Our passage today, takes place during the time when judges ruled Israel; Eli was one of the judges. Every year Elkanah, a Levite [involved in public worship], traveled to Shiloh to offer sacrifices at the tabernacle. Elkanah, was married to Hannah who had been unable to bear children. Remaining childless was emotionally and socially painful for Hannah. Over time, she became very discouraged in her barrenness; she found her self-worth being destroyed and, for a season, tears simply filled her life. She quit eating. But she did not seek to mistreat others or act out of her discouragement in a resentful manner; instead, she continually prayed to the Lord and committed the child to the work of his glory.
As Hannah was praying in the tabernacle during the celebration of one of God’s feasts, Eli noticed her weeping and distress, but he terribly misunderstood the cause and falsely accused her. When Hannah responded with the truth and spoke of what she needed to Eli, God heard and made a promise to her. Once she was able to take the Lord’s promise to heart and believe, that Word began living and growing in her to give birth to her promise.
Spiritual barrenness leaves a person dry [poor in spirit] with little hope to give birth to a promise or dream. Certainly, barrenness goes with a time of long-suffering and waiting. Sometimes God’s people can get weary of the wait: not bringing to birth those things for which our hearts most greatly desire. Like Hannah, we may be hoping for a child; however, barrenness might be waiting for the restoration of a relationship, the ability to get ahead financially, success of a business venture, the ability to advance in God’s plan for your life, or the vibrant growth of a ministry. Waiting is a part of the spiritual journey [a wilderness] and we cannot give bitterness room to grow; we must keep eating the Word of God, because provision comes from God. Hannah’s promise gives us hope as we continue to trust God.
1 Samuel 1:9-18 NLT Hannah’s Prayer for a Son
9 Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh [religious center of the nation], Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. 10 Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. 11 And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.”
12 As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. 13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. 14 “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!”
15 “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. 16 Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”
17 “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”
18 “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for our lesson today from Hannah. We can all experience a sense of spiritual barrenness; life can be very difficult and we may even be weary of the wait, today. Yet, we know you are faithful and as we pray and pour our hearts out to you, we know you hear our prayers and will fill our lives with good things. We also know it is your delight to give us the desires of our hearts. So, Holy Spirit, please help us to press on and resist the desire to stop feeding on your Word. Thank you for the Living Word who is our salvation and Hope. In Jesus’ name. Amen.