How do you determine your personal value? Do you determine your value based upon your needs, your wants, your haves, your have nots, or on what other people say about you? This is the dilemma that faces Hannah in 1 Samuel chapter 1. She built and defined her own worth based upon the fact that she was barren and without child while Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, was blessed with children. The love that Elkanah has for Hannah was not the foremost thought in her mind because she had become poisoned by the lie that her value was found in what she did not upon who God was. This feeling of worthlessness was continually provoked year after year when Peninnah spoke constantly of Hannah’s lack of children when the family went to Shiloh to offer their yearly sacrifice to God. Finally upon one visit to Shiloh Elkanah speaks to Hannah saying, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” 1 Samuel 1:8 How did these words from Elkanah effect Hannah? In the midst the pain that Hannah feels I think that Elkanah could no more remove the oppression that she felt and the shame of not having children. Only God was able to deliverer Hannah out of the circumstance she was in.
Did Hannah feel abandoned by God because she was unable to have a child? In 1 Samuel 1:10 Hannah prays to God, “O Lord of hosts, if You indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your Maid servant, but will give your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.” Do you ever feel as if God is too busy to concern Himself with the affairs of your life? Look at the words Hannah spoke to God: if you look on me, if you remember me, and if you don’t forget. Hannah has come to a moment of complete brokenness before God and she is asking God to bless her with a son. In this low moment of life Hannah has little self worth but she has chosen to cling to God in the midst of her storm.
As Hannah was praying fervently to God she was noticed by the priest Eli and he thought that she was drunk because she was moving her lip but no words we coming out of her mouth. What would your reaction be if you were in Hannah’s position where you are burdened and coming to God and you again are assaulted by peoples assumptions of who you are. Hannah responds to Eli, “No, my Lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not consider you maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.” 1 Samuel 1:15,16 Why did Eli assume this negative view of Hannah? Eli responds compassionately to Hannah, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” 1:17 A remarkable transformation occurred within Hannah because she went away and her face was no longer sad. What happened to change her perspective? Hannah had an encounter with God that left her changed because she had left her worries and concerns with God.
After you have passionately prayed to God do you remember your words later? Do you remember to give thanks when God delivers you? Hannah becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son, Samuel. Is it easy to forget your words to God when you get what you wanted? Imagine the discussion that occured between Elkanah and Hannah when she tells him that Samuel would be a Nazarite who would dwell with the priest at the Tabernacle. Hannah was true to her vow to God when she brought Samuel to Eli and dedicated him to God. Are you faithful to your word? Do you remember to give thanks to God when he works mightily to deliver you?
The change that occurred within Hannah is evidenced in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 when she sings a song of thanksgiving to God. Hannah acknowledges that God is the one who granted her a son and this song is wholly focused upon God and what He did. How often do we forget to give God the credit he deserves? We are so often filled with pride and we tout our pride as we wrap it within the veil of our prayers. Hannah’s song tells how God’s ways are not our ways because the weak become strong, the hungry will be fed, the barren give birth, the poor become rich, and lifts up the weary and downtrodden. Gone is the sad and weary Hannah of chapter 1 and now we see a woman confident in life because she has encountered God and she was changed. I believe when we earnestly and wholeheartedly seek God we will never be the same after that encounter.
The final verses of 1 Samuel 2 show how depraved the sons of Eli had become, “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the Lord.” 1 Samuel 2:12 The words seem harsh to say these men are worthless but the selfish actions of Hophni and Phinehas showed that they despised the offerings they were charged to offer God. Remember back to Judges where everyone was doing what was right in their eye and not following the commands of God. When Eli became aware of his sons sinful actions he rebukes them but they do not heed the words of their father. In the end a man of God comes to Eli saying, “Those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days are coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father’s house so that there will not be an old man in your your house.” 1 Samuel 2:30b,31 When our actions fall away from what God desires for us what is the outcome? As you look upon your own life remember to cling to God and in doing so you will love God and love people as His purpose is worked out in your life. Remember to fix your eyes upon Jesus Christ the author and perfecter of our hope.
There is a contrast seen between 1 Samuel 1 and 2 when you look at the how self worth is expressed. Hannah counted her worthiness of little value in her eyes while Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, counted themselves of great worth because of their position. How do you find your value? What is your foundation of self worth based upon? Only a solid foundation of faith in God can secure your worth. Hannah who was esteemed little was blessed beyond measure and found to be of great worth while Hophni and Phinehas were shown to be worthless men and esteemed little. Seek your worth in the person of Jesus Christ and you will be able to rest secured in knowing who you are because you know who He is.
