FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL
continued

CHAPTER 1  VERSES 19 - 28
CHAPTER 2  VERSES 1 - 26

If you wish to scroll down to the theology and reflection
it is following the Scripture passage below

They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elka'nah 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 him of the LORD."
[21] And the man Elka'nah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice,
and to pay his vow. [22] But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "As soon as the child
is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the LORD, and abide there for ever."
[23] Elka'nah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only, may the LORD establish his word." So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him.
[24] And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine; and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh; and the child was young.
[25] Then they slew the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.
[26] 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 which 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 they worshiped the LORD there.

CHAPTER TWO
[1]
Hannah also prayed and said,
"My heart exults in the LORD;
my strength is exalted in the LORD.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in thy salvation.
[2] "There is none holy like the LORD,
there is none besides thee;
there is no rock like our God.
[3] Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the LORD is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
[4] The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble gird on strength.
[5] Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
[6] The LORD kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
[7] The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low, he also exalts.
[8] 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 power of his anointed."
[11]
Then Elka'nah went home to Ramah. And the boy ministered to the LORD, in the presence of Eli the priest.

[12] Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they had no regard for the LORD.
[13] The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand,
[14] and he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. So they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
[15] Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, "Give meat for the priest to roast; for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but raw."
[16] And if the man said to him, "Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish," he would say, "No, you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force."
[17] Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD; for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt.
[18] Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy girded with a linen ephod.
[19] 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 Elka'nah and his wife, and say, "The LORD give you children by this woman for the loan which she lent to the LORD"; so then they would return to their home.
[21] And 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.

[22] Now Eli was very old, and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
[23] And he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.
[24] No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad.
[25] If a man sins against a man, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father; for it was the will of the LORD to slay them.
[26] Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men.

THEOLOGY AND REFLECTION
CHAPTER 1  VERSES 19 - 28
CHAPTER 2  VERSES 1 - 11

Hannah and Elikanah are blessed with their son Samuel, their first born .
How did Hannah express her gratitude ?
1. An offering Chapter 1 Verses 21 and 24
    Elkamah is the first to offer sacrifice to God and to fulfil his vow. Verse 21
    Later after Samuel is weaned Hannah herself
    went to God at Shiloh to offer sacrifice.
    Hannah's sacrifice of ' a three year old bull,
    ephah of flour and a skin of wine' ( verse 24 )
    is great indeed. She truly offered her first fruits to God.
    She then offers her son Samuel
    to Eli entrusting her first born son to the service of God. Verse 26 - 28

2. Hannah's Prayer  Chapter 2 Verses 1 - 10
    a. Hannah's prayer is in the form of a psalm - thus it is a masterful poem ;
        a literary piece of stanzas and great breath.
    b. It is a Prayer to God - it is addressed to God. It is full on praise.
        There is not one petition here.
    c. Hannah's personal prayer / personal psalm is part of Scriptures .
       Since it is part of the Bible it becomes no longer personal
        but one that all God's people can pray.
       This is extremely significant.
    d. Since Hannah's personal prayer is part of Scriptures this means
        that it was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
        All the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit and thus true of this prayer.
    e. One's personal prayer always reflects the world and the community of faith.
        No prayer is ever isolated in itself just as
        no person of prayer is isolated in themselves.
        Thus Hannah uses the images and words of her People - the Chosen Ones.
        This is why she
        - call God ' rock ' ( verse 2 )
                 See also Deuteronomy 32: 30 - 31 )
        - states that God humbles the proud and raises the lowly
                 As He always did
        - states that the barren one shall bear seven fold
                 Seven the perfect number in the Bible
        - proclaims that God's enemies will be scattered
                 He has done this in Bible to this point
     f. The focus is on God.
        Hannah's prayer is not about her pain, or her sufferings or even her blessings
        but is totally focused on God. It is all about God's purpose.
        Hannah has seen it and now proclaims it.
    g. Hannah's prayer is prophetic.
        Verse 10 - Hannah is the one to speak for the first time in the
        Bible of God's Anointed One, the Messiah.
        How wonderful that this woman of faith
        is the first to prophesy of the Lord's Anointed.
        That God will endow His King with strength.
        This is in contrast to the conclusion of the Book of Judges
        when the people cry out for a king like all of the other nations.
        Hannah speaks of the King of Kings.
     h. Hannah is obedient. She fulfils her vow.
         Contrast this with Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas and their outright disobedience.
     i. The theme of Hannah's prayer is quite clear -
        that people who are apparently unimportant become important
        and those who appear important become unimportant.
        This was Hannah's experience. It may our experience too.

CHAPTER 2  VERSES 11 - 26

Verse 11
Hannah's prayer is followed by her action
It is an act of trust, She leaves her only and first born son Samuel

Verse 12 - 17
The faithfulness of Hannah and the faith of Samuel is contrasted
with the sons of Eli - Hophni and Phinehas
As Jewish priests of Yahweh they were allotted portions of the sacrifice.
Since they were of the tribe of Levi ,
the priests of the Lord they were not given any land in the Promised Land
but were allocated part of the people's sacrifices to live on.
There were strict laws of what and how and how much they were to be given.
Yet Eli's sons took far too much and took it at the inappropriate time during the sacrifice.
See Leviticus 7:28 / Numbers 18 : 8 / Deuteronomy 18 : 3 - 4

Verse 18
The faith of Samuel is contrasted with that of Eil's sons Hophni and Phinehas
Samuel serves   verse 2:1
     Liturgical sins of Eli's sons  verses 2:12 - 17
Samuel serves    verse 2:18 - 21
     Moral sins of Eli's sons   verses 2:22- 25
Samuel serves     verse 2:26
     Prophecy of Judgement upon Eli's sons  verses 2: 27 - 36
Samuel serves     verse 3:1

Verse 18 also gives us a beautiful scene of Hannah and Elkanah
bringing a new robe each year to their son.
Although they continue to be part of his life and influence him
they ( by the robe ) show their honour.

Verse 21
God, through Eli, blesses Hannah and Elkanah.
Hannah bears 3 sons and 2 daughters thus a total of 6 children.
Do remember that Hannah's prayer was for one son - God has blessed her 6 times over !

QUESTIONS

1. Hannah's Prayer is so beautiful.  When did you praise God? How? Do it now !
    When did you last praise someone ?

2. Hannah's petition was for one son. God gave her six children.
    Has God ever given you more blessings than you even prayed for ? When ?