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Commentary on "Hannah: Learning to Be Someone"
Day 4: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - Pouring Your Heart Out
Hannah went to the tabernacle to pray, and as she prayed, the High Priest Eli was sitting on a seat by the doorpost. It is interesting to note that when Eli is described, he is sitting; priests did not sit while they ministered. When God gave instructions to Moses for the construction of the Tabernacle the only article of furniture that had a “seat” was the Ark of the Covenant which had a golden lid called the “Mercy Seat.” It was never used as a chair or bench! The Ark of the Covenant was in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle and no one went in there except the High Priest, just once a year, on the Day of Atonement when he sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice on the Mercy Seat. Eli was old and had grown quite heavy (I Samuel 4:18) because he had made “…himself fat with the choicest of every offering of My (God’s) people Israel.” I Samuel 2:29 NASB. It was no wonder that the people of Israel were in spiritual decline when their High Priest was disobedient and rebellious towards God, and he not only allowed his worthless sons to abuse their positions as priests but personally ate the sacrificial portions they had stolen from God and from the people who came to worship. Eli disregarded God’s sacrifices and honored his sons before God. (I Samuel 2:29)
Eli revealed his dismal lack of spiritual insight by his response to Hannah while she was praying to the Lord. Hannah prayed silently; because her mouth was moving and there was no sound, Eli assumed she was drunk and rebuked her. Hannah defended herself against his unjust accusation by explaining that she prayed and poured out her heart to the Lord because of her grief and provocation. Instead of complaining to her husband or bitterly waging a counterattack against Penninah, Hannah turned to the Lord. “If you forget everything else, please let this be carved upon your mind and heart: God is available to help you. In fact, He is your only real source of help. First Peter 5:7 tells us to cast, not just a part of our care, but all of our care upon Him because He cares for us.” (Ordinary Women Extraordinary God, various authors, “Hannah A Woman of Prayer” by Kay Smith, published by Calvary Chapel Publishing, Santa Ana, CA copyright 2005, p. 31) God answered Hannah’s prayer for a son and even graciously used the disobedient high priest to encourage her that her prayer had been heard. Eli pronounced a blessing on Hannah, and she joyously returned to her husband and worshiped God.
Summary
- Eli the high priest was rebellious toward God, sitting instead of ministering, disregarding God’s sacrifices, and honoring his sons before God.
- Eli, with his lack of spiritual discernment, thought Hannah was drunk and accused her of being inebriated.
- Hannah corrected his assumption.
- Beset by provocation from Penninah and misunderstanding from the high priest, Hannah still did not retaliate or rebel. She turned to God.
- Remember: God is always available to help you. He is your only real Source of help.
- God answered Hannah’s prayer for a son and even used the unfaithful high priest to bless her.
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