Theme: DIALOGUE
Text: “Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.” – 1 Samuel 1:16, 17.
Comment: This is the emotion-laden and stirring account of a childless woman called Hannah, one of the two wives of Elkanah, who went into the temple to pray. She was in “bitterness of soul”, weeping sore before the LORD. The divine record states, “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.” (Verse 11) As she made her supplication, Eli the priest who was present in the temple, observed that only her lips were moving. The priest thought she was drunk. (Verse 14) But when he knew her condition, he blessed her saying, “Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him”. (verse 17) God Almighty was merciful to Hannah, as was the case with Rachel in that He remembered her and opened her womb. (1 Samuel 1:19, 20; compare Genesis 30:22 ) Our Saviour exhorted: “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” – Luke 11:9,10.