“Year after year it was the same – Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Hannah would finally be reduced to tears and would not even eat.” (1 Sam. 1:7)
I would say that this verse is very early documentation of bullying! Today, the devil says to us, “Did God really say . . . ?” or “God won’t do that for you because you . . . !” That’s the Devil taunting, trying to be a bully in our lives!
Hannah was barren. Peninnah was producing babies but was loved less. Both wives were hurting. Both women made a choice. Hannah poured out her heart to God – spiritual choice. Peninnah provoked with her words and attitude – carnal choice. Each choice carried consequences . . . one restoration of peace and joy . . . the other bitterness.
But what really spoke to me were verses 15-16 in Chapter 1. “Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. Eli could see her lips moving as she prayed but could hear no sound, so he thought she had been drinking.” Hannah’s reply . . . “I was pouring out my heart to the Lord . . . I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”
God used Eli to speak hope to Hannah . . . “Cheer up! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him . . . Hannah went home and began to eat again and was no longer sad.” Can you see God gently wiping away Hannah’s tears, restoring her joy?
Hannah’s story forces me to look at my prayers. Are my prayers a pouring out of my heart to God or just lip service via casual, rote prayers? Are my prayers a reflection of God’s heart of love and compassion?
No comments:
Post a Comment