Hannah prayed with her whole soul at the tabernacle.
“She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.” (1 Samuel 1:10)
Her husband didn’t understand.
“Why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8)
Why do you care so much?
Why so much emotion?
What’s even going on?
The priest Eli didn’t understand either.
“Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.” (1 Samuel 1:14)
Too many feelings.
Too much emotion.
This can’t be right.
Hannah’s heartfelt, heartbroken, sincere emotions were misunderstood by those around her.
Was she crazy? Could she be trusted?
And yet those deep emotions, that deep bitterness, led her to the Lord.
Led her to make a sacred vow.
Gave her both the broken heart and the spiritual confidence to ask for what she wanted.
Paved the way for a son to be brought into her life, one who would eventually bless all of Israel.
Hannah felt pain and sorrow and she wasn’t afraid to express it.
And when the blessing came?
So much joy that she couldn’t contain that, either.
“And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.” (1 Samuel 2:1)
I am grateful for this emotional, spiritually strong woman.
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
4 Responses
Too often emotional responses are looked on as weakness. The Lord knew why she was and blessed her. I’m so thankful the story shows that emotions are real and okay.
<3
I see part of this story a little differently. I Samuel introduces us to a faithful man, Elkanah, and his wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Elkanah provided appropriately for Peninnah and her children, and verse five tells us:
“But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah…”
Worthy is defined as ‘deserving of, fit for’; so Elkanah gave to Hannah an even more generous portion, perhaps an extravagant portion, to express and demonstrate his great love for her and the high esteem in which he held her.
During my own experience of infertility, pregnancy losses, and stillbirth, I was directed by the Spirit to Hannah’s story and came to read verse eight, not at all as a thoughtless rebuke by an insensitive man, but as a tender and emotional response by a compassionate husband grieving for his wife’s pain. This, in my own words, is the message I hear in verse eight:
“Oh, Hannah, my beloved wife. I see thy sorrow and would that I could mend thy broken heart. I cannot take away thy grief, yet I do, and will always, love thee, honor thee, and care for thee better even than 10 sons could do.”
This is the love and compassion I received from my own husband who shared equally in all my sorrows.
I love Hannah and Elkanah; their story brought comfort to my own grieving heart and peace to my soul until, eventually, I was able to rejoice as Hannah did in the Lord’s blessing of sons and daughters.
I love this perspective. Thank you so much for sharing! <3