Observations and Interpretations:
(1) The rise of Elkanah/Hannah's son and the fall of Eli's sons:
A. The alterations description between Elkanah/Hannah's son and Eli's sons:
1:1-3a Elkanah family line
1:3b Eli and his sons
1:4-2:11 How did Elkanah/Hannah's son fulfill their vow and brought their son to serve God
2:12-17 The sins of Eli's sons
2:18-21 Elkanah/Hannah's son grew up before the LORD
2:22-25 Eli's sons would not listen to their father. The LORD had decided to kill them.
2:26 Elkanah/Hannah's son was growing up and finding favor both with the LORD and with people
2:27-36 The announcement of judgment to the house of Eli
B. The rise and fall of Elkanah/Hannah's son and Eli's sons showed that God would raise those He delighted and judged those He cursed:
29 Why are you scorning my sacrifice and my offering that I commanded for my dwelling place? You have honored your sons more than you have me by having made yourselves fat from the best parts of all the offerings of my people Israel.’
Note, the two "you" in red are plural, including both Eli and his sons. When their sons sinned in handling the sacrifice and made themselves fat from the best parts of the sacrifice, Eli was counted in their sins. Why? The two "you" in blue are singular. Eli honored his sons more than he honored God. He allowed them to continue in their sins.
Note, Eli tried to talk to their sons and they did not listen. God still said that Eli did not honor Him. More drastic action (remove them from the priesthood) should have been done to stop their sins.
30 Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘I really did say that your house and your ancestor’s house would serve me forever.’ But now the LORD says, ‘May it never be! For I will honor those who honor me, but those who despise me will be cursed!
Reflection: Although the sins of Eli's sons were described in v.12-17, the judgments were announced to Eli v.27. Perhaps the responsibility of parenting was the focus here. Do we participate in our children's sins? Do we honor our children more than we honor God by allowing them to continue in their sins?
Reflection: Although the sins of Eli's sons were described in v.12-17, the judgments were announced to Eli v.27. Perhaps the responsibility of parenting was the focus here. Do we participate in our children's sins? Do we honor our children more than we honor God by allowing them to continue in their sins?
God removed a priest's family because they did not honor God. Sins have a dire consequence. Shall we be more serious about our sins?
(2) The repeated phrases about Hannah and Samuel:
A. Hannah was aggravated and was distressed
v.6 Her rival used to aggravate her to the point of exasperation, just to irritate her
v.7 Peninnah would offend her in that way
v.8 Then her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why are you crying and why won’t you eat? Why are you so upset?
v.10 As for Hannah, she was very distressed. She prayed to the LORD and was, in fact, weeping.
B. Her bitterness made her turn to the LORD:
v.11 She made a vow saying, “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, if you would truly look on the suffering of your servant, and would keep me in mind and not neglect your servant, and give your servant a male child, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life. His hair will never be cut.”
v.12 It turned out that she did a great deal of praying before the LORD
v.15b...But I have poured out my soul before the LORD.
v.16b...It’s just that, to this point, I have spoken from my deep pain and anguish.
Reflection: How do I handle aggravation and distression? Will I turn to God in those moments? Hannah could do that because she believed that He is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Yet He is the One who will truly look on our suffering, and will keep us in mind and not neglect us. Do we believe that?
Audrey
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