lips moving but no sound coming out. He thought she was drunk. “How long will you keep on getting drunk?” he asked her roughly. “Get rid of your wine!”

“Oh no, I’m not drunk,” Hannah replied. “I’m desperate. I’ve been praying to God out of anguish and grief.”

Then Eli saw that he’d been all wrong about Hannah. “Go in peace,” he said. “God will do what you have asked Him.”

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