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Friday, May 7, 2021

Femme Friday Hannah

 Come with me to a time that is historical. A time when polygamy was common, to bear a child was the greatest gift a woman could give. A time when the only insurance a woman had was to get married, birth a son, and maintain a character above reproach. Yes, we are returning to the Old Testament. Today's Femme Friday matriarch is Hannah. 


Hannah was a woman married to a man with two wives, herself and woman named Peninnah. Hannah was different than Peninnah. Peninnah could have children, in fact she had a lot of kids. But Hannah, she could not have any children. This was devastating to Hannah. It created fear, uncertainty, sorrow and pain in this reverential woman's heart. Hannah did have some security in that she was favored by her husband, Elkanah. 

Because Hannah didn't have children, Elkanah invited her to come to the Temple with her. This was unusual, because normally only the heads of households and their sons made journeys to the city of Jerusalem. They would go annually to offer sacrifices at the temple for the forgiveness of their sins and their family's sin. Women were only permitted up to a certain point. But there were also places for them to join together in worship of Yahweh. 

Hannah and Elkanah make the journey from their home to the temple. Elkanah leaves Hannah in the women's portion of the temple, going off to make preparations for the sacrifices necessary for their families righteousness. Hannah, begins to pray. Not in any kind of meek or timid way. Hannah pours out her years of sorrow and pain. Hannah said this:

The priest Eli was on duty at the entrance to God’s Temple in the customary seat. Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably. Then she made a vow:
Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain,
If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me
By giving me a son,
I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you.
I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.

Look at those words, Hannah was crushed in soil. In her face, on the ground, Hannah pleaded with the God of Angel Armies to make a way for her to have a son. Later in the text we see that God did indeed give her a son, before the year was out. After several years of enjoying her son Samuel, Hannah makes true her vow to commit Samuel to "holy discipline." What did that even mean? That meant that when Samuel had come of age, or was weaned, Samuel was sent back to the temple to live. 

This child Hannah had plead in the dirt for, would now be sent to learn how to serve Yahweh. Hannah wouldn't get to see him grow up. She wouldn't be the one to teach him manners. Samuel wouldn't get to grow up with his half-siblings or even with his dad. Samuel was sent to become a priest. 

As Samuel went on, he learned exceedingly well how to serve God. Samuel even became a prophet and helped build the tribes of Israel into the nation of Israel. Samuel would anoint kings and dethrone them. He counseled and chastised the Lord's anointed. Samuel was one of the great prophets of Israel. There are two books in the Bible about him. Without his mother, however, we never would even know his name. 

Because if Hannah hadn't been willing to sacrifice what was most longed for in her heart, we never would have had the nation of Israel. Or King David. Or the long line of family that came after him leading to our Savior Jesus. 

Perhaps there would have been a different way. Probably there would have been. But without the obedience and sacrifice of Hannah, we wouldn't have the mighty influence of Samuel. 
Eischet Chayil to our great ancestress Hannah. 
x


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