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1 Samuel
Chapter One
1 Samuel 1
Chapter Contents
Elkanah and his family. (1-8) Hannah's prayer. (9-18)
Samuel
Hannah presents him to the Lord. (19-28)
Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:1-8
(Read 1 Samuel 1:1-8)
Elkanah kept up his attendance at God's altar
notwithstanding the unhappy differences in his family. If the devotions of a
family prevail not to put an end to its divisions
yet let not the divisions
put a stop to the devotions. To abate our just love to any relation for the
sake of any infirmity which they cannot help
and which is their affliction
is
to make God's providence quarrel with his precept
and very unkindly to add
affliction to the afflicted. It is evidence of a base disposition
to delight
in grieving those who are of a sorrowful spirit
and in putting those out of
humour who are apt to fret and be uneasy. We ought to bear one another's
burdens
not add to them. Hannah could not bear the provocation. Those who are
of a fretful spirit
and are apt to lay provocations too much to heart
are
enemies to themselves
and strip themselves of many comforts both of life and
godliness. We ought to notice comforts
to keep us from grieving for crosses.
We should look at that which is for us
as well as what is against us.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:9-18
(Read 1 Samuel 1:9-18)
Hannah mingled tears with her prayers; she considered the
mercy of our God
who knows the troubled soul. God gives us leave
in prayer
not only to ask good things in general
but to mention that special good thing
we most need and desire. She spoke softly
none could hear her. Hereby she
testified her belief of God's knowledge of the heart and its desires. Eli was
high priest
and judge in Israel. It ill becomes us to be rash and hasty in
censures of others
and to think people guilty of bad things while the matter
is doubtful and unproved. Hannah did not retort the charge
and upbraid Eli
with the wicked conduct of his own sons. When we are at any time unjustly
censured
we have need to set a double watch before the door of our lips
that
we do not return censure for censure. Hannah thought it enough to clear
herself
and so must we. Eli was willing to acknowledge his mistake. Hannah
went away with satisfaction of mind. She had herself by prayer committed her
case to God
and Eli had prayed for her. Prayer is heart's ease to a gracious
soul. Prayer will smooth the countenance; it should do so. None will long
remain miserable
who use aright the privilege of going to the mercy-seat of a
reconciled God in Christ Jesus.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:19-28
(Read 1 Samuel 1:19-28)
Elkanah and his family had a journey before them
and a
family of children to take with them
yet they would not move till they had
worshipped God together. Prayer and provender do not hinder a journey. When men
are in such haste to set out upon journeys
or to engage in business
that they
have not time to worship God
they are likely to proceed without his presence and
blessing. Hannah
though she felt a warm regard for the courts of God's house
begged to stay at home. God will have mercy
and not sacrifice. Those who are
detained from public ordinances
by the nursing and tending of little children
may take comfort from this instance
and believe
that if they do that duty in
a right spirit
God will graciously accept them therein. Hannah presented her
child to the Lord with a grateful acknowledgment of his goodness in answer to
prayer. Whatever we give to God
it is what we have first asked and received
from him. All our gifts to him were first his gifts to us. The child Samuel
early showed true piety. Little children should be taught to worship God when
very young. Their parents should teach them in it
bring them to it
and put
them on doing it as well as they can; God will graciously accept them
and will
teach them to do better.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel》
1 Samuel 1
Verse 1
[1] Now
there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim
of mount Ephraim
and his name was
Elkanah
the son of Jeroham
the son of Elihu
the son of Tohu
the son of
Zuph
an Ephrathite:
Ramathaim-zophim —
Called Ramah
verse 19.
Eparathite —
That is
one of Bethlehem-judah
by his birth and habitation
though by his
original a Levite.
Verse 2
[2] And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah
and the name of the
other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children
but Hannah had no children.
Two wives — As
many had in those ages
tho' it was a transgression of the original institution
of marriage. And it is probable that he took his second wife
namely
Peninnah
because Hannah was barren.
Verse 3
[3] And
this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the
LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli
Hophni and Phinehas
the
priests of the LORD
were there.
Yearly — At
the three solemn feasts
when he
together with all other males were obliged to
go to worship God in the place appointed; and at other times
when he as a
Levite
was to go thither in his course.
To sacrifice —
Not in his own person
which the Levites could not do
but by the priests.
Were there —
Or
were the priests of the Lord there
under their father Eli
who is
generally conceived to have been the high-priest
but being very old and
infirm
his sons ministered in his stead. This is the first time in scripture
that God is called the Lord of hosts or Armies. Probably Samuel was the first
who used this title of God
for the comfort of Israel
at the time when their
armies were few and feeble
and those of their enemies many and mighty.
Verse 4
[4] And
when the time was that Elkanah offered
he gave to Peninnah his wife
and to
all her sons and her daughters
portions:
Portions —
Out of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings
the greatest part whereof fell to
the offerer
and was eaten by him
and his friends or guests
before the Lord.
And out of this he gave them all portions
as the master of the feast used to
do to the guests.
Verse 5
[5] But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the
LORD had shut up her womb.
Shut up her womb —
Yet Elkanah did not withdraw his love from her. To abate out just love to any
relation
for the sake of any infirmity which they cannot help
is to add
affliction to the afflicted.
Verse 6
[6] And
her adversary also provoked her sore
for to make her fret
because the LORD
had shut up her womb.
Her adversary —
Peninnah: so her envy or jealousy made her though so nearly related.
Verse 7
[7] And
as he did so year by year
when she went up to the house of the LORD
so she
provoked her; therefore she wept
and did not eat.
When she went-This circumstance is noted as
the occasion of the contention
because at such times they were forced to more
society with one another
by the way
and in their lodgings; whereas at home
they had distinct apartments
where they might be asunder; and then her
husband's extraordinary love and kindness was shewed to Hannah
whereby
Peninnah was the more exasperated; then also Hannah prayed earnestly for a
child
which hitherto she had done in vain; and this possibly she reproached
her with.
Did not eat —
Being overwhelmed with grief
and therefore unfit to eat of the sacred food.
Which they were not to eat in their mourning.
Verse 8
[8] Then
said Elkanah her husband to her
Hannah
why weepest thou? and why eatest thou
not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
Ten sons —
Oughtest thou not to value my hearty love to thee
more than the having of as
many sons as Penninah hath? She would willingly change conditions with thee.
Verse 9
[9] So
Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh
and after they had drunk. Now
Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
A seat —
Or
throne; for it is manifest it was raised higher than ordinary
chap. 4:18. Here he might sit
either as the judge; or
rather as high-priest
to hear and answer such as came to him for advice
and
to inspect and direct the worship of God.
Temple —
That is
of the tabernacle
which is frequently so called.
Verse 10
[10] And
she was in bitterness of soul
and prayed unto the LORD
and wept sore.
Bitterness — That
is
oppressed with grief.
Prayed unto the Lord — They had newly offered their peace-offerings
to obtain the favour of
God
and in token of their communion with him
they had feasted upon the
sacrifice: and now it was proper to put up her prayer
in virtue of the
sacrifice. For the peace-offerings typified Christ's mediation
as well as the
sin-offerings: since by this not only atonement is made for sin
but an answer
to our prayers obtained.
Verse 11
[11] And
she vowed a vow
and said
O LORD of hosts
if thou wilt indeed look on the
affliction of thine handmaid
and remember me
and not forget thine handmaid
but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child
then I will give him unto the
LORD all the days of his life
and there shall no razor come upon his head.
Give him —
That is
consecrate him to God's service in his temple.
No razor —
That is
he shall be a perpetual Nazarite.
Verse 12
[12] And
it came to pass
as she continued praying before the LORD
that Eli marked her
mouth.
Continued —
Heb. multiplied to pray. By which it appears that she said much more than is
here expressed. And the like you are to judge of the prayers and sermons of
other holy persons recorded in scripture
which gives us only the sum and
substance of them. This consideration may help us much to understand some
passages of the bible.
Verse 13
[13] Now
Hannah
she spake in her heart; only her lips moved
but her voice was not
heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
Drunken —
Because of the multitude of her words
and those motions of her face and body
which the vehemency of her passion
and the fervency in prayer occasioned.
Verse 16
[16]
Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of
my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
Count not
… —
Thus when we are unjustly censured
we should endeavour not only to clear
ourselves
but to satisfy our brethren
by giving them a just and true account
of that which they misapprehended.
Verse 18
[18] And
she said
Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her
way
and did eat
and her countenance was no more sad.
Find grace —
That favourable opinion and gracious prayer which thou hast expressed on my
behalf
be pleased to continue towards me.
Sad —
Her heart being cheared by the priest's comfortable words
and especially by
God's spirit setting them home upon her
and assuring her that both his and her
prayers should be heard
it quickly appeared in her countenance.
Verse 19
[19] And
they rose up in the morning early
and worshipped before the LORD
and
returned
and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife;
and the LORD remembered her.
Remembered —
Manifested his remembrance of her by the effect.
Verse 20
[20]
Wherefore it came to pass
when the time was come about after Hannah had
conceived
that she bare a son
and called his name Samuel
saying
Because I
have asked him of the LORD.
Samuel —
That is
Asked of God.
Verse 21
[21] And
the man Elkanah
and all his house
went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly
sacrifice
and his vow.
His house —
Hannah only and her child excepted.
His vow — By
which it appears
though it was not expressed before
that he heard and
consented to her vow
and that he added a vow of his own
if God answered his
prayers.
Verse 22
[22] But
Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband
I will not go up until the
child be weaned
and then I will bring him
that he may appear before the LORD
and there abide for ever.
Weaned —
Not only from the breast
but also from the mother's knee and care
and from
childish food; 'till the child be something grown up
and fit to do some
service in the tabernacle: for it seems that as soon as he was brought up he
worshipped God
verse 28
and presently after ministered to Eli
chap.
2:11.
Verse 23
[23] And
Elkanah her husband said unto her
Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou
have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode
and gave
her son suck until she weaned him.
His word —
His matter or thing; the business concerning the child
what thou hast vowed
concerning him
that be may grow up
and be accepted and employed by God in his
Service.
Verse 24
[24] And
when she had weaned him
she took him up with her
with three bullocks
and one
ephah of flour
and a bottle of wine
and brought him unto the house of the
LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
Three bullocks —
One for a burnt-offering
the second for a sin-offering
and the third for a
peace offering; all these sorts being expedient for this work and time.
Flour —
For the meal-offerings belonging to the principal sacrifices
which to each
bullock were three tenth-deals
or three tenth parts of an ephah
and so nine
parts of the ephah were spent
and the tenth part was given to the priest.
Wine —
For drink-offerings.
Verse 25
[25] And
they slew a bullock
and brought the child to Eli.
A bullock —
The three bullocks mentioned verse 24
the singular number being put for the
plural
which is frequent.
Verse 26
[26] And
she said
Oh my lord
as thy soul liveth
my lord
I am the woman that stood by
thee here
praying unto the LORD.
Soul liveth — As
surely as thou livest. Which asseveration seems necessary
because this was
some years after it.
Verse 28
[28]
Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be
lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
Lent him —
But not with a purpose to require him again. Whatever we give to God
may upon
this account be said to be lent to him
that tho' we may not recall it
yet he
will certainly repay it
to our unspeakable advantage.
He worshipped —
Not Eli
but young Samuel
who is spoken of in this and the foregoing verse
and who was capable of worshipping God in some sort
at least with external
adoration.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on 1 Samuel》
01 Chapter 1
Verses 1-18
And he had two wives.
The folly of polygamy
Abraham’s domestic peace was embittered
so that he was at length
compelled to dismiss Hagar; and Jacob saw much strife arise amongst his
household whose interest polygamy had divided. It is probable that the same
feeling which operated with Abraham for taking Hagar influenced Elkanah in
taking Peninneh
for Hannah seems to have been the first wife. There was
doubtless an impatient desire of children; but in this case
as in those
already alluded to
Elkanah’s deviation from the original law of marriage
though in a manner then tolerated
conduced not at all to his domestic peace
and comfort. (T. E. Redwar
M. A.)
Polygamy not primeval
There can have been no polygamy when as yet there was only a
single pair
or when there were several single pairs widely separated from each
other. The presumption
if not the certainty
therefore
is that primeval man
must have been monogamous. It is a presumption supported by the general
equality of the sexes in respect to the numbers born
with only just such an
excess of the male sex as tends to maintain that equality against the greater
risks to life arising out of manly pursuits and duties. Thus the facts of
Nature point to polygamy as in all probability a departure from the habits of
primeval times. (Argyll
Unity of Nature.)
The name of the one was Hannah.
Hannah the matron
Outraged and disgraced by the crimes of its ministers
religion sank
into public contempt
and
almost mortally “wounded in the house of its
friends
” seemed ready to expire. At first indignant
and in the end
demoralised
the people deserted the house of God and abandoned the profession
of a religion which the crimes of its priests had made to stink in their
nostrils. “Wherefore
” alluding to Hophni and Phinehas
it is said
“Wherefore
the sin of the young men was great before the Lord
for men abhorred the
offering of the Lord.” But even in those days God did not leave himself without
a witness. There were some who felt that His
like other good causes
has never
more need of support than when it is betrayed by its supporters. Such an act
closed the life of Colonel Gardener
the grand old Christian soldier
who
deserted by his own regiment on the fatal field of Prestonpans
and seeing a
handful of men without an officer bravely maintaining the fight
spurred his
horse through a shower of bullets to place himself at their head
and fall a
sacrifice to truth and loyalty. Such an act also was the women’s who openly
followed our Lord with tears when no disciple had the courage to show his face
in the streets. We cannot perhaps apply to the father of Samuel and husband of
Hannah the saying
“Faithful among the faithless only he”; yet to Elkanah
certainly belongs the honour of resisting the current of popular opinion
and
in an age of all but universal defection
clinging to the cause and the house
of God. When its ministers had brought dishonour on the service of God
and their
crimes had made the people abhor it
he felt that there was the more need for
him to stand by it. He was not the man to desert the ship. To divine grace
his
steadfastness to duly against the popular influence and amid almost universal
defection was mainly due. Yet I cannot doubt
that in the bold and faithful
part he acted
Elkanah owed much to Hannah. When adherence to principle
involved painful sacrifices
men have found such support in gentle women as I
have seen the green and pliant ivy lend the wall it clothed and clung to
when
that
undermined or shaken
was ready to fall. Such was the spirit of Hannah.
I. Her patience--“There is a
skeleton in every house!” The grim monitor that stands in every house to teach
us that unmingled pleasures are to be sought in heaven
Hannah found in here.
Happier than some that have been unequally yoked with unbelievers
she had a
pious husband. Never was wife more prized and more loved than she. In what
esteem Elkanah held her
how fondly he cherished her
and how kind he was to
her
appears in the very strong and tender terms with which he essays to soothe
her grief
saying
“Why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy
heart grieved? Am not I better to thee than ten sons?” As is indicated by that
question
her great trial was to be childless. But her trial
like a wound into
which cruel hands rub salt
or some other smarting thing
turning ordinary pain
into intolerable torture
wan greatly aggravated by the happier fortune and
insolent reproaches of a rival. Elkanah was a polygamist. To his own
misfortune
not less than to Hannah’s
he had another wife besides her. In some
kind and gentle women Hannah’s misfortune would have excited feelings of
sympathy. But the other wife
who had children--a rude
coarse
proud
and
vulgar woman--turned it into an occasion for triumphing over her
and
embittering all the springs of her life. In these circumstances--circumstances
to which the adage
so generally true
applies with peculiar force
“Speech is
silvern
but silence is golden”--Hannah teaches us how to bear our trials
whatever their nature be; and how to seek
and where to find relief.
II. Her meekness--A singular
phenomenon has sometimes been noticed at sea. In a gale
when the storm
increasing in violence
has at length risen into a hurricane
the force of the
wind has been observed to actually beat down the waves
producing a temporary
and comparative calm; and similar is the effect occasionally produced by
overwhelming trials--these
by their very power and pressure on the heart
abating both the violence and the expression of its feelings. But what is
equally remarkable and still more observable in trials is
that we can more
easily bear a heavy blow from God’s hand than a light one from man’s. Smarting
under the cruel reproaches of her rival
to use the very words of Scripture
“in bitterness of soul
” she lingers in the temple behind the rest
and there
alone
as she supposed
pours out her tears and prayers before the Lord. His
eyes dim as well as his head grey with years--Eli--too much accustomed in these
evil times to see abandoned women--thought she was drunk; and more ready
like
other indulgent fathers
to reprove sin in others than in his own sons
he
addresses her sharply
saying
“How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy
wine from thee:” A very offensive accusation! Under such a charge
and in the
rapid alternation with which the mind passes from one passion to another
who
would have been astonished had her grief suddenly changed to anger? The
meekness of Moses has become a proverb; and justly so. But did he
did any man
or woman
ever show a milder
gentler
lovelier spirit
a more magnanimous
example of how to suffer wrong
than Hannah? No wonder that Eli
perceiving the
wrong he had done
should have turned his reproaches on himself; and touched
with Hannah’s grief
answered and said
“Go in peace: and the God of Israel
grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of Him.”
III. Her faith--I know an
island that stands crowned by its ancient fortalice in the middle of a lake
some good bow shots from the shore With the walls of the old ruin mantled in
ivy
and its tower rising grim and grey above the foliage of hoary elms
it
serves no purpose now but to recall old times and ornament a lovely landscape.
But once that island and its stronghold were the refuge and life of those whose
ordinary residence was the castle that
with gates
and bulwarks
and many a
tower
and floating banner rose in baronial pride on the shore. When in the
troublous times of old that wait beleaguered
and its defenders could hold out
no longer against the force and fury of the siege
they sought their boats
and
escaping by the postern gate over waters too deep to wade and too broad to
swim
threw themselves on the island--within the walls of the stout old keep to
enjoy peace in the midst of war
and safe beyond the shot of cross bow
to
laugh their enemies to scorn. In their hardest plight
and against the greatest
numbers
this refuge never failed them. Such a refuge and relief his people
find in God. Hence the confidence and bold language of the Psalmist
“Truly my
soul waiteth upon God; from Him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my
salvation; He is my salvation: I shall not be greatly moved.” Hence
also
in allusion
to the security such strongholds offered in the East
as well as here
in olden
times
the Bible says
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower
into which the
righteous runneth
and is safe.” And thus
as prayer is our way of access to
God
and the means by which we place ourselves under His protection
it is a
resource that never fails. There is no burden too heavy for the back of prayer
to carry
nor wound too deep for its balm to heal. Hannah sought her comfort in
prayer. Let her case teach us that the way to get anything is first to get
faith--“all things are possible to him that believeth.” There are people
who
claim to be philosophers
that laugh such hopes to scorn. According to them God
leaves all events to the operation of what they call “the ordinary laws of
nature
” without guiding
controlling
or interfering with them in any way
whateverse No wonder that with such views the Divine Being is to them neither
an object of reverential worship nor of filial affection. How should they fear
or love God? Their God is a Sovereign
who
parting with his sceptre though he
retains his crown
is denuded of all authority--a Father who
careless of their
fate
casts his children out on the world
like the poor babe a guilty mother
exposes
which
though it may perchance be pitied and protected by others
is
cruelly forsaken by the author of its being. How dark and dreary such a
philosophy! All nature
and every religion
Pagan as well as Christian
revolts
against it. Someone has said of prayer
It moves the hand that moves the world.
A grand truth! to a poor conscience-stricken sinner
to an alarmed soul
to an
anxious
weary
trembling spirit
a truth more precious than all science and
philosophy. Hannah behaved it. (T. Guthrie
D. D.)
But Hannah had no children.
Anomalies of Providence
Inside Elkanah’s house we see two strange arrangements of
Providence
of a kind that often moves our astonishment elsewhere. First
we
see a woman eminently fitted to bring up children
but having none to bring up.
On the other hand
we see another woman
whose temper and ways are fitted to
ruin children
entrusted with the rearing of a family. In the one case a
God-fearing woman does not receive the gifts of Providence; in the other case a
woman of a selfish and cruel nature seems loaded with His benefits. In looking
round us
we often see a similar arrangement of other gifts; we see riches
for
example
in the very worst of hands; while those who from their principles and
character are fitted to make the best use of them have often difficulty in
securing the bare necessaries of life. How it this? Does God really govern
or
do time and chance regulate all? If it were God’s purpose to distribute His
gifts exactly as men are able to estimate and use them aright
we should doubtless
see a very different distribution; but God’s aim in this world is much more to
try and to train than to reward and fulfil. All these anomalies of Providence
point to a future state. What God does we know not now
but we shall know
hereafter. In many cases home affords a refuge from our trials
but in this
case home was the very scene of the trial. There is another refuge from trial
which is very grateful to devout hearts--the house of God and the exercises of
public worship. (W. G. Blaikie
D. D.)
Childless parents
Abraham and Sarah had no children. Isaac and Rebekah had no
children. Jacob and Rachel had no children. Manoah had no children. Hannah had
no children. The Shunamite had no children. Zacharias and Elizabeth had no
children. Till it came to be nothing short of a mark of a special election
and
a high calling
and a great coming service of God in Israel to have no
children. Time after time
till it became nothing short of a special
Providence
those husbands and wives whose future children were predestinated
to be patriarchs
and prophets
and judges
and forerunners of Jesus Christ in
the house of Israel
began their married life having no children. Now
why was
that? Well
we may make guesses
and we may propose reasons for that perplexing
dispensation
but they are only guesses and proposed reasons. All the more--Why
is it? Is it to spare and shield them from the preoccupation and the dispersion
of affection
and from the coldness and the rudeness and the neglect of one
another that so many of their neighbours suffer from? And is it to teach them a
far finer tenderness
and a far rarer honour
and a far sweeter solicitude for
one another? Or
on the other hand
is it out of pure jealousy on God’s part?
Is it that He may be able to say to them
Am I not better to thee than ten
sons? Or again
is it in order to make them meet
long before His other sons
and daughters around them are made meet
for that life in which they shall
neither marry nor be given in marriage? Which of all these reasons
or what
other reason
has their God for what He does with so many of His best saints?
But all this time we have been intruding into those things of which He says to
us--What is that to thee? And
then
those whose concern this is
and those who
are deepest down in God’s counsels
they are just the men and the women
they
are just the husbands and the wives
who will not once open their mouths to
publish abroad to a world that fears not God what all this time God is doing
for their souls. (A. Whyte
D. D.)
Verse 3
And this man went up out
of his city yearly to worship.
--
The pilgrimage to Shiloh
Great personages are
prepared for before they arrive. Our blessed Lord
the greatest of all
personages who seer appeared on earth
was prepared for long before He came. In
the first nineteen verses of this chapter we are told of the circumstances
which prepared the way for Samuel
which led up to his birth. These
preparations were made at a holy season
and in a holy place
These pilgrimages
the men and boys among the Israelites were bidden in the law to make three
times a year
at the great festivals. (Deuteronomy 16:16.) But the time of the Judges was a lawless and irregular time
and probably the custom then crept in of going up only once a year to worship
at the tabernacle. These yearly journeys to the place of public worship were
not without difficulties and dangers. The country had no regular roads through
it
or
at all events
no roads like ours--nothing but tracks of caravans
or
companies of travellers who bad gone that way before. It was not rid of wild
beasts. Wolves and hymens prowled about at night
and lions had their lair in
the jungle which lined part of the course of the
Jordan. Then there were
robbers in the hill fastnesses
ever ready to pounce upon undefended
travellers
and strip them of all they possessed
even to their clothes--a
calamity which happened to the poor man in our Lord’s parable
who was
afterwards relieved by the good Samaritan. These pilgrimages of the Israelites
to the place of God’s worship ought to remind us of the pilgrimage on which we
ourselves are
or ought to be
bound
and in which every day of our lives we
ought to make some progress. We
too
are “going up” to God’s heavenly temple.
We are going up thither through the wilderness of this world. There are great
dangers and difficulties to be encountered on the road. We have two great helps
and comforts on our way. One is the society of people who are going the same
road
who have the same hope before them of reaching the heavenly temple. The
other help is the public worship of God upon earth
which is intended to keep ever
fresh and alive in us the thought and desire of His heavenly worship. Ask
yourself continually
and force your conscience to answer the questions
“Am I
indeed going up to God’s heavenly temple? Have I reason to think year by year
that I am getting any nearer to it?” He who finds that he is not going up may
assure himself that he is going down. (Dean Goulburn.)
Verse 7
And as he did so year by year
when she went up to the House of
the Lord
so she provoked her.
The House of God
You must remember
that at the time when Elkanah was living
there
was but one temple or church for all the worshippers of the true God; and those
who lived at a great distance from this temple could not have the privilege of
worshipping there
at most
above three times a year. Have you ever considered
the mercy of being born in a country where there are so many places of public
worship? places which have that honourable and blessed name of “the house of
God”? When you draw near to a town
you see several of these precious
buildings
higher than all the houses prepared for man to live in
beside many
other smaller places of public worship: and you can scarcely find a village
without some building in it where the people of God may assemble together. Now
you observe
that pious Elkanah and his family have to take a long journey once
a year for the privilege of the public worship of God. What does all this say
to you who have God’s house standing open for you within a very
very little
distance
perhaps within a few steps
and yet you think it too much trouble to
get there! You would not treat a nobleman so
if he invited you to his house;
particularly
if you were very dependent upon him; and if you saw him standing
at the door of his house
watching to see who accepted his invitation
and who
slighted it. I have heard many people say
“I can read my book at home
and I
don’t know but I get as much good as by going to church or meeting.” But let me
tell you
I do know that you cannot. If
indeed
you are confined at home by
sickness
and your heart is right with God
He can and will be a little
sanctuary to you
and will enable you to say
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall
not want”: but when you idly stay at home
from the idea that you can get as
much good there so in a place of public worship
you trample upon God’s express
command
and expect that which He has not promised. (Helen Plumptre.)
Hannah
To know persons completely
it is necessary to view them in
various situations and conditions. Character is not only displayed by trials
but it very much results from them. Both prosperity and adversity are states of
acknowledged temptation; and few can equally encounter such opposite dangers.
Hannah first comes before us in circumstances of disappointment and
mortification. Her affliction was aggravated by reproach
for “her adversary
provoked her sore
for to make her fret
because the Lord had shut up her womb”
But who was this adversary? She was one of her own household
for Elkanah
her
husband
had two wives. And in the case before us was the conduct of Elkanah
justified by the result? Let us read and see. In the days of Malachi this evil
practice abounded; and observe how the prophet speaks of it. “The Lord hath
been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth
against whom thou hast
dealt treacherously: yet she is thy companion
and the wife of thy covenant.
And did not he make one? Yet
had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore
one? That he might seek a godly seed.” Here we find that marriage was
originally confined to a single pair: end we see the reason. It was not from
want of power or kindness in God. He could have made more than one Eve for
Adam
and would have done it had his welfare required it. But it was because of
the advantage derivable from individual union
especially with regard to the
children who should arise from it
and be trained up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord. Hannah’s adversary seems peculiarly unprincipled and
ill-disposed. A noble mind is always generous and sympathising if it possesses
any exclusive advantages
it will not be forward to display and boast of them;
and if it sees a fellow creature in a humbler situation
it will not labour to
increase his sense of deficiencies
but rather to diminish and soften it. “The
spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy.” But we may observe
that though
envy loves to expose the defects of another
it springs from his excellencies
or advantages
end feeds upon some real or imaginary privilege. Accordingly
we
are born informed of the occasion of this woman’s present malevolence. At this
season Elkanah treated Hannah with peculiar attention and distinction. “And
when the time was that Elkanah offered
he gave to Peninnah his wife
and to
all her sons and her daughters
portions; but unto Hannah he gave a worthy
portion.” There is a considerable difference between the feeling and the
expression of partiality; the one is much more in our power than the other. The
display of it is commonly prejudicial to the object. Who does not remember the
“coat of many colours”? The blame we attach to a man is not always so much for
acting wrong
as for bringing himself into circumstances and conditions which
will hardly allow of his acting right. Piety says
“In all thy ways acknowledge
Him and He shall direct thy paths”; and Prudence says
“Ponder the path of thy
feet
and let all thy ways be established.” Elkanah forgets this
and his folly
fixes him in a state that leaves him not the possibility of escaping evil and
reproach. What could Peninnah think of approaching the altar of the God of
peace and love with a temper full of envy and malice
and a tongue “set on fire
of hell”? How much better is omission than perversion
and neglect than
inconsistency? Shall blessing and cursing proceed out of the same mouth? “Keep
thy foot when thou goest to the house of God
and be more ready to hear than to
give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil”
“Therefore
if thou bring thy gift to the altar
and there rememberest that thy
brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar
and go
thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother
and then come and offer thy gift.”
Year after year Hannah had been accustomed to bear ell this provocation
and
till now she seems to have endured it patiently But where is the mind that
always continues in one frame? (W. Jay.)
Womanly endurance
Patience is of two kinds. There is an active
and there is a
passive endurance. The former is a masculine
the latter
for the most part
a
feminine virtue. Female patience is exhibited chiefly in fortitude; in bearing
pain and sorrow meekly without complaining. In the old Hebrew life female
endurance shines almost as brightly as in any life which Christianity itself
can mould. Hannah under the provocations and taunts of her rival
answering not
again her husband’s rebuke
humbly replying to Eli’s unjust blame
is true to
the type of womanly endurance. For the type of man’s endurance you may look to
the patience of the early Christians under persecution. They came away from the
Sanhedrim to endure and bear; but it was to bear as conquerors rushing on to
victory
preaching the truth with all boldness
and defying the power of the
united world to silence them. These two divers qualities are joined in One
and
only One of woman born
in perfection. One there was in whom human nature was
exhibited in all its elements symmetrically complete. (F. W. Robertson.)
Provocations in domestic life
A garden has a great many flowers in it. Some of them are weeds
some of them are purslane
and some of them are nettles
which are not very
desirable for bouquets. In the garden
however
we can take our choice; but in
the family we cannot. There we have to take all. If there is a complaining one
we have to take that one; if there is a weak and dull-eyed one
we have to take
that one; if there is a moody and morose one
we have to take that one; and it
takes but one bitter lemon to spoil the whole of your lemonade. If of
half-a-dozen lemons five are perfectly good
and the other is bad
the whole
mixture is bad; for the nature of this one bad lemon enters into it. So one
person may spoil the pleasure of twenty. A mother may keep a cloud resting on
the whole household from morning till night; thank God she sleeps at nights. A
father may fret and worry the whole household; and therefore Paul says
“Fathers
provoke not your children.” They are apt to make the children cross
or to create in them an unrestful
unquiet disposition. It does not take more
than one smoky chimney in a room to make it intolerable. (H. W. Beecher.)
A religious use of annoyance
The remarkable thing is: A religious use of a daily provocation.
Peninnah persecuted Hannah daily; laughed at her
mocked her. It was a
religious use. She prayed unto the Lord; she rose up and went forward that she
might pray mightily before God; she spake in her heart and she poured out her
soul before God. That was conquest
--that was victory! There is a possibility of
having a daily annoyance
and yet turning that daily annoyance into an occasion
of nearer and nearer approach to God. Let us then endeavour to turn all our
household griefs
family torments into occasions of profound worship and loving
homage to God. It was in human nature to avenge the insult; to cry out angrily
against the woman who delighted in sneering and in provoking. But there is
something higher than human nature
something better. (J. Parker
D. D.)
And she was in bitterness
of soul and prayed unto the Lord.
The success of Hannah’s
prayer
and the reasons for it
1.Both Jacob’s prayer and Hannah’s prayer are very short. Hannah’s
consists of a single verse. It is quite clear that the much speaking has
nothing to do with being heard.
2. Both Hannah’s prayer and Jacob’s were offered when the offerer was
in trouble. Jacob was flying from the face of Esau. Now observe the wonderful
graciousness and tenderness of God
that He makes a special promise to prayer
offered up in distress
whether of mind
body
or estate. “Call upon me
” says
He
“in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee
and thou shalt glorify Me.”
Hannah mixed tears with her prayers
for she “prayed unto the Lord
and wept
sore.” Christ mixed tears with His prayers in the garden
“Who in the days of
His flesh offered up prayers and supplications
with strong crying and tears
unto Him that was able to save Him from death.”
3. Again
Hannah’s prayer was secret. It was not spoken in articulate
language. “Now
Hannah
she spake in her heart; only her lips moved
but her
voice was not heard.”
4. Hannah fully looked for and expected a result from her prayer. I
gather this from the fact of her making a vow. When you are vexed
anxious
thwarted
troubled about anything
try to tell the story in the simplest words
to God
asking deliverance from the trouble
if it be His good pleasure to
grant it; if not
asking patience under it
and to be kept from going wrong
and acting in any way contrary to His will. Seek to be perfectly open
and to
tell everything that is upon your mind
--your temptations
the difficulties you
find in keeping your temper and conduct right
and what your special wishes are
under the circumstances. Our Heavenly Father
our Divine Friend
is pleased and
honoured by the confidence we repose in Him. He would have our prayer to be not
only an act of homage
but an act of confidence; not only an abasemeant of the
heart before His majesty
but a pouring forth of the heart before His fatherly
goodness. (Dean Goulburn.)
Prayer at the point of
agony
Understand what prayer is;
prayer is the utterance of agony. There is a flippant way of praying
which
means nothing
which God never hears. We cannot always pray at the point of
agony. There are indeed some whole days upon which I cannot pray at all. I can
say my prayers
I can put myself into a certain reverent attitude; but all
power of prayer has gone away from me; and then upon other days I could pray
from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same
and have conscious
influence with God. Hast thou ever an hour in thy poor
blank
barren life
when thou seemest to have influence in heaven? Employ every golden moment of
that hour
and in the strength of God’s answer thou shalt go many days. (Joseph
Parker
D. D.)
God sought in trouble
You know
when you have
been walking out with your father or mother
if you come to a pretty meadow
you can leave their side
run about
pick flowers
and hardly care whether your
father and mother are near you or not. But if you should run a thorn into your
finger
or hurt yourself in any way
how eagerly would you run to tell them all
your trouble
and to seek their help! Now God has just such children: when all
is smooth and easy around them
they care not much for their Father’s company;
but let pain or trouble come
they are glad to run to him
and to pour out
their hearts before him. If it had not been for Hannah’s trouble
Hannah would
never have known so much of prayer and praise. (Helen Plumptre.)
Verse 11
And she vowed a vow.
About setting our hearts upon things
And Hannah
--what shall we say of her passionate longing and
prayer for a child? Was this sinful
like the longing of the Israelites for
gross and stimulating food? or was it foolish
and wanting in judgment
like
good King Hezekiah’s prayer for a longer life? There are traces in the story of
its having been neither the one nor the other. In the first place
the granting
of her request turned out thoroughly well; it turned out not only for her own
happiness and honour
but for the good of the Church and people of God
which
does not look as if God was displeased with it. Then look at the mind of the
woman herself--what a holy and good woman she seems to have been. Then observe
too
how little of herself there is in her petition
as it is expressed in her
vow. She vows that she will give the child Unto the Lord “all the days of his
life.” Her child
as being a Levite
would
in the ordinary course of things
be bound to the service of the tabernacle from the age of twenty to the age of
fifty; but Hannah vows that she will give him up to the service of the Lord
from his earliest childhood. And so she did. It was clear that she had great
disinterested
patriotic views for the child
altogether distinct from any
consideration of her own comfort in him; and probably in making her vow she
must have been guided by some intimation from the Holy Spirit that a great
honour was in store for her
but that she must seek it in the appointed way in
which all blessings are to be had--in prayer and sacrifice of the mere natural
inclinations. (Dean Goulburn.)
Now Hannah
she spake in
her heart.
Hannah as a worshipper
The strength of Hannah’s
moral character is manifested in her temple service. She possessed a force of
soul which lifted her above trouble. Many in her circumstances would have hid
the tears of their graceful nature in attic solitude; but Hannah goes to the
temple to supplicate the aid of Heaven
and where so likely to be obtained as
at its Shiloh Porch?
1. Hannah was a tearful worshipper. “Wept sore” (1 Samuel 1:10). The worshippers of modern days scorn the idea of weeping in the
sanctuary; they call it “sentimentalism
” an “immoderate display of feeling
”
which should be concealed from public gaze.
2. Hannah was a soulful worshipper (1 Samuel 1:11). Trouble had intensified her feelings
and rendered her capable
of more fervent volition. Her prayer was a vow which bound to duty and to God.
Her soul was in its deepest action
stretching out its hand for blessing
3. Hannah was a silent worshipper. “Spake in her heart” (1 Samuel 1:13). Her prayer was so pungent that it savoured more of emotion than
voice. Yes! inside the temple at Shiloh there was a smaller sanctuary
whose
floor echoed not to the unhallowed footsteps of Eli’s wicked sons--that temple
was Hannah’s heart; Christ was its Ruler Priest.
4. Hannah was a constant
an observed
and a slandered worshipper
(verse 12-14). We should be careful in censuring the devotions of others.
People are too ready with “enthusiast
” or “zealot.”
5. Hannah was a successful worshipper (verse 17-18). Upon the next
festival Hannah remained from the temple on account of domestic duties (1 Samuel 1:22). Women were not obligated to attend any of these feasts
and
that Hannah went with her husband before shows their earnest piety. Never
remain from the temple unless
like this good mother
duty demands you to. In
this chapter we find home life and temple worship in very intimate association.
The one greatly influences the other. When the homes of the world are one with
the temple in the nature of its sacrifices
and the purity of its life
the
great object of redemption will have been accomplished. At length Samuel is
born
and Hannah performs her vow (1 Samuel 1:24) And all who come to the Christian temple must come through
sacrifice
through the death of Christ. The mother felt that her all was due to
God for the child. Wows made in sorrow must not be forgotten in song. What a
motto for mothers
“I have lent him to the Lord.” God pays good interest for
the loan of young children. Hannah made a good investment both for herself and
her son--today she is known not as the wife of Elkanah but as the mother of
Samuel. Why? Because she lent him to the Lord
Lessons:
1. Never deride personal affliction. It is from the Lord. (ver 5)
2. Families living at Rama should remember the temple at Shiloh.
3. Children taken to the temple in youth are likely to turn out
prophets
as Samuel did.
4. The discord of home may be hushed by a visit to the temple. (J.
S. Exell
M. A.)
Prayer in the heart
The sufferings of
Elizabeth Fry as she drew near her end were sometimes very great
and once she
said that if it was to last no one could wish for her life. In her worse pain
however
her faith and hope burned clearly. “Prayer is always in my heart
if I
may say so
it is my life
” was among her sayings. (The Quiver.)
Therefore Eli thought she
was drunken.
Of the sinfulness of rash
judgments
This was not the first
time
nor will it be the last that God’s true servants have been mocked and
falsely accused for actions which have been really pious and devout. They are
“a peculiar people”--peculiar
that is
to the world
who cannot understand
their ways If you resolve to be a Christian
indeed
you must be prepared to be
misunderstood
and to have things said about you which are not true. Eli’s
judgment of Hannah was a rash one. He should not have censured her for
intemperance
without much better grounds to go upon. And the fault was all the
worse in him
because he was high priest; and
as God’s minister
he ought
even supposing her to have gone astray to have shown some pity and gentleness
in reproving her. If Eli had judged himself and his own house
seriously taking
himself to task for his weak partiality to his sons
and giving them such a
rebuff for their vileness as should have restrained them
he would not have
been judged by God. The sin of rash judgment and censoriousness is a very
serious one
however lightly we may be disposed to think of it. This is evident
both from reason and from the Bible. As we have plenty of faults to find at
home
it must be the height of presumption to go out of ourselves
and to pass
judgment upon our neighbour.
Then
again
we have not
the material for judging our neighbour fairly
His conduct
indeed
is under
our eyes; but how can we know what have been his motives and intentions?
Lastly
judgment
like vengeance
belongs to God
and to God only. Having
committed himself to a false accusation
Eli did the best thing he could to
repair it. (Dean Goulburn.)
On judging others
The ordinary cannot judge
the extraordinary. A man when he has all his senses about him
and would
therefore feel himself in his most judicious mood
cannot reach certain
cases--they lie mile on mile beyond him. Only grief can understand grief; only
poetry can understand poetry; only love can interpret love; and only a woman in
Hannah’s mood can understand the trembling of Hannah’s lips. We should be
careful how we judge one another. Priests do not always understand people.
Official persons seldom do understand extra officials. Eli had been accustomed
to look upon persons
and to see them behave themselves under certain limits;
he had observed them displaying certain decorums when they came into the
neighbourhood of the holy place. But here is something he never saw before; and
the priest of the living God
ordained and consecrated--who ought to have had a
word of charity for the lowliest creature beneath his feet--instantly
with
that little remnant of devil that is in the best men
says
“Thou art drunken!”
Oh
when will priests be charitable! When shall we put the better and not the
worse construction on extraordinary signs and tokens! When shall we speak
hopefully! “Men would be better if we better deemed them.” (J. Parker
D. D.)
Hannah
The following circumstances
attending this prayer are recorded
and worthy of attention:--
1. It
was accompanied with a vow
expressed in language the most suitable and pious
Are we desiring anything of God? We ought to think of Him
as well as of
ourselves. It is thus we pray according to His will
and then we may know that
He heareth us.
2. Observe
the manner of her devotion. “Now Hannah
she spake in her heart
” etc. There
are things which we may not be at liberty to communicate to the nearest
relation
or to the dearest friend; but to God only. Hereby she testified her
belief that God was omniscient. She knew that words were not necessary to
inform a Being to whom all hearts are open It is better to want language than
disposition when we address Him
Who “seeketh such to worship Him as worship in
spirit and in truth.” It showed also that in dealing with God
she desired the
notice of none besides Him. Jehu said
“Come see my zeal for the Lord of
hosts.” The Pharisees prayed in the corners of the streets
and to be seen of
men. “But
” says the Saviour
“thou
when thou prayest
enter into thy closet
”
etc.
3. Observe
the misconception and censure to which it gave rise. This was the very reproach
which Peter and his fellows met with on the day of Pentecost. The multitude “mocking
said
These men are full of new wine.” But this reproach came from enemies But
here we find a good man
even the priest of the Most High God
issuing an
equally rash censure Some err in judging by the effects of constitutional
temperament They find a man of great vivacity
and loquaciousness
and ready to
speak on all occasions
and to every one he meets
concerning his own
experience and the things of God; and they set him down as a very lively
Christian
and of great spirituality They see another shrinking from
observation
and seemingly afraid to open his lips
lest he should utter more
than he feels; and they consider him as a lifeless soul
and under the fear of
man. But if they duly reflected
and judged properly
they would ascribe much
to the mercury of the one and the phlegm of the other
which affect them in all
other things as well as in religion. Many are too much biased in their judgment
by real faults and failings. These need not be pleaded for; but through natural
infirmity there may be much irregularity
where there is also not a little
share of sincerity. Especially let us guard against vilifying or censuring the
devotion of others
or the mode of their worship; lest we deem as hypocrisy
or
fanaticism
or superstition
what is truly conscientious and accepted of God.
It is probable that Eli had seen many abuses of this kind
some even in his own
family
and he may have stationed himself by a part of the temple to observe
and endeavour to repress such scandals. The guilty often occasion suspicions
and reproaches with regard to the innocent. When a disease is epidemical
many
are feared who are not infected.
4. Observe
the manner in which Hannah received the sad and insulting rebuke. She makes no
rash appeal to Heaven
such as is often the effect and proof of hardened guilt.
She utters no bitter complaint against her accuser. She does not bid him to
look at home
and upbraid him with the conduct of his own sons. She does not
tell him how ill and unbecoming it was for one
in his place and office
to
abuse a poor disconsolate woman at the footstool of divine mercy. She knew that
a proper representation of her condition and conduct in respectful language
would be the best argument in her favour. Eli was an imperfect character
yet
there were in him traces of real excellencies
and his ingenuousness is one of
them. He is open to conviction
and willing to acknowledge himself mistaken
and ready to make amends for the injury he had done her
by his blessing and
his prayers. A lively writer has said
“I was mistaken” are the three hardest
words to pronounce in the English language. Yet it seems but acknowledging that
we are wiser then we were before to see our error
and humbler than we were
before to own it. But so it is; and Goldsmith observes that Frederic the Great
did himself more honour by his letter to his senate
stating that he had just
lost a great battle by his own fault
than by all the victories he had won.
5. Observe
her relief and satisfaction. “And she said
Let thine handmaid find grace in
thy sight. So the woman went her way
and did eat
and her countenance was no
more sad.” Her satisfaction arose from two things. First
the rectifying Eli’s
mistake concerning her
and the blessing he had pronounced upon her; for whet
can be more consoling than to stand fair in the judgment of those we value? “To
live in the estimation of the wise and good
” says Robinson
“is like walking
in an eastern spice grove.” Secondly
the confidence in God
which is derived
from prayer. (W. Jay.)
Mistaken judgment
Ah! how different is the
eye of God and the eye of man! While Eli rebukes Hannah as a drunken woman
God
is holding secret communion with her as a praying saint. I was once passing by
the seaside
where there was a great variety of beautiful and valuable stones.
I understood little or nothing about them
and was for picking up those which
appeared the prettiest to me. I took them to a person who understood stones; he
smiled
and told me they were only fit to mend the road with; and then he showed
me some which he had been cutting asunder
and which were indeed beautiful: but
when I took them in my hand and examined the outside
I could not but
acknowledge that they were almost the last that I should have thought of
picking up. These stones then preached a useful sermon to me
and their text
seemed to be this
“Judge not according to the appearance
but judge righteous
judgment.” (John
7:24.) (Helen
Plumptre.)
Christian charity in
estimating others
“When Bernard chanced to
espy a poor man meanly apparelled
he would say to himself
‘Truly
Bernard
this man hath more patience beneath his cross than thou hast;’ but if he saw a
rich man delicately clothed
then he would say
‘It may be that this man
under
his delicate clothing
hath a better soul than thou hast under thy religious
habit!’” This showed an excellent charity! Oh
that we could learn it! It is
easy to think evil of all men
for there is sure to he some fault about each
one which the least discerning may readily discover; but it is far more worthy
of a Christian
and shows much more nobility of soul
to spy out the good in
each fellow believerse This needs a larger mind as well as a better heart
and
hence it should be a point of honour to practise ourselves in it till we obtain
an aptitude for it. Any simpleton might be set to sniff out offensive odours;
but it would require a scientific man to bring to us all the fragrant essences
and rare perfumes which lie hid in field and garden. Oh
to learn the science
of Christian charity! It is an art far more to be esteemed than the most
lucrative of human labours. This choice art of love is the true alchemy.
Charity towards others
abundantly practised
would be the death of envy and
the life of fellowship
the overthrow of self and the enthronement of grace. (C.
H. Spurgeon.)
Verse 15-16
Hannah answered and said
No
my Lord
I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit.
A woman of a sorrowful
spirit
The special cause of
Hannah’s sorrow arose from the institution of polygamy
which
although it was
tolerated under the old law
is always exhibited to us in practical action as a
most fruitful source of sorrow and sin. The worse the woman the better she
could get on with the system of many wives
but the good woman
the true woman
was sure to smart under it. But enough sources of grief remain; and there is
not in any household
however joyous
the utter absence of the cross. The
worldling say
“There is a skeleton in every house.” I know little about such
dead things
but I know that a cross of some sort or other must be borne by
every child of God. The smoking furnace is part of the insignia of the heavenly
family
without which a man may well question whether he stands in covenant
relationship to God at all. Much that is precious may be connected with a
sorrowful spirit. Note well the precious things which went in Hannah’s case
with a sorrowful spirit. She was a godly woman. As we read the chapter
we are
thoroughly certified that her heart was right with God. Many of the sweetest
flowers in the garden of grace grow in the shade
and flourish in the drip.
True
there are children of the tropical sun
whose beauty and fragrance could
only be produced by having bathed themselves in the golden flood
and these
in
certain respects
must always stand in the forefront
yet are there choice
flowerets to whom the unshaded sun would be death. They prefer a sheltered
bank
or a ravine in the forest
under the shadow of the thick boughs
where a
softened
mellowed light developes them to perfection. I am persuaded that he
“who feedeth among the lilies” has rare plants in his flora
fair and fragrant
choice and comely
which are more at home in the damps of mourning than in the
glaring sun of joy. I have known such
who have been a living lesson to us all
from their broken-hearted penitence
their solemn earnestness
their jealous
watchfulness
their sweet humility
and their gentle love.
2. Hannah was a lovable woman.
3. In Hannah’s case
too
the woman of a sorrowful spirit was a very
gentle woman.
4. There was more
however
than I have shown you
for Hannah was a
thoughtful woman
for her sorrow drove her first within herself
and next into
much communion with her God. That she was a highly thoughtful woman appears in
everything she says. The product of her mind is evidently that which only a
cultivated soul could yield.
5. Remember
also
that though she was a woman of a sorrowful spirit
she was a blessed woman. It is now clear that much that is precious may go with
a sorrowful spirit.
Much that is precious may
come out of a sorrowful spirit: it is not only to be found with it
but may
even grow out of it.
1. Observe
first
that through her sorrowful spirit Hannah had
learned to pray. In too many cases ease and health bring a chill over
supplication
and there is a needs be for a stirring of the fire with the rough
iron of trial. Many a flower reserves its odour till the rough wind waves it to
and fro
and shakes out its fragrance. As a rule the tried man is the praying
man
the angel must wrestle with us in the night before we learn to hold him
and cry
“I will not let thee go.”
2. In the next place
Hannah had learned self-denial. This is clear
since the very prayer by which she hoped to escape out of her great grief was a
self-denying one. She desired a son
that her reproach might be removed; but if
her eyes might be blessed with such a sight she would cheerfully resign her
darling to be the Lord’s as long as he lived.
3. Another precious thing had come to this woman
and that was
she
had learned faith.
4. Still more of preciousness this woman of a sorrowful spirit found
growing out of her sorrow: she had evidently learned much of God. Driven from
common family joys she had been drawn near to God
and in that heavenly
fellowship she had remained a humble waiter and watcher. In seasons of sacred
nearness to the Lord she had made many heavenly discoveries of his name and
nature
as her song makes us perceive.
much that is precious will
yet be given to those who are truly the Lord’s
even though they have a
sorrowful spirit.
1. Hannah had her prayers answered.
2. Not only did there come to Hannah after her sorrow an answered
prayer
but grace to use that answer.
3. Hannah had acquired another blessing
and that was the power to
magnify the Lord.
4. Moreover
her sorrow prepared her to receive further blessings
for after the birth of Samuel she had three more sons and two daughters
God
thus giving her five for the one that she had dedicated to him. This was grand
interest for her loan: five hundred per cent. Last of all
it was by suffering
in patience that she became so brave a witness for the Lord
and could so
sweetly sing
“There is none holy as the Lord
neither is there any rock like
our God.” (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Hannah’s gracious
disposition
Hannah still found prayer
and patience the best anodynes and antidotes for assuaging her grief; cold
patience must quench her corrival’s fiery contumely
and hot fervent prayer
must quicken and prevail with God to grant her desire; and to animate her
devotion the more she adds warm tears thereunto
and
as if all this were not
enough
she subjoins likewise her solemn vow to God
saying
If thou wilt give
thine hand maid a man child
then will I give him to the Lord all the days of
his life. The judge misjudged
and misconstrued her true devotion
as was that
of those Primitive Christians (Acts 2:13). Thus also both ancient and modern martyrs have been misjudged
in all ages
and if we be so in our age
God is not leading us through any
untrodden paths; many better than we have tons before us in that way
but our
comfort is the day of judgment will judge over again all that are misjudged. (Psalms 37:6). Hannah is silent
touching the taunts of Peninnah
that was so
peevish to her; and though she could not be so to Eli’s taunts here
but
answers them
yet she setteth not up a loud note at him
calling him a false
accuser; nor doth she twit him in the teeth
with bidding him to look better to
those drunken whoremasters
his own sons
saying vies corrects sin
as many
pert dames would have done in her circumstances; but she gives him a milder
answer to his reproaches than the blessed Apostle could scarcely give to the
High Priest in his day (Acts 23:5) calling him a whited wall
etc.
but she here gives the high
priest good words
patiently bearing his unjust censurings of her.
3. Here is her prudence
as well as patience
she seeketh to satisfy
him against his false judgment. Saith she
I am a woman
in whom drunkenness is
more abominable than in men; and thereupon the Romans punished it with death
as well as adultery
and that she was a woman of a troubled spirit
so more
likely to be drunk with her own tears (whereof
good soul
she had drunk
abundance) rather than with any intoxicating liquors.
4. Behold here
her humility and modesty together with her patience
and prudence
none of which could have shined so forth in her
had she been
really drunk according to Eli’s over-severe sentence; notwithstanding Eli’s
rash severity in so misjudging her
yet she useth no railing accusation against
him
as is said of Michael against the Devil (Jude verse 9) in calling him an
unjust judge. (C. Ness.)
Verse 17
Thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
Specific objects in prayer
To make prayer of any value there should be definite objects for
which to plead. We often ramble in our prayers
we chatter about many subjects
but the soul does not concentrate itself upon any object. Imagine an archer
shooting with his bow and not knowing where the mark is! Would he be likely to
have success? Conceive a ship
on a voyage of discovery
putting to sea without
the captain having any idea of what he was looking for! Would you expect that
he would come back laden either with the discoveries of science or with
treasures of gold? In everything else you have a plan. You do not go to work
without knowing that there is something that you designed to make. How is it
that you go to God without knowing what blessing you designed to have? (C.
H. Spurgeon.)
Verse 19
And they rose
up in the morning early
and worshipped before the Lord.
Early morning prayer
The fragrance
of the morning prayer lingers with us throughout the day. A man cannot free
himself from the farewell kiss of his wife and little one throughout his day of
toil. They urge him to his best endeavour. In the moment of peril they haunt
him like a guardian angel. In like manner the fragrant protection of God’s
morning kiss upon the soul lingers with and fortifies it for its duties
be
they never so varied and exacting. His blessing rests upon us from our morning
prayer
and quickens our homeward footsteps when the day is done
for we hunger
for His more immediate presence again.
Verse 23
And Elkanah her husband said unto her.
The father must take his part in the spiritual culture of children
It is a poor manhood and a dishonourable
neglectful fatherhood
that leaves all the religious life and devotion of children to the mother or to
others
and it must be disreputable before the Lord. Nor is the blameworthiness
avoided by the habit of urging the claims of the busy life of our days. If any
father thinks that saving a little more money for the children
or in order to
give them better social position and appearance
is of greater importance than
his own careful nurture of them in the love of Christ and in consecration to
the Lord
then to God he will have to answer for the folly of his judgment and
the evil of his practice and neglect. If the father does not hope in God for
the children
as well as the mother tend them for the Lord
life must have
sorrowful mistakes
if not miserable wrecks. The mother at home watches over
the child for the Lord’s sake in many homes
stud what does the father do? Is
it only careless
irreverent agreement that he gives to the life plans of the
mother for the souls of the sons and daughters; or
recognising in the mother’s
love and devotion the will of God
does he at least lift up all his heart in
prayer to God that the Lord would establish His word of promise by accepting
for all rims and eternity
the little ones whom He has given? We--men and
fathers--have our part in the consecration of the children as well as the
mothers who watch them through the perils of their infancy; and if our hands do
not touch the children so often as do the mother’s
in watchfulness and
guidance
yet should our hearts the more wait on God in longing for the
establishment of His word of hope. No father can without sin delegate all the
spiritual nurture of his children to their mother; still less can he
without
guilt
hand it over to a stranger in school or church. (G. B. Ryley.)
Early training of children
He would be a foolish gardener who never pruned or nailed up a
delicate fruit tree till the branches carried their young leaves and open
blossoms. No! train and guide for the coming blossoming time; and when it comes
the sweet growth of hearts accepted in the Beloved and in the covenant will be
provided by the Spirit of life. Thus Hannah trained her little Samuel to
recognise himself as dedicated to the Lord; and
as we shall soon see
she had
not long to wait for the child’s ratification of her vow. (G. B. Ryley.)
Verses
24-28
And when she had weaned him
she took him up with her
with three
bullocks.
The duty of presenting children to God in the way of religious
education
There is nothing more characteristic of Christianity than the
tenderness and sympathy which it inspires. The Bible delights in domestic
scenes; and it presents to us the pious mother in her anxieties
in her
prayers
in her vows
and then in the dedication of the child obtained by
prayer to the Lord her God.
I. The first question we
purpose to consider is
at what age do we propose to commence the education of
children? And I answer
at the age at which Samuel was brought by Hannah to the
Lord; “when she had weaned him”--when “the child was young.” Now
the reason
why we begin with children so early
even under the age of seven years
is
important. The reason
therefore
why we begin so early is
because their
depravity begins to manifest itself so early: the disorder begins early
and we
must begin early to apply the remedy.
2. And
also
because habits are early formed.
3. Because
also
in early age they are most susceptible.
4. Also
because in this age juvenile depravity abounds.
5. But it may be asked
not only at what age do we begin
and why do
we begin so early; but
how do we apply ourselves to the work? I answer
we
seize on the natural vivacity and buoyancy of children
and aim to improve it
to good purposes.
II. The object we have
ultimately in view. And that is
their dedication to God; we lend them to the
Lord
that
as long as they live
they may be His.
1. Instruction in the elements of the Christian religion. The first
thing that Eli would probably do with the young Samuel
would be to instruct
him in the history of the Old Testament.
2. But there would be a danger
even in religious instruction
if the
children were not early taught to deny themselves; if they were not duly
disciplined
and made to practise self-government.
3. But beside this
due regard must be paid to the great sacrifice of
the Christian system. I gather this from the first verse of the text. When
Hannah took the young child to the house of God
she took with her “three
bullocks.”
4. There is the hope that these children will be brought to dedicate
themselves to God all the days of their lives. “As long as he liveth
he shall
be lent unto the Lord.”
5. And then
all this must be accompanied by fervent prayer.
III. The motives we have to
encourage us. The first is gratitude
looking back to the past; the next is
hope
looking forward to the future. (D. Wilson.)
And the child was young.
Of infant baptism and of childlike children
In the Hebrew of this passage
the word translated “young” is the
same as that translated “child
” so that the literal rendering of the words is
“and the child was a child.” This may have two meanings
both of which are very
instructive. The first meaning is that the child was young in age
when he was
dedicated to the Lord by his parents. Very likely the words before us
“the
child was young
” are put in as a sort of explanation
as much as to say: “He
was entirely dependent upon his mother and father; so young that he could not
have gone up to Shiloh by himself; if he could walk a little
it was all he
could do; he could not have brought himself to Eli
or into the house of the
Lord.” But the words
“and the child was young
” may bear another and perhaps a
more satisfactory meaning. It would be high praise if it were said of a man
“and the man was a man”; we should understand by it that he was brave
outspoken
fearless
upright
possessed of all manly virtues. And when it is said
“the
child was a child
” perhaps we are to understand that the little Samuel had all
childlike graces
was gentle
teachable
humble
submissive to his parents
and
those set over him. And this may lead us to think how the young people of our
own days have too often none of those graces
which should distinguish young
people; the children are too often children no more--in forwardness
in
conceit
in insubordination
in want of respect for parents and elders
they
are like persons three or four times as old as themselves: a very bad sign of
the times
and only matching too well with others which we see around us. (Dean
Goulburn.)
Verse 27-28
For this child I prayed;
and the Lord hath given me my petition.
Parentage and piety
“The Hand of God in
History” might be the appropriate title of many of the hooks of Scripture
for
the sacred records largely illustrate the agency of God in the affairs of men.
As an engineer adjusts all the parts of his machine to accomplish one result
and by a touch of his hand can direct their motion; so has God arranged the
events of time
harmonised their diversities
and gathered into unity their
manifold influences. Great events have often been originated by most trivial
causes
and great men have been developed in most unlikely ways. The stain left
on paper by the bark in which Lawrence Foster had rudely cut his name
led to
the invention of printing--a power of mightiest influence on the world. The
fall of an apple in the garden of Sir Isaac Newton suggested to that great
philosopher the law of gravitation
till then unknown
but which is now
recognised as the security of creation. To the Ishmaelite merchants
and to the
captain of Pharaoh’s guard
it was an ordinary affair of commerce to buy or
sell a slave
yet from the Hebrew boy
the subject of their traffic
what
marvellous events transpired
of vast importance to the temporal welfare of a
nation
and to the Church
in whose memory Joseph is forever embalmed! That
child
at the mercy of the Nile and its crocodiles
found so timeously by
Pharaoh’s daughter
was to attain a greater eminence than the king who fostered
him
and to become the first historian and lawgiver of the world. In Israel of
old it would excite no wonder that a wedded wife longed to be a mother; for
by
the promise of Jehovah
the woman’s seed was to be the great Deliverer. Nor
would it seem unbecoming that a godly wife should cry to God for offspring; yet
that simple Hannah on her knees became the link of a chain in the revival of
piety and patriotism in the Promised Land. Though by no means without light
the Church of Israel had been favoured with no direct prophecy since the death
of Joshua. Religion during the long interval had its ebbings and flowings--less
and less marked
and had evidently declined. There was a lack of patriotism in
the decline of piety; for among the Hebrews
religious and patriotic sentiments
were essentially conjoined
and mutually stimulative. The ritual of the chosen
people had become formal
and their worship often idolatrous. True worshippers
were isolated during this dark age of the Church of Israel. Though they kept
the candle of the Lord from going out
they did not arrest the national
degeneracy. To keep religion lively
it is not enough for individual souls to
wait upon the Lord. Activity is one of the most salutary means of spiritual
health. Unless we become the means of reviving others
they will deaden us.
Like bodies in nature
where the heat of one either warms the other or is
cooler by the contact
so a living piety raises the standard of others
and a
languid devotion is lowered to the level of the contiguous death. The true
worshipper was not called upon to absent himself
or separate
though ministers
of the sanctuary were unworthy. The priesthood then was by descent of blood
not by piety. In the New Testament dispensation it is otherwise. There has been
occasional necessity for protesting and seceding from the professing Church.
When Christianity was established
the Church seceded from the Jewish Temple;
when it was reformed
it was by a protest against the errors of the Papacy; and
when it has been purified still further
there have been secessions from
Establishments for conscience sake. But Elkanah was obedient to the divine call
when he went to Shiloh. He honoured the ordinances that were appointed by God
and waited at the place where Jehovah had put his name
and where he met his
people. Let us now turn to Samuel’s mother. Hannah was a pious and prayerful
woman. Year after year
at the solemn feasts
did Peninnah reproach the
sensitive Hannah. With intense earnestness of soul did she cry to God and
wrestle at the throne of grace
though not a word escaped her lips. Hannah went
home without her sadness
and buoyant with the expectation of answered prayer.
Faith triumphed over nature
and in this earnest realised the blessing. Nor was
her faith misplaced or unrewarded. She saw the Divine gift in the child of her
affection
and received a lesson of gratitude and dependence in his every smile
and tear. Hannah’s piety did not cool when her wish was gratified. She regarded
her child as a sacred deposit to be returned to God. She had asked him from
Heaven; and
ere he saw the light
she had written many prayers on his behalf
in the book of God’s remembrance.
1. This family scene speaks to all Christian parents. In the diary of
a mother who lived in a secluded spot of Long Island
America
was inscribed
this record some forty years ago: “This morning I rose very early to pray for
my children
and especially that my sons may be ministers and missionaries of
Jesus Christ.” Her life corresponded with her piety
and her influence upon her
children was blessed. Her prayers on their behalf were abundantly answered. Her
eight children were all trained up for God. Her five sons became ministers and
missionaries of Jesus Christ. The others are well known in the American Church.
The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher is another of these fruits of a mother’s prayers.
Begin the dedication and Christian training of your children early
and
continue them with earnest prayer
confiding faith
and hopeful perseverance.
“Hold the little hands in prayer
teach the weak knees their kneeling. Let him
see thee speaking to thy God; he will not forget it afterward. When old and
grey he will feelingly remember a mother’s tender piety; and the touching
recollection of her prayers shall arrest the strong man in his sin.” Train
their imitative powers--so strong in childhood--to copy a good example seen in
your own daily life. Watch the first growth of grace with eagerness as intense
as the first step
or the earliest articulation of a father or a mother’s name.
2. This family scene speaks to sons and daughters. It shows the
blessed estate of children who have been dedicated to the Lord by parental
prayer
and whose careful training has been the improvement of that privilege.
Such is the testimony of an American statesman
who was exposed to much
spiritual danger at the period of the French Revolution in the eighteenth
century when a strong tide of unbelief rolled over the civilised world: “I
believe I should have been swept away by the flood of French infidelity if it
had not been for one thing--the remembrance of the time when my sainted mother
used to make me kneel by her side
taking my little hands in hers
and cause me
to repeat the Lord’s Prayer.” Nor is the case of John Randolph a solitary example.
It is the blessing promised to all praying and believing mothers.
3. This family scene speaks to those who remember with bitterness
their neglect of youthful opportunities
and their sad misimprovement of a
mother’s fondest wishes
and a father’s solid counsels. (R. Steele.)
Asked and heard of the
Lord
Nor are we to marvel that
the Book of God should concern itself here and elsewhere with matters that are
sometimes the occasion of silly smiles in the unreverent
or meet only with
profane disregard in the shallow. Rather
let us in our hearts and homes thank
God for a Book that
coming from Him
so hallows our human affections
deals so
reverently and tenderly with a woman’s disappointments and a man’s affection
and also with his pity for her sadness
as that it opens the history of the
first
and in some things the greatest of the prophetical order
with the story
of Hannah’s grief and Elkanah’s effort at consolation. The God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ does not laugh any human hope or grief to scorn. Now
this earnestness
this very agony of deep desire in Hannah
is an instance of
God’s forerunning grace; the grace that blesses us even before we see the light
of this world; that blesses us in our ancestry
in our homes and kindred
in
our father and mother--the grace that sanctifies us by a mother’s piety
and by
the prayers offered to God before she knows a mother’s joy. God’s best men and
women have been from mothers’ prayers and vows
and from fathers’ solemn
consecration. Blessed unspeakably is
or ought to be
that life of man or
woman
boy or girl
that has been heralded into the world not only by pain
but
also by prayer
and its advent into these “lower parts of the earth” prefaced
by the hand of father or mother laying hold upon God. God’s forerunning
preparing grace is not the cold supervision of an Almighty One who deals with
human tears or joys only as incidents in the outworking of His inscrutable
will; but it is the loving
gentle touch of a Father who takes a woman’s
tearful longings
or a man’s joys and hopes; and by the longing and the hope
by the tears and joys of father and mother
prepares greatly consecrated men
and saintly women of God. So was it with Samuel the asked and heard of God.
Thus was it with Jeremiah and Timothy and Augustine
and that other early
teacher of the Church of whom it is told that often
when he slept the sleep of
babyhood
his devoted father would bend over him and reverently kiss the little
breast that by consecration of father and mother had become the temple of the
Holy Ghost. In her grief she was a reproach to the feast of tabernacles
at
which all were to be happy. Her grief was no nobler than ours is ofttimes
but
just as human; and like ours
too
in this--that a strain of fretfulness ran through
it. Yet there is in Hannah’s grief one feature that more than redeems it from
commonness. After years of repining she has at last dared to share her trouble
with the God of Israel
and pour it forth as into the bosom of the Lord of
Hosts. That is now a blessedness in her bitterness. She has
at length
gone
where alone it is well to weep
grieve
regret
or be bitter; to the mercy
seat. For it is safe and blessed to pour out life’s bitterness only where you
can pray: and that is not to the sympathy of men and women
but to the heart of
God
at the feet of Jesus
before the Ark of the Covenant. There we may weep
grieve
mourn
and pray about anything. What do we pray for? Is it possession
or consecration? Is it selfishly to hold earth’s blessings and heaven’s gifts
on earth
and with them minister as much as we can to our own satisfaction and
delight
or
behind and deeper than our own longings and cravings for self
have we a wish to truly serve the Lord with His own blessings
and “gladly give
up all to Him to whom our more than all is due?” Oh! pray not for mere
possession; pray that the more you have of anything
the more you may be able
to consecrate to God; and pray
too
that you may not have anything without
devotion of it to God. If you long for life here
and there is no reason why
you should not
let it be that you may the longer live to Christ’s praise. If
you ask for this world’s good
let it be that you may devote the more to Jesus.
If you long for the love and light of this world
for the home lights that may
be denied you
for the lamps of love to shine about you that have never yet
been kindled for you
let it be that with fuller heart and wider reach of
affection you may the more reveal and illustrate the love that passeth
knowledge. If you seek for pardon
let it be under the quick impulse of love to
Christ
and in order to glorify His cross. The high priest’s words might have
fallen on this distressed soul like a blast of frosty winter over the blossoms
of the early spring time. How often tender hearts run risk from the ignorant
hardness of others; who
perhaps
mean well enough
but are regardless of
“wringing or breaking a heart.” Nay
the more tender the heart’s experience is
the more it hazards from intercourse with men at such times. God alone
Christ
alone can be trusted for the right understanding
the gentle treatment of our
griefs and wants and prayers. Many a time--God grant unwittingly--they wound
where the Lord would heal
or heal but slightly when the Lord would wholly
save. We are not fit to take care of one another; “who is sufficient for these
things?” I have known of souls alienated from life and full consecration by the
ill-judged or lightly-weighed utterance of a minister of Christ
who has
thought as wisely when he has spoken to heart’s experience as Eli did when he
looked at Hannah
and told her to cease from her drunkenness. She had prayed
therefore she might go in peace. She had poured out her heart to the Lord
why
should she
then
be sad any more? She had made her cares the Lord’s
she had
cast her burden upon the Lord
and might now be at rest in the Lord and wait
patiently for Him. Nor should we ever be other than calm after prayer
even
though the answer be for a while ungranted. An ungranted petition is no warrant
for not abiding calmly after we have tried to make our cares God’s; for either
He will
at the best time
give us what we ask
or at the proper time give us
something better than our prayers. Thus it came about that Samuel was “asked of
the Lord
” as in later days he was known as the “heard of the Lord.” (G. B.
Ryley.)
A prayer and its issue
1. It was heard prayer.
2. It was based on a new name for God. She appealed to Jehovah under
a new title
“Jehovah of Hosts
” as though it were nothing to Him to summon
into existence an infant spirit
whom she might call child.
3. It was definite prayer. “Give unto thine handmaid a man-child.”
“For this child I prayed.” So many of our prayers miscarry because they are
aimed at no special goal.
4. It was prayer without reserve. “I have poured out my soul before
the Lord.”
5. It was persevering prayer. “It came to pass
as she continued
praying before the Lord.”
6. It was prayer that received its coveted boon.
7. The workings of sorrow. In this prayer we can trace the harvest
sown in years of suffering. Only one who had greatly suffered could have poured
out such a prayer. (F. B. Meyer
B. A.)
Prayer answered
Hannah emptied her heart
of its sorrow
and had it filled with peace. She could eat her meat with a
merry heart
and was no more sad. Nor did she forget praise after prayer. She
rose up in the morning early
and worshipped before the Lord. Little grace can
pray; but only great grace can praise. Any child can ask for what it wants
or
cry out when he is in pain; but it is not every child that has a heart to be
grateful for kindness received; or that will even be at the pains to say
Thank
you for it
though told day after day that he ought. Children of God! do you
not plead guilty here? Where is the same earnestness in praising that there was
in praying? When have you been so thankful for the mercy received
as you
thought
when you were begging for it
you would be
if you might but have it?
Oh that our hearts may be better tuned for that happy place where every breath
is praises The prayers of Hannah were nigh unto the Lord continually: he
remembered her
and gave her a son; and that she might never forget how she had
obtained him
she called him Samuel
that is
Asked of God; so that every time
she heard or uttered the name of the dear child
she might remember her prayer
answering God
and be stirred up to renewed praise. What is this grateful woman
preparing as an offering for her God? No less than the much loved child she has
received from him! “Hannah said
I will not go up until the child be weaned
and then I will bring him
that he may appear before the Lord and there abide
forever.” And is this the way
Hannah
in which you mean to enjoy the much
longed for treasure? O woman
great is thy faith! great is thy wisdom! Yes
it
is just in proportion as we reader back unto the Lord that which he hath given
us
and place it at his disposal
and under his care
that we enjoy it. You
know when anyone wants to make the most of his money
he puts it into the bank.
Now
if you want to make the most of a mercy or a comfort
place it in the
Lord’s hands
and be welt assured that you shall receive your own with usury.
Earthly banks may fail and disappoint
but you will never meet with one who has
been a loser by putting into the Lord’s bank. I mean by devoting any thing to
Him
as Hannah devoted her darling child. He promises you a hundred fold even
in this present life
and you know he is always as good as his word. And now
while Hannah was weaning her infant
she had the yet more difficult task of
weaning her own heart: you may be sure that every day tended to endear him more
to her; and you will expect that her resolution at last failed her; but Hannah
knew where her great strength lay
and she found the truth of her own sweet
song
“He will keep the feet of His saints.” As soon as ever she had weaned the
child
she set out on her first and last journey with him
taking offerings and
sacrifices for the temple service
and especially
the calves of the lips
even
praise unto her God. “He worshipped the Lord there.” How very beautiful is this
acknowledgment to the praise of a prayer answering God! Ah! how many an answer
is unheeded by us when we ought to be inscribing upon it in letters of glowing
gratitude
“For this mercy I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition
which I asked of him.” Nay
my children
were our eyes properly opened to
discern between good and evil
we might inscribe on many a thing with which we
are inclined to quarrel
“For this I prayed.” (Helen Plumptre.)
The duty of intercessory
prayer
1. Intercessory prayer for your children is necessary
as an evidence
of the earnestness of feeling and purpose with which you have entered upon your
office.
2. Earnest intercessory prayer will eminently contribute to prepare
and qualify the mind for more effectually dealing with the children. Successful
teaching
in so far at least as the cultivation of the religious element of
character is concerned
depends
I am convinced
much more upon moral than
intellectual qualifications.
3. Prayer for the children will infuse strength
promptitude
and
energy to your mind
amid the manifold difficulties and discouragements of your
office.
4. And
lastly
earnest intercessory prayer will bring the blessing
of God down upon your children. (H. Richard.)
Spiritual transmutations
What a succession of
transmutations these verses present! The bitterness of a woman’s grief is
transmuted into earnest
believing
importunate prayer; this prayer returns to
her in a precious gift: this gift
so earnestly sought
causes in its receiver
a deep sense of gratitude; this gratitude leads to the willing consecration of
the divine gift to its Giver; this sacrifice of Hannah’s darling son is
transformed into an unspeakable national blessing. Out of a woman’s sorrow
comes a nation’s reformation and salvation. All the great works of God for man
begin in man; in some one heart which He visits with trials and comforts
with
conflicts and victories. And He will use the commonest means along with the
most sacred to bring to pass His purpose. Hannah was in that state of mind
which turns everything into fuel to feed its own consuming passion. That there
may have been something of self-will
perhaps of discontent and envy
in her
feelings
we may not be able to deny. For
in point of fact
you never
or very
rarely
do obtain from our poor humanity a desire which is absolutely pure
without mixture of selfishness of some sort. And God
who is rich in mercy
forgives the sin
and accepts the desire as the germ of a higher life. If the
strength of holy desire disturbs sin
and sin defiles the stream of our prayers
and services
yet it is only by the continual flow of our better feelings that
we attain to a greater purity; the stream cleanses itself by movement
whereas
stagnation is increase of pollution. Hannah
then
was discontented with life
as it was
how far with a holy
how far with an unholy
discontent we cannot
say. She was burdened and miserable. And in such a state of mind she might have
become chronically depressed
dissatisfied
wretched. She might have turned
from God
and shut herself in upon herself. She might have allowed her grief to
corrode her heart
and poison all her life. Instead of this
it was transmuted
into prayer. Concentrated
continuous
importunate prayer
in which the
suppliant was quite oblivious of all observers--such was the way in which she
pleaded her case before the Lord. And
in a similar manner
God wishes us all
to transmute and transform the evils and sorrows of life into prayer. The worst
thing we can do is to be silent about them toward Him
though it will
perhaps
be the best to be so toward men. And
even if we are sometimes so confused that
we know not how to frame a petition
then let us simply go to God
and talk to
Him about it
as we might talk to our dearest friend. It will give us some
measure of relief to know that it is shared by Another
and He the wisest and
the best; it will bring the mind into that partial repose which comes from
leaning
if only in a small degree
upon faithful love. Turn trouble
disappointment
bereavement anxiety--aye
even sin--into prayer. These are like
the dark
hard
rough ore
which is put by the smelter into the fire
and from
which comes a bright stream of precious metal. Turn your sorrows into prayer
and prayer will transmute them into gold. Hannah’s prayer was transmuted into a
gift
the very gift she had prayed for. “For this child I prayed; and the Lord
hath given me my petition which I asked of Him.” She might have loved the child
had she not prayed so specially for him; but she loved him all the better for
prayer and for the answer that he was to it. “For this child I prayed.” Thus
the prayers of God’s people often take concrete form
and stand round about
them as unmistakable evidences of His remembrance of them and interference for
them. “For this home I prayed
” one can say. “For this situation
this
business
I prayed
” another can say. “For this mission
its establishment
its
maintenance
its usefulness
I prayed
” a third can say. “For this poor man
for this unhappy woman
that I might get food
shelter
aid for them
I
prayed
” a fourth can say. “For this man’s conversion I prayed
” a fifth can
say. Yes; God hears and answers prayer. The fervent wish sent up to Him
like Hannah’s
prayer
without vocal words
comes back in rich visible gifts
as the invisible
vapours are drawn up by the nun
and return in fertilising showers. The
transmutation was again repeated when the answer to prayer was changed into
gratitude. It is possible to pray when we are in great trouble
and to be
answered
and then forget God who helped us. Complaining comes easier to human
nature than thanksgiving. And
unlike Miriam’s song
it was not an outburst
caused by excited feeling which spent itself in words
but a sign of a
permanent condition of mind. The gift never became more to her than the Giver
never shut God out from her consciousness
never tempted her to act and think
as if now she could do without Him. This was a distinct and great advance in
her spiritual life. The sense of need was good
so was prayer for help
but the
unfailing thankfulness of her heart was better still. She had come out to walk
with God in the sunshine. And now we coma to observe how gratitude rose to the
still higher level of sacrifice. “For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath
given me my petition which I asked of Him: Therefore
also I have lent him to
the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be long to the Lord. And he worshipped
the Lord there.” She did not forget her vow as so many do. The one and only
child whom she had gained by a great wrestling
the jewel of her heart
she
surrendered. Hannah is greatest and is nearest to God in sacrifice. Her spirit
is now exquisitely pure; her loyalty to God is absolute. Here is a vital
difference between a soul which is truly devout and one which only calls upon
God in trouble for the sake of what he can get. God so comes into the first as
that the gift he seeks makes him loving
trustful
self-forgetful; he passes
beyond it into a quiet acquiescence in the perfect will of the Father; he comes
to God with such fulness of faith that
like Abraham
he would surrender even
the coveted gift again. It is sacrifice
and yet not sacrifice; for there is no
wrench of the heart
no struggle of the will. Hannah was happier after she had
left her darling at Shiloh. And now
finally
let us observe how this sacrifice
of her motherly heart
this voluntary and happy surrender to God of His best
gift
was transformed into a national blessing. Hannah’s consecrated child
became the judge and saviour of his people. But how much wider was that service
than ever he or his praying mother had imagined! They thought of him as a
life-long attendant in the tabernacle
where he would be sheltered from the noise
and battle of life; but God designed him for a man of action
for a judge and
ruler of His people You never know what honour God may put upon your sacrifice.
He sees more value in it than you do. The poor widow who gave her mite
gave
all unknown to herself
a lesson in true sacrifice and in loving trust in God
to all the world When Moffat’s mother entreated him to give his heart to God
she never thought that God would enter that heart with such love and zeal for
the salvation of the heathen
and would crown her boy with such distinguished
usefulness. (J. P. Gledstone.)
Prayer exemplified in the
case of Hannah
The desire of Jewish women
to be the mothers of families was connected with religious feeling: children
were regarded as a blessing from the Lord
and the withholding of them was
considered a token of the Divine displeasure. That this was the fact
we might
bring many instances from the Old Testament to prove. Rachel
on the birth of
her firstborn
said
“God hath taken away my reproach.” Here
then
she felt
her only resource was prayer; “she was in bitterness of soul
and prayed unto
the Lord
and wept sore.” This sort of supplication never fails: “thus saith
the Lord
I have heard thy prayer; I have seen thy gears.” Tears and prayers!
happy is it for the mourner when these are united. Tears are barren in
themselves; they express sorrow
but not humiliation--not faith. We have only
to remark
further
the humility
with which she offered her most precious
treasure to the Lord: she brought a large additional offering of her substance
and immediately before the presentation of her son to Eli she caused a bullock
to be slain as a burnt offering. This was the Jewish sin offering
foreshadowing the blood of the Atonement: in her case
. it clearly proved that
she was deeply conscious there was nothing meritorious in her surrender of her
son; that
as a sinful mother offering a sinful child
she had a favour to
seek
rather than one to offer; and that she only hoped for acceptance
either
for herself or her child
through the blood of the atonement.
1. With regard to the occasions of prayer. “Is any among you
afflicted? let him pray; I called upon the Lord in trouble
and the Lord heard
me at large.” Far be it from me to imply that the time of trouble is the only
time for prayer. But
whether or not they can understand the reason of God’s
dealings with them
let me impress upon their minds that the time of trouble is
the special time for prayer; let them
in this respect
mark Hannah’s example.
There is a temptation to flee from God in trouble; the disinclination to prayer
is
in many eases
never greater than then; the natural inclination is to wrap
up the heart in the sullenness of its own grief--to seek a morbid pleasure in
excluding everything that tends to comfort. I would take this opportunity of
saying a word upon a subject
perhaps too little thought of; I mean
the
suitability of God’s house for private prayer.
2. Let us say a word about its conditions. Hannah vowed a vow unto
the Lord
“if Thou wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child
then I will give
him unto the Lord all the days of his life.” What we desire you to gather from
this is
that we must never ask for anything which we cannot
or will not
devote to the service of God. Lot us examine the case of Hannah as a fair
example. She wished for a son: the wish was natural; but was it safe? was she
not wishing for an object of affection
that would too probably
if granted
prove an idol? We cannot deny the likelihood: see
then
how in making the
request she recognised and provided against the danger; Give me a son
O Lord;
and I will give him back to Thee: I dare not trust myself to ask the
unqualified gift; my present feelings tell me how dangerous it would be. Now
all prayer
in order to be acceptable to God or profitable to ourselves
must
be associated with this kind of condition. In asking for spiritual grace
the
condition cannot be separated from the prayer; we only ask for greater ability
to devote ourselves to God
and to “glorify him in our body and in our spirit
which are God’s.”
3. And
lastly
we are taught a lesson respecting the answer of
prayer. With the answer to prayer will always come the temptation to forget the
vow that accompanied it. I need not tell you that there may be a wide
difference between a gift and a blessing. Children are gifts
but sometimes no
blessings; look at Hophni and Phinehas
the wicked sons of Eli. Wealth is a
gift; intellectual and physical power
friends
good health and spirits are all
gifts
but very often no blessings: we cannot but desire them; we are permitted
and encouraged to ask them; but
if we get them
let us remember the condition:
the condition and the blessing are bound together; without the one
there is no
acceptable prayer; without the other
there is no profitable answer. Everything
that relates to our happiness depends upon God’s favour; unless we have this
we may have all our natural desires gratified
but leanness withal in our
souls. Let us
then
seek this first
and all things else shall be added unto
us. And
above all
in seasons of affliction do not let us suppose that
everything depends upon a change of circumstances; do not let us resolve not to
be happy
until something is given
or something is withdrawn: but let us
in
humble trust
put our case in God’s hands. (T. E. Hankinson
M. A.)
Hannah
The birth of a child is
one of the most important events that ever takes place in our world. But for
the frequency of the occurrence
it would be deemed little less than a miracle
of nature and providence. The birth of an infant is a far greater event than
the production of the sun. That infant is possessed of reason
conscience
and
immortality. It is true these principles are not yet developed
but they are in
embryo
and the oak is contained in the acorn
and the day in the dawn. There
is also a relative
as well as a personal importance attached to the birth of a
child; for who knows what that child may become
what good or evil he may
occasion
what misery or happiness he may produce? The birth of Samuel was
attended with circumstances peculiarly important and interesting. Hannah had
prayed to be remembered
and “the Lord remembered her
and she conceived.” And
can she forget Him who has thus graciously remembered her?
1. The very name shall perpetuate the memory of the mercy. “And she
called his name Samuel
saying
Because I have asked him of the Lord.” Thus she
could never pronounce the name without recalling the occasion.
2. She undertakes the early care of him in person. When
therefore
Elkanah and his family went up as usual to Shiloh
she determined to remain at
home for this very purpose. In this state the utmost attention
and kindness
and tenderness
were her well-deserved due; and it is pleasing to see the
exemplariness of her husband in his disposition and behaviour towards her.
Though all the males were required to repair to Shiloh thrice in the year
the
obligation did not extend to females. God requires mercy and not sacrifice
and
dispenses with public institutions when we are obeying private and domestic
calls. Hannah cheerfully bore the loss of Shiloh’s privileges
in order to
discharge a home obligation. Here
we have an opportunity to say a few words
with regard to a common
and
we fear
increasing evil: I mean the abandonment
of maternal nursing. Surely
nothing can be a more ungrateful return
than to
treat with neglect and disdain the provision which the goodness and kindness of
God have obviously made for the performance of this duty. Hannah not only
nurses her own child
but dedicates him to the Lord. We see that the Lord will
cause earnest persevering prayer
in due time
to yield matter for praise. We
see that the answers of prayers ought to be observed and noticed. We should
also remark that it is our duty
not only to observe
but to own and confess
such returns of mercy
for the glory of God
and for the sake of others
that
they also may be encouraged to trust and pray. (W. Jay.)
A praying mother
By the influence of her
prayers
her training
her example
the Christian mother may expect to bring a
blessing upon her child which shall control his life and lead to his salvation.
The proof of this is to be found in the following considerations:
I. The tie of
nature makes the influence of a pious mother almost irresistible. A mother’s
love is the first blessing which greets the newborn heir of immortality. Deeper
and more lasting even than a father’s love
the mother’s yearning and
compassionate affection realises the description of the apostle. “It believeth
all things
hopeth all things
endureth all things.” With such a natural tie to
hold her child
the pious mother wields a mighty influence. Her life
if it be
well adorned with Christian graces
becomes a shining demonstration of the
truth of God. Prayer from her lips is music; the Bible is her book as well as
God’s. All that is winning in the promises becomes more winning as she utters
them. This is his influence and power. Many a pious mother does not realise it.
On such a basis of deep natural affection does the mother’s nurture stand. The
child is plastic to her touch. His heart is in her hand if she is faithful to
her trust. Oh
what encouragement is this for her to train her children in the
nurture of the Lord!
II. But we should
further notice that the affection of a mother for her child makes her prayers
in his behalf especially effectual. What depths of meaning
what revelation of
the earnestness of human intercession
lies in these words of Hannah
which
might be the utterance of multitudes!--“For this child I prayed” Upon all other
subjects prayer may be restrained when it has been long time unanswered
but
for her children’s sake she will stand and knock until the gate of hope and
life is opened
or until she dies.
III. And this leads
us to the point that the evidence derived from the past experience of pious
praying mothers confirms this prospect of success as the result of
faithfulness. Take another fact. In a certain theological seminary several
young men who were preparing for the Christian ministry were interested to
discover what proportion of their number had praying mothers. The result of
this inquiry proved that
out of one hundred and twenty present
more than one
hundred had been blessed by a mother’s prayers and directed by a mother’s
counsel to the Saviour. Such evidence might be greatly multiplied. The grace of
God brings salvation as the reward of a mother’s faithful labours for her
children of what amazing importance is it that parents and all who have to do
with children should realise their trust
and fulfil it in the fear of God!
When the sculptor Bacon was erecting the monument to Lord Chatham in
Westminster Abbey
an observer said to him
“Take care what you are doing
for
you are working for eternity.” In a far higher sense should it be said ofttimes
to those who train the young--Take care how you act toward the children
for
you work for eternity.” Receive them in the name of Christ
to take them unto
Him
in never-wearying prayer. (R. R. Booth
D. D.)
A praying mother
The most ancient and most
sacred institution in the world is the family. Older than the church or the
state
it is the foundation of them both. It is
to be sure
not the ideal of
the home or the family; for it is under the curse and subject to the evils of
polygamy. Some of the purest souls the world has ever seen have shone the
brighter because they were surrounded only by vice and crime. The lily
lifting
up its white face to the sun upon the bosom of the lake
sends its roots down
into the oozing mud
and by its own power transmutes that foulness into this
fragrant beauty. So Manoah’s wife
and Ruth and Hannah
shine like pearls upon
the surface of the cruelty and crime of the darkest period of the Old Testament
story.
I. The praying
mother at home:--The husband goes up to the Tabernacle at Shiloh. The wife
stays at home with the baby. This was a division of duty recognised by the law.
Let us learn a lesson of the sacredness of secular and special duties. Nay
let
us rather say
of all duty; for duty is what is due from us
and He to whom it
is due is God. The home is as sacred as the temple if it be recognised as the
place of duty. We shall not serve God by neglecting its work or claims for what
may seem to us the more spiritual service of the sanctuary. We may learn
too
that duty is not to be measured by its publicity or conspicuousness. That is
most sacred and important
often
which is most
alone. They were building a
stone church not long ago in one of our large cities. It was a beautiful spring
day
and one who was interested in its progress was surprised to find only
three men at work upon it. He spoke to the foreman
with at least a suggestion
of complaint in his voice
and asked how it was that there was so small a force
at work on such a day. “There are twenty-five men at work upon this building
sir
” was the answer
“but twenty-two of them are working in the yard. The best
stones are always polished out of sight.” Let not the mother
then
undervalue
her throne because it is not on the highway. The father may influence society
and the state directly. Let us not think the mother’s influence is less because
her hand is not so evidently seen upon the helm. But
chiefly from this home
life of Hannah
away from the Temple and the yearly sacrifice
may be learned
the sanctification of home duties by prayer and holy motive. It is not so much
what we do
as what we do it for
on which the value of our service
and its
dignity
depend. Hannah stayed at home that she might prepare a worthy offering
for the Lord. To fill a new young life with noble thoughts
with lofty and
unselfish aims
with a sense of the blessed fatherhood of God--this is work
high enough and holy enough for anyone to do.
II. The praying
mother at the tabernacle. For at length the quiet
happy days at home are
passed. The baby boy has come to his third year. And yet the mother’s heart is
glad and rejoices in the Lord--glad to make the sacrifice
which it is yet no
less a sacrifice to make. A joyless sacrifice is none. That which we give to
God unwillingly
and only because we must
is no gift at all. She realised the
privilege of sacrifice. Let us never weigh our sacrifices lest we make more
than the law demands
but rather let us bring our gifts with them. The praying
mother of our story recognised God’s faithfulness to His word and His answer to
her prayer. She had come to Him before in sorrow as she comes now in holy joy.
And she gives God the glory Who maketh poor and maketh rich
Who bringeth low
and lifteth up. But all that the praying mother can do
and all the ways in
which the devout father can help
will avail not at all
unless the child
fulfils his part. (Monday Club Sermons.)
Prayer answered
We notice the fact of the
answer to prayer. The answer was prompt
clear
explicit. It is an important question
Why are some prayers answered and not others? Some prayers are not answered
because the spirit of them is bad. “Ye ask but receive not because ye ask
amiss
that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” What is asked merely to gratify
a selfish feeling is asked amiss. It is not holy prayer; it does not fit in
with the sacred purposes of life; it is not asked to make us better
or enable
us to serve God better
or make our life more useful to our fellows; but simply
to increase our pleasure
to make our surroundings more agreeable. Some prayers
are not answered because what is asked would be hurtful; the prayer is answered
in spirit though denied in form. Some prayers are not answered at the time
because a discipline of patience is needed for those who offer them; they have
to be taught the grace of waiting patiently for the Lord. But whatever be the
reasons for the apparent silence of God
we may rest assured that hearing
prayer is the law of His kingdom. Old Testament and New alike bear witness to
this. (W. G. Blaikie
D. D.)
Children and cheapness
Society will go to pieces
if the love of children cannot be maintained. And the love of children will not
be maintained if we are to prefer cheapness to the happy responsibility of
rearing them. God has given us many things which were never intended “to pay
”
but contrariwise to tax both nerve and purse
time and patience. Among many of
the things that fail to conform to commercial standards He has made lingering
old age and lingering disease more than a possibility in the case of many. Now
how many families there are which cannot afford this! And if nothing is for
human advantage which cannot return a two-and-a-half percentage
lingering
death
among the poor
is of all things the least defensible and endurable. So
thought the people of India up to a very recent date
if they do not think so
now. They used to take the old people down to the Ganges
and when the tide
came in
or when the alligators came up
the domestic problem of reducing
expenditure was soon solved. And in Sparta
whose people attained to a
civilised horror of unremunerative offspring long before our forefathers could
construct a pair of shoes
the girl children were often killed as soon as they
were born. Now
that was an unblushing policy; it was human life carried on
upon a strictly cash basis. But Christianity is freely taught amongst
ourselves
with happy results evident on every hand. The weak are cared for and
cured
the old are honoured and sheltered
and children are treated as a heavy
but sacred charge from the Almighty. It is a ghastly thing to see some people
express pity for the loving pair who can count many curly heads on the
snow-white pillows in the children’s rooms. Hannah
Samuel’s mother
had no
such thought about children. She prayed for her child. You may hear it said
perhaps
“But all children are not Samuels;” to which it is a sufficient reply
to say that
all mothers are not Hannahs. If there were more Hannahs there
would be more Samuels. For children reflect the entire nature of their parents.
What was it which under lay Hannah’s prayer? It was a desire
the noblest which
can animate a mortal
to live for another. She wanted to train a soul for God.
They who watched over our bodily growth and our education were often tried in
the process. They spared no time
pains
or money in their power. And despite
of all that is said by spurious philanthropists
it may be safely said that our
fathers were the better for the strain to which our training subjected them.
Hannah prayed that she might have such a work to fill her heart. Hannah herself
had already found God
the chief gift mortals can receive
and as a gift next
in value to that
she asked Him to put under her care a spirit bearing His
image
that upon it
as His visible
helpless representative
she might lavish
both a motherly and a religious love. And she was right. They who can ridicule
such a relation as she aspired to
and afterwards filled
are to be pitied for
the blindness and emptiness of their scorn They wish to improve human life
and
so they begin by trying to improve the laws of God. Thinking they can trace
poverty and crime to the Christian family system
under which children are
treated as a blessing
they discourage it as a bad speculation
an ill-paying
concern. The Infidel Millennium is to be a millennium of small families
or
none. Probably the latter would be the upshot. There would be just the same
logic for that as for the other result. It is not the dear children
be they
many or few
that cause vice and poverty. It is the parents
who should be dear
parents
and are not. I need not remind you of the noble lives that have grown
up in our country districts
and elsewhere
in homes where eight or nine hungry
mouths have had to be filled out of twelve or fourteen shillings a week. Of
course
if half the wages had gone in tobacco or drink
the lads and lasses
would have been costly enough. It is certain that children prevent
in
particular families
far more poverty than they cause. When a family has
struggled through the years which precede the early youth of the children
the
tide begins to turn. The regular income of the home becomes greater and more
secure
in most cases
especially whore parents do not mind putting their
children to the noblest of all ordinary callings
some constructive trade.
Hannah’s philosophy transcends them all! They who live for their children
and
not for cheapness
will find life both cheaper and sweeter than they who
to
compass a visionary social progress
advocate the improvement of everything
except personal character. The true interests of society require no unnatural
and mean devices. We need not dread the growing hosts of humanity. They are not
locusts--they produce more than they consume
if they live honest lives. It is
a diminishing population that a virtuous nation has to fear. (J. H.
Hollowell.)
Obtaining the greatly
desired
In the life of Nollekens
the great sculptor
the following incident occurs concerning Gainsborough
the
artist. Visiting him at his studio
Nollekens found him listening to a Colonel
Hamilton
who was playing superbly on the violin. “Go on
go on
” cried
Gainsborough
with excited enthusiasm
as the Colonel appeared to have
finished. Then
in a burst of entreaty
he added
“Go on
and I will give you the
picture of the boy at the style
which you have so often wished to purchase.”
As Hamilton continued to play the tears stood in the painter’s eyes
and at the
end a coach was called
in which the fortunate Colonel placed the painting he
had so long coveted
and so easily acquired: and he drove away with it.
Gainsborough could not resist nor refuse anything to the charm of music. What
music was to the artist the true faith of a penitent and loving soul
be it
reverently said is to our Lord Jesus Christ
and to it He says: “Be it unto
thee even as thou wilt.” (H. O. Mackey.)
Verse 28
I have lent him to the Lord.
Samuel
the Child-Christian
There is no child explicable apart from his parentage. The
foundations of one generation are in all respects laid in the antecedent
generation. In an important sense the boy begins to live when his father begins
to live. The child is the parent continued down into a new generation. And so
Scripture biography
much of it
begins with a statement and exposition of
parentage. You remember how it was with Jesus
with John the Baptist
and now
with Samuel. Science today lays large stress on heredity. Revelation emphasised
heredity long before science was born. Francillon says that “the lives of the
mothers of great men form an important branch of biographical literature.” The
author of the old Hebrew chapter quietly asserts the same fact by going about
to narrate to us Samuel by first acquainting us with his mother. There are
numerous intimations in Scripture that in the bequest of spiritual legacies the
law of heritage works with peculiar constancy and vigour. “The promise is unto
you and to your children.” And that occurs as a frequent and favourite thought
“I will establish my covenant with Isaac for an everlasting covenant
and with
his seed after him.” And this principle is wrought into the structure of the
whole Jewish record. It is as though God held parent and child in one
individual compact of grace
parental faith throwing itself forward upon the
child
and working in and for the child vicariously; the faith of the parent
becoming in time the child’s faith
just as by a physical law the features of
the father and mother reappear in time in the child’s face
in growing
distinctness. Of Elkanah
Samuel’s father
little notice is taken. A single
remark of his indicates the mutual loyalty and confidences of husband and wife
and along the course of the first chapter is shown his faithful observance of
religious obligations. But Samuel was preeminently his mother’s boy
as boys
are apt to be. It was his mother that prayed for him; his mother that took him
to Shiloh with the bullocks
the flour
and the wine; his mother that offered
him in consecration. Appreciating the quality of the parentage
then
we have
laid for us a basis of just expectancy touching the quality of the offspring.
We must just mention Samuel’s early connection with the church and the
sanctuary. I suppose that this
too
had its strengthening and educating
effect. It was just in the midst of the sanctuary that the Lord’s presence
became manifest in him
and that the Divine voice shouted clearly and
intelligibly in his ears. We may gather from the fact that there is great virtue
in early and affectionate association with the church
and in earnest
participation in things that concern the church. But great as is the
supplementary service which the church can render the child
the home is at
once his physical birthplace and his proper spiritual birth place. It is a
Spanish proverb that an ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy. The home is
the first church
the hearthstone the first altar
and the father and mother
the first priests. And so the more home there is in the home
the more readily
and completely does it fulfil its offices as a child church. And the home
for
the same reason
is the child’s proper Sunday school. It is not quite evident
how Christian parents can ever farm out their children to the spiritual nurture
of strangers. (C. H. Parkhurst
D. D.)
A mother’s formative influence on the characters of her children
Who can hear the name of St. Augustine--that shining light
twice
on the point of being extinguished
but snatched by turns from sin and heresy
to glorify the true and living God down to the latest posterity. Who can think
of his name without joining with him in recognising
in his two-fold
deliverance--next to the hand of God--the influence of the tender
humble
patient Monica? Theodoret
Basil the Great
Emmilia
Chrysostom
and many of
those who have walked in their ways
had each their Monica; and were each
proofs of the power of a mother’s prayers. In later times we read of Bishop
Hall
Philip Henry
and his son Matthew
Hooker
Payson
Doddridge
the
Wesleys
and of many other bright stars still shining in the churches
who have
had pious mothers
and who have confessed to the power of a mother’s influence.
John Newton learned to pray at his mother’s knee; and such was the influence of
her life upon his mind (and
be it remembered
that she was called to her
heavenly home before her son John was eight years of age)
that in after years
when at sea
and in the midst of many dangers
his agonising prayer often was
“my mother’s god
Thou God of Mercy
have mercy on me!” The prayer was heard
and from that time the name of “John Newton” has been a name honoured in the
churches
and he will remain yet for ages as “a burning and a shining light.”
It was through Newton that Thomas Scott
the commentator
was led to Christ
and Wilberforce
the champion of the freedom of the slave
and the author of
that “Practical View of Christianity
” which brought Leigh Richmond into the
ministry of Christ. And who shall now go further in attempting to estimate the
probable influence of one pious mother? (Footsteps of Truth.)
Vows fulfilled
Hannah’s fulfilment of her vow was to be an ample
prompt
honourable fulfilment. Many a one who makes vows or resolutions under the
pressure and pinch of distress immediately begins to pare them down when the
pinch is removed
like the merchant in the storm who vowed a hecatomb to
Jupiter
then reduced the hecatomb to a single bullock
the bullock to a sheep
the sheep to a few dates; but even these he ate on the way to the altar
laying
on it only the stones. Not one jot would Hannah abate of the full sweep and
compass of her vow. (W. G. Blaikie
D. D.)
The connection between God and children to be cultivated
Do not treat lightly
O parents
the connection between God and
your children! Cherish the thought that they are God’s gifts
God’s heritage to
you
committed by Him to you to bring up
but not apart from Him
not in
separation from those holy influences which He alone can impart
and which He
is willing to impart. What a cruel thing it is to cut this early connection
between them and God
and send them drifting through the world like a ship with
a forsaken rudder
that flaps hither and thither with every current of the sea.
(W. G. Blaikie
D. D.)
The dedication of Samuel
In those rude times which long preceded the birth of science in
our country
when there was no appliance of steam to wear vessels off the
dangers of a lee shore
nor lights shone forth on sunken reef or rocky headland
to guide them through the gloom of night
one of the royal family of Scotland
was in imminent hazard of shipwreck. After every effort had been made
but made
in vain
to wear off shore
he vowed a vow that it God would interpose to
deliver them from death
he would build and endow a chapel
as an acknowledgment
of God’s gracious interposition and an expression of his own gratitude. They
were saved. And
though a Papist
a better man than many Protestants who
forget
in the day of returned health or prosperity
the vows and resolutions
formed in an hour of trouble
he fulfilled his promise. In the erection of Maison
Dieu Chapel (in Brechin
Forfar)
for so it is called
David
Earl of
Huntingdon
paid his vow. Associated though it be with popish superstitions
it
sprang from higher motives than either ecclesiastical pride or sectarian
rivalry; and humble as these ruins are now
they form a venerable and
interesting memorial of the simple faith
and devout piety
that ever and anon
like the blaze of a brilliant meteor
lighted up the long night of the dark ages
of the Church. Such dedications and vows as those to which that chapel owed its
existence
have fallen into too great disuse. The devout
but too much
neglected
practice which these famous saints observed
Hannah also recommends
to our imitation. It was in the performance of such a vow that she returned to
the house of God
not empty handed; but to earn
if I may say so
the high
encomium pronounced on her of whom our Lord said
“She hath given all she had.”
In that child of prayer
her only son
the boy whom she leads lovingly by the
hand
Hannah presented to God a gift more beautiful and costly
more precious
far
than Jacob’s tithe of corn and cattle
or David’s richest spoils of war. A
blessed contrast to another woman
the unhappy partner of Ananias’ guilt and
also of his doom
who
pretending
while a part was withheld
that the whole
price had been given
lied to the Holy Ghost
Hannah
in going to perform her
vow
like a martyr marching to the stake
“walks in her integrity.” Hannah’s
case was peculiar. She might
repenting of her vow
have kept back not a part
of the price
but the whole; nor thereby laid herself open to challenge or
censure; to the taunts of Peninnah
her enemy
or of anyone else. When she
vowed that if God would give her a son
he should be the Lord’s
Eli saw her
lips move; but no more--and hearing nothing took her for a drunken woman. Only
God and she herself knew what these lips had said. That was enough for Hannah.
It should be so for us. “Thou God seest me
” should place us in circumstances
of greater restraint than broad daylight
the public street
the eyes of a
theatre of spectators; even so it was a sufficient reason for Hannah performing
her vow that God had heard the words of her noiseless lips
and that the vow
though a secret to others
was none to Him. It is to the honour of Hannah’s sex
that the only two offerings on which Jesus
He who offered himself for her and
us on the cross
ever bestowed the meed of His applause
were both made by
women. The one was a widow. Poor
and meanly clad
in her offering as much as
in her dress
she presented a remarkable contrast to many who
sweeping into
the house of God
attired in all the gaieties of changing fashions
give a wide
berth to the plate at the door
or drop into the offertory
without a blush of
shame
the merest
meanest pittance. Though but two mites
hers was a
munificent gift
being her little all. The other woman
praised by Him whom all
heaven praises
was one--strange as it will appear to such as have not reflected
on the blessed truth
that a fallen is not necessarily a lost woman--from whose
touch decency and decorum shrinks. As the phrase went
“she was a sinner.”
Lying
where all have need
and the purest love
to lie
at Jesus’ feet
she
washes them with a flood of tears; and
taking an alabaster box of precious
ointment
pours its fragrance on the feet that for her
and us
were ire be
nailed on Calvary. Beside these women Hannah deserves a place. In her
dedication of Samuel
in giving him up who was the light of her eyes and the
joy of her home
she parted for God’s sake and his service with the costliest
the most prized and precious
thing in her possession. Before turning the
dedication of Samuel to a practical use
let me observe
that though we may have
to wait for the reward and recompense in heaven
Hannah had not so long to
wait. She says of Samuel
“I have lent him to the Lord;” and God paid
her good interest for the loan. Ages before the great words were uttered by the
lips of Jesus
she proved the truth of His saying
“Whosoever will save his
life shall lose it
and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find
it.” “There is that scattereth
” says the wise man
“and yet increaseth; and
there is that withholdeth more than is meet
but it tendeth to poverty. The
liberal soul shall be made fat.” Such was Hannah’s experience. She gave away
one child
and God paid her back with five; and promptly too. To turn the
dedication of Samuel to a seasonable and important use
let me ask why so few
parents now follow Hannah’s example? why so few either dedicate themselves
or
are dedicated by others to the Christian ministry? When other professions are
overstocked
why is it that almost all the churches
both in this country and
in America
are complaining of a hack of candidates for the sacred office
and
especially of such as possess not only the piety
but the talents and culture
which it requires? Why should not our Christian youth come forward to embrace
this noblest
though meanwhile poorest
of all professions? Some years ago
leaving titles
estates
luxurious mansions
kind fathers
mothers
sisters
brothers
and blooming brides
many threw themselves on the shores of the Black
Sea
to face frost and famine
pestilence and iron showers of death
under the
walls of Sebastopol! And shall piety blush before patriotism? Shall Jesus
Christ call in vain for less costly sacrifices--either of money or of men? Let
those whom Providence has enriched
some with silver and some with sons
remember the touching question one wrote beneath a figure of our Lord stretched
bleeding on the cross
“This Thou hast done for me
what shall I do for Thee?”
(T. Guthrie
D. D.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》