Women with a Story to Tell: Hannah pays her dues.

 Hannah had yearned for a child to love, and to take away her shame of childlessness, so common a problem in village cultures, ancient and modern. She poured out her heart before God and was overheard by Eli the priest at the worship center of Shiloh. God heard that prayer, and it was granted. Hannah had a son. Significantly, she named him Samuel meaning ‘I have asked him of God’ or ‘I have borrowed him from God’. 

 In her prayer, she promised that, if she had a son, she would dedicate him to God, to be in God’s service as long as he was needed. This is highlighted in another acceptable translation of his name, ‘I have lent him to God’. And this she did, as soon as he was weaned. In those days, this means that he was about 3 ½ years old when she brought him back to the tabernacle at Shiloh and left him in the care of Eli, the priest at the worship site. 

 Then she turned away and began the sad and sorrowful trudge home to the village of Ramathaim-Zophim, known to the locals as just Ramah. It was about a day’s journey (although we can’t be sure since the specific location of Ramah is disputed). We wonder, what did Hannah think about on this long walk? Was she sad? Did she regret her promise? Did she miss her baby? Of course she did. But there is more. She prayed, and she sang this song.

"My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in my God.

My mouth derides my enemies because I rejoice in your victory. 

There is no Holy One like the LORD, no one besides you;   

there is no Rock like our God.

Talk no more so very proudly; let not arrogance come from your mouth,

for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength.

Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil.

The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.

The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low; he also exalts.

He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap

to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world. 

He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked will perish in darkness, 

for not by might does one prevail.

The LORD! His adversaries will be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven.

The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the power of his anointed” (I Samuel 1: 2-10).

 Hannah, whose name translates to ‘Grace’ in English, speaks for herself. I will add very little by way of explanation. The song is reminiscent of Mary’s song, the Magnificat, which she sang after her cousin Elizabeth had recognized the divinely conceived child in her womb as the Messiah. It speaks of God’s greater plan of salvation when God’s concern for the meek and lowly, the poor and the hungry, is carried out by God’s servant. In this case, Samuel, in the latter case, by Jesus.

 And Samuel did serve the LORD all of his life. He was obedient to God’s word. He did not swerve to support nationalism, nor did he bend the knee to the rich and powerful. Samuel was a true man of God who served God alone; he did not exalt the nation, he did not enable the greedy, he did not empower the ambitious, and he did not pander to the lecherous. Because of his focused dedication to God, his rule was the best during the time of the judges. It was a time when justice was served and righteousness was the result, and there was no king in Israel.

 That is, Samuel ruled as a judge until late in his life the people demanded a king, and then the trouble began.