Samuel

1 Samuel 1:21-28
21 The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” 23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”

This text is the first of several stories which describe an important turning point in Israel’s history. The Judges who had ruled so far loose power and the kingship begins to take hold of the political process. It is a time of moral, religious, and political crisis. The Ark of the Covenant, the central object of religious devotion, is kept in the sanctuary at Shiloh. The resident priest, Eli, is unable to keep his sons from corrupting the religious practices and using for their own gain a portion of the offerings the people bring to God. The Philistines make a successful war against Israel and seize the Ark as spoils of war. The future is uncertain. Yet the writer of the Samuel book indicates again and again that the monarchy, exemplary in David, God’s Anointed One, will be the solution to the present crisis.

There must be new and faithful leadership. Samuel is the one whom God chooses to bring Israel back to its true religion and prepare it for the king. The divine transformation begins with a childless woman, Hannah, the favorite wife of Elkazar. Yearly they go to Shiloh to sacrifice, and at one time Hannah vows that if God grants her a male child, he will be consecrated for a lifetime of divine service. The miracle happens, she conceives and bears a son whom she names Samuel. After the child is weaned, his mother brings him to Eli in Shiloh to learn the Lord’s ministry. In the next chapter Hannah sings the Song of Hannah which is reflected in Mary’ Song, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55).

How often do we experience a crisis in our lives with an uncertain, unacceptable future? All kinds of forces, persons, conditions seem to be against us. In many areas of our lives we see no rhyme or reason. No help in sight. However, from our lesson we become aware that God is not absent, but in unknown ways prepares for us an unexpected solution to conflict. While we don’t feel well in our distress, we should know that God is well disposed toward us and will eventually come through for us. God’s grace and mercy are stronger than any adversity.


Prayer: Forgive me, merciful God, when I see no goal for my life. The time of your silence is actually the time when you prepare what is good for me.

Manfred Hoffmann