HANNAH PRAYS FOR A SON. 1st Samuel 1:9-28 Eli, the priest, had also been the judge of Israel for forty years. During those forty long years of service before the Lord and before the people of Israel, there was peace in the nation, so he must have been effective in his duties. However, behind the scenes in Eli’s own house, he must have been a mild disciplinarian or didn’t really discipline his sons at all. Eli himself had grown fat in gratifying his own appetite, and his sons went further by taking what was not theirs to take from the sacrifices the Israelites brought. Even worse, they took advantage of their position and place to gratify the lusts of their own flesh.
Eli knew what his sons were doing but seemed powerless to do anything about it. Unless discipline at home begins when children are young, discipline will not be effective by the time they are in their teens. Those who live undisciplined lives in their teens will often be unwilling to discipline themselves when they are on their own in this godless world. Lack of discernment, or unwillingness to apply appropriate discipline to children when they are young, is unfair to the children and is evidence of a parent who hasn’t understood the necessity of discipline in their own lives and that of their sons and daughters.
When Hannah rose up from eating the festive meal at the Feast of Tabernacles and stood in the bitterness and sorrow of her soul before the Lord in prayer, Eli rebuked her. His discernment still wasn’t there in that he couldn’t tell the difference between earnest, silent prayer and the mumblings of a drunk person. His position, sitting on “his chair” by the doorpost, wasn’t what God intended for priests who ministered at the house of the Lord. There was no provision for them to sit on a chair in an open place while serving the Lord and His people.
It is possible for a child of God who is part of “the kingdom of priests” to become used to the things of God in an assembly and just go through the motions of worship and remembrance at the Lord’s Supper. We can attend and even participate in prayer at the prayer meeting, listen to good ministry from the word of God, and still be without real spiritual discernment. “Discerning the Lord’s death” and partaking of the bread and cup requires preparation of mind and heart. Understanding the value of worship and prayer, the importance of biblical teaching, and applying the truth of God to ourselves need a conscious awareness of being in the presence of God and obeying His word.
The Holy Spirit teaches, leads, and guides us in worship, prayer, and through teaching as He reveals Christ to us, shows us things to come, and guides us into all truth. Despite what may be misunderstood, an earnest, burdened person who prays to our prayer-answering Father needs to remember that He who opened the womb of Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Manoah’s wife, Elizabeth, and Hannah, will grant “answers in peace” in a way that is best for every person who is involved in that earnest petition.