March 8, 2024 - 1 Samuel 1-2

Hannah was childless and she so much wanted to have children.  She did the only thing she knew to do: “She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly” (1:10).  Furthermore, she made a vow to the Lord:  “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head” (1:11).  Recently, I was asked what I think about New Year’s resolutions, this question asked by a dear brother who, I suspect, is much better at following through on such resolutions than I am.  I answered, “Well, I don’t really think much of them.”  Maybe that’s because, indeed, I am not very good at keeping resolutions.  Might I even re-word this observation?  What it comes down to, if we’re being honest with ourselves, we are not very good at keeping promises to ourselves, let alone to others and to God.  It ought not to be this way.  It certainly was not this way for Hannah. 

The Lord answered and promised to give Hannah a child, “And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked for him from the Lord’” (1:20).  Even when we show that our word is not good, never is it so for our God.  If he promises, he produces.  And so, Hannah sang and prayed, “"My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord.  My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.  There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God’” (2:1-2).

In the rifted Rock I’m resting,

safely sheltered, I abide.

There no foes nor storms assail me,

while within the cleft I hide.

Now I’m resting, sweetly resting,

in the cleft once made for me.

Jesus, blessed Rock of ages,

I will hide myself in thee.   -- Mary D. James