Focus
Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for peace at this time.
Read
1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his town to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; 5 but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
9 After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. 11 She made this vow: “O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head.”
12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying silently; 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 make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer.
Reflect
At this time every year I am asked the same question by my family: “What do you want for Christmas?” It seems like I always give the same response each year: “I really don’t want or need anything.” To say the least, my annual response creates more angst than Christmas joy in the Bane household!
Let us consider Hannah in our Old Testament scripture devotional today. Unlike me, she knew what she wanted and she was not reluctant to let everyone know. Hannah wept and refused to eat, which caused her husband Elkanah to have doubts about his own position of importance in her life. Hannah prayed both vocally and silently; she would get into such anguish and grief that others in the community noticed and thought she had a drinking problem! She did not, however; Hannah showed such resolve in what she really wanted that she did not hesitate to take to the Lord what she wanted, which was a son. How much resolve do we have in believing that God will give us what we ask of Him? What we really want? Do we even know what we really want?
Pray
Father, we bow to you today to thank You for all that You have done for us, what You are doing for us now, and what You are going to do for us in the future. We thank You for Your gifts. In Your son’s name, we pray, Amen!
Go with God!
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