Hannah Begins

March 16, 2013

Women of Courage – the study of Hannah

We began by reading 1 Samuel 1-2: The story of how Hannah came before Eli and prayed to the Lord; How Eli’s sons were corrupt and the state of the priests that were serving at the time.  We also looked at the map locating the areas we were discussing and how we have journeyed with all the different women we have studied.

There was a brief discussion on why the two sons wanted fresh uncooked meat. Was it because of the condition of the cooking? Or was it greed, since the meat would fall off the fork if it was tender?  Did they want more than the Lord was permitting? We don’t know what the reasons, but we do know that they were sinning against God.

A little history- Elkanah was from the family Kohath, they received the responsibility to tear down the Holy of Holies when the tabernacle was traveling.  When David was king, he established them as some of the chief musicians. The grandson of Samuel was the chief musician.  Hannah understood the ways of the Lord and most likely was raised in a very Godly home and she married a very good man. 

Eli’s sons walked far from the Lord, but they were raised knowing all about the Lord. But, remembering that parents can raise their children for the Lord, but sometimes they stray and we have to remember not to judge families where the children stray.

Nancy mentioned how she was so impressed by Hannah’s prayer, how she knew how to pray. She was raised understanding how to pray, but our personality is also a part of how we pray. She understood the law.  It is obvious that the Lord was with her prayer, he gave her prophecy within her prayer. 

We discussed how Peninnah vexed Hannah with the fact that she had children and Hannah had none.  But God listed Hannah’s prayer and her story into His word.  God truly loves and honors women. Hannah let all of her passion and concern pour out to her Lord.  Even though she was confronted as being drunk, Hannah didn’t fear Eli, but clearly explained her prayer.  She was confident; she did not shrink from the confrontation. 

Peninnah was not listed as being loved, so she may have,  in her flesh, brought up the fact that she had children to give herself the worth she desired.  But God had a provision in His law for her.

Deut. 21:15-17

15 “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, 16 then it shall be in the day he wills what he has to his sons, he cannot make the son of the loved the firstborn before the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn. 17 But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn.

God loved even Peninnah, the unloved. And even in our study of Hannah, we remember her.

We were then introduced to the companion book we will be using:

Disciplines of a Godly Woman, by Barbara Hughes

this book will help us to go a little deeper in our understanding, we look forward to God's revealing through our study.