1 Samuel 2
Bible Passage: 1 Samuel 2
Jealousy (of the selfish sort; not Godly jealousy) makes a person ugly. Our behavioural and verbal responses are poisoned and our thoughts clouded. In most cases, feelings of jealousy arise when we compare ourselves with our peers and they have something which we find ourselves lacking – being loved more, beauty, talent, fitness, wealth, better standing in life and more.
Peninnah reflected this ugliness and spite when she severely provoked Hannah with intent to make Hannah miserable so much so that she wept and did not eat (1 Sam 1:6-7). One would think that Peninnah, having a wonderful gift which Hannah could only pray for, would be more tolerant toward her rival in love. Often, we are unable to see the graces which litter our lives. Our greedy hearts swallow any initial joy in contentment and we cast our longing eyes on things we have yet attained.
Hannah’s inadequacy was emphasised and shoved into the limelight by Peninnah’s arrogant words (1 Sam 2:3). However, if Peninnah harboured any hopes of trying to elicit a reaction from her dauntless provocation, she did not succeed. Hannah, through it all, did not retaliate nor did she once complain to Elkanah about Peninnah. Instead she took all anguish upon herself and prayed to God (1 Sam 1:10). Hannah was more beautiful in comparison! It was no wonder Elkanah loved her.
Chapter 2 begins with Hannah’s prayer. I can feel Hannah’s sense of relief in her prayer. She was greatly comforted by God’s blessings, and had some respite from verbal and mental assault. She could finally lift up her head and smile (1 Sam 2:1). She gave glory to God who sustained her, the rock on whom she leaned (1 Sam2:2). She mentioned the attribute of holiness here in verse 2, it could be that she was giving thanks that in all that she went through, she did not sin, become angry or bad-mouth others. Even after God blessed her, she did not confront Peninnah to gloat. It was her prayer to God that we are reading. Hannah realised God saw, and He will in due time, reward or punish (1 Sam 2:3, 10). Nobody can mask their beauty or ugliness from our Lord.
In her sufferings, Hannah prayed. In her bounty, she too prayed.
On earth, we may intimidate others by being a big bully or we may shy away from contention and choose to bear our pain in silence. In due time, it is God who shall exalt or cast away (1 Sam 2:4-9).
Hannah offered up her son Samuel for the Lord’s use, understanding that her child was from God. And Samuel started serving God in the temple from a very tender age. It was not that Hannah was shirking all responsibilities in his upbringing, leaving him in the temple, but we read that she took care of his needs (1 Sam 2:19), and more importantly, his spiritual needs (1 Sam 2:18, 21, 26). If today we are parents, do we pray for our children, that they keep themselves pure in the Lord and be useful vessels for the Lord’s use? On the other hand, as children, it is heart-warming to find out that our parents have actually been praying for us even as we spend most of our time outside and are subject to all types of influences and pressure.
Above and beyond their physical and material needs, we must take care of the spiritual needs of our children. The best education or a most comfortable life will not secure them a place in God’s kingdom if not accompanied by a pure and strong faith in God. Eli could have spoilt his sons, and indulged in their fancies. His rebuke toward his sons came too late and the magnitude of his rebuke was far inferior to the severity of the sins which they had already committed and were still indulging in (1 Sam 2:12, 17).
May God guide us and lead our children as we bring them before Him (Mt 19:14)!
2 Comments
PS
1 Sam 2:11 Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the LORD before Eli the priest.
1 Sam 2:18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod.
1 Sam 2:21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD. (Chin bible：渐渐长大)
1 Sam 2:26 And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men.
A child of God must grow through these phases too:
minister to God before a priest—>minister before God, bearing his commissions fr God —->grow before God——>grow in stature and in favor both with God and men.
Samuel grew up before God. Ever wonder why did Samuel not follow the wrong behaviors of the corrupted priests? May be bec Samuel was before God:
You have not resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives” (Heb 12:4-6)
Samuel turned out okay bec God was watching over him. God kept Samuel’s heart right before Him.
(1 Sam 2:21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters….When Hannah was heavy with pregnancy, recuperating from child birth or nursing her young child…his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice (1 Sam 2:19)…Hannah was not interrupted. Bec she loved her son whom she lent to the LORD.)
Samuel never lacked love.
God loved him.
His mother loved him.
People around him favored him.
More importantly Samuel was before God.
biblereadingcompanion
Reading the Bible passage and the comments from both JoyousConcerto and PS, I wonder how many parents nowadays would be willing to nurture their child up to be active in serving the Lord.
Whatever Hannah did – it was very clear in her mind that Samuel was from God and that he needed to be serving in the house of the Lord.
Many of us parents send our children for enrichment classes, encourage them to be active in their school activities, work with them on their academic studies… but are not so involved with our children’s activities in church.
I thank God that quite a number of JYs and IYs now attend the Youth Service regularly. But there are still a larger number of them who do not.
Youth Service is a time where the child can grow to learn how to serve God and be involved in Church work. But Parents must play a part too in encouraging them …. just like Hannah.
Even better still… if parents can be active together along with their children in doing God’s work.
It is a blessing to be in the church as a family. But I believe that it is an even greater blessing if the family can serve God together as one in church.