We often speak of Hannah’s song, but in Scripture we read, “And Hannah prayed” (1 Sam. 2:11And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. (1 Samuel 2:1)). We may wonder why her thanksgiving is called a prayer. It is very significant that it was at Shiloh, at the yearly gathering for worship and sacrifice to the Lord, that Hannah’s grief was inconsolable. When her husband pressed her to partake of the sacrifices of his peace offerings she could only weep; she could not eat. And why? The peace offering had a special significance, for in it the Lord condescended to bring the worshipers into communion with Himself. A selected portion was called “the food of the offering” and this was to be consumed on the burnt offering and with the meat offering, before they or the priests partook of what was reserved for them. All pointed on to Christ, and to the infinite delight that God found in Him — in His life and death — and believers, redeemed by His blood, were to participate in this divine delight. Could there be food for Hannah in this offering if there was none for the Lord?
The State of Things at Shiloh
What then was the state of things at Shiloh? The priests openly set aside the revealed will of God and instituted a custom of their own (1 Sam. 2:13-1713And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; 14And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. 15Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. 16And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. 17Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. (1 Samuel 2:13‑17)). The conscientious worshiper might plead that God should be honored by obedience to His Word, yet he pleaded in vain. More than this, the priests with insolent violence took of the offerings whatever they pleased — “Thou shalt give it me now, and if not I will take it by force” was their threat. Even the high priest Eli, although he remonstrated, suffered these things to go on and became a partaker of the sin. “Thou honourest thy sons before Me,” the Lord said to him, “to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel My people” (1 Sam. 2:2929Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? (1 Samuel 2:29)).
How could those who feared God have communion with all this? Men abhorred the offering of the Lord, and those who went on with the outward form did so with heartless indifference to the holiness of God and the authority of His Word. This was the case with Peninnah, who took this public opportunity of provoking her; and the more confidently, as she could point to her many children as a proof of the Lord’s blessing, while Hannah’s barrenness must be a sure indication of His displeasure. This intensified, not only her grief, but her isolation. In the midst of a crowd of outward worshipers and in the presence of Eli she was alone, but alone with God.
The Priesthood
Still, she was under the law, and the Levitical priesthood had a place of great importance in connection with the law. The high priest interceded for them, obtained counsel from the Lord for them, and on the day of atonement represented them. But Hannah had to correct Eli, though with meekness, as became her, and he accepted the rebuke. Personally, Eli was pious and gracious, though his criminal weakness as high priest, judge, and a father brought judgment on himself and his house.
Prayer for a Son
Alone, Hannah pleaded with the Lord, and we may gather from her vow much of what was exercising her soul. There was the absence of self, a most blessed thing in prayer; her whole concern was for the glory of the Lord and the service of His people. She longed for a son, that she might give him to the Lord to be a means of blessing to Israel, at a time when those who had been given for that end were serving themselves. Her husband being of the tribe of Levi, this desire was in full accord with the spirit of the law (Numbers 311And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, (Numbers 3:11)), yet there is something exceedingly touching in her prayer. She pleaded for only one son — “O Lord of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Thine handmaid, but wilt give unto Thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head” (1 Sam. 1:1111And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. (1 Samuel 1:11)). Was the service of God by the Levites corrupted like His worship? Though still early in Israel’s history, it would appear so. Surely the Spirit of God in Hannah’s prayers and tears was giving expression to the wants of the godly remnant in that people, and also affording encouragement for all in like sorrow in the church of God.
Hope for the Nation
We now enter on a scene of great interest. In the midst of the evils and the forecast of impending judgments of that sad time, she and Samuel appear to be the only hope for the nation. Samson had failed with his great strength, and Eli in his exalted position. What hope can there be in a weak woman and a still weaker child? The answer surely is in prayer, and in this Hannah and Samuel are as one; Samuel is the continuation of Hannah. If we ignore the division of chapters one and two, we may read, “And he worshipped the Lord there. And Hannah prayed” (1 Sam. 1:28; 2:128Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there. (1 Samuel 1:28)
1And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. (1 Samuel 2:1)). Before leaving the young child at Shiloh we see them worshiping together. It was a painful moment for a mother, but her will was broken and her heart was full. She, in effect, begins the prayers and service of her child with her praises, for thanksgiving is inseparable from such prayers.
The Salvation of the Lord
The foundation of all is the known and enjoyed salvation of the Lord. Because of this her heart exulted in Him, like the heavenly hosts, in His holiness. Without His salvation, what avails the natural prosperity of Peninnah, or even the exalted position of the priests? Not these outward things but actions will be weighed, for the Lord is a God of knowledge. Why then are external advantages so coveted by man? The bows of the mighty will be broken, the full become empty, the fruitful languish. Grace, on the other hand, raises the fallen and girds them with strength, the hungry are satisfied, the barren made joyful with children. Thus, the way of the Lord is to humble those He will exalt, to bring low those He will lift up. Where man’s purpose and pride wither, faith can grow, and “the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning” (Eccl. 7:44The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. (Ecclesiastes 7:4)). Hannah had proved it, and she sees them, however lowly here — made to sit with princes and to inherit the throne of glory. This is salvation as Hannah knew it, from Him who had so tenderly dealt with her.
What then of those who reject or neglect it? How will they escape? If alive when the Lord comes to claim the earth they will be broken to pieces (Psalm 2), while the dead will be judged before the great white throne. Hannah seems to distinguish thus between “the adversaries of the Lord” — those who will be arrayed against Him for battle — and “the wicked” — all those without Christ. We too make this clear distinction, from the definite teaching of Revelation 19:11-21; 20:11,1511And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:11‑21)
11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:11)
15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)).
Praise
But judgment is not a fitting close to such exalted utterances as these; accordingly “the Anointed” — the Messiah, is brought in. Before she prayed, the bullock which she had brought with her child had been sacrificed, and the testimony to the sufferings of Christ and His atoning work had been given. She cannot close her prayer without telling of the glories that shall follow — “Jehovah shall give strength unto His King, and exalt the horn of His Anointed” (1 Sam. 2:1010The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed. (1 Samuel 2:10)). When we consider the times and think of the woman’s weakness, this is a marvelous portion of God’s Word, yet made of God the first of blessings to His beloved people, who were in a low state. At first Hannah was overwhelmed with the difficulties. When she found all her strength in the Lord, so great was her joy in Him, that in all this prayer she never once named or even mentioned her child. With our greater light and privileges, how few are like her in this! How important it is for us to be in the bright assurance of salvation, to have hearts full of praise, and to see right on to glory!
W. Barker (adapted)