TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 1:1-20
Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu,[a] the son of Tohu,[b] the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. 4 And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb. 6 And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. 7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.
8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle[c] of the LORD. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!”
15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 “Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman,[d] for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”
17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”
18 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel,[e] saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”
From the above text, we can see that Elkanah loves his wife so much despite of the wife helpless situation. He did everything to comfort her and pitied her so much so that she will not feel bad about her situation.
So, every year they came to the temple at Shiloh but no change in the situation of the wife. The thought of going to the Temple at Shiloh always cause her a lot of shame and it is the time that her enemy especially the husband second wife Peninnah make mockery of her and provoke her.
But on this particular year that the family visited the temple at Shiloh, there was a reawaking that come upon Hannah. Hannah arose and said there was a need for GOD’s promise of fruitfulness to be actualized in her life by thinking out of the box and take the following 5 steps;
Hannah stop being comfortable with unfulfilment and failure. Despite that Hannah knew that her case that she is a failure, she refuse to be comfortable and make excuses instead Hannah stood up and presents her case unto GOD who is able to reverse the irreversible. 1 Samuel 1:9-10, So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle[c] of the LORD. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish.
Hannah stops being pitied by her relatives and particularly by her husband. She stopped crying in silence. Hannah overlooked her husband words of pity and arises to pray to GOD. 1 Samuel 1:8-9.
Hannah prayed her way through even when others do not see a need to pray or seek GOD for solution to her problem. 1 Samuel 1:12-15,Hannah prayed until Prophet Eli mistaken her to be drunk.
Hannah knew who she was despite of her serious situation. Hannah explained to Prophet Eli who she really she was in verse 16 of the above text.1 Samuel 1:16,” Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman,[d] for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.
Finally, Hannah makes a vow to GOD regarding her request. Hannah vow was centre on meeting the need of GOD at that time. Even in Hannah difficult situation she knew GOD has a need so she offered her womb in other to meet GOD’s need.
Beloved Brothers and Sisters start thinking out of the box like Hannah who was our case study today. She was reawaken with a new thought despite of her state of bareness’ and she took steps that change her story to a fruitful woman bearing more 3 sons and 2 daughters after fulfilling her vow of dedicating her first son Samuel to the LORD.
Remain blessed in JESUS name.
Pastor Adebayo Gbadebo
Pastor In Charge,
The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Thailand
THINK OUT OF THE BOX. 