Meaning of 1 Samuel 1:10

This verse vividly portrays Hannah's profound emotional distress and her desperate turn to God in prayer. The "deep anguish" and "weeping bitterly" highlight the intensity of her suffering, which stemmed from her barrenness and the taunting of her rival, Peninnah. In this moment of vulnerability, Hannah doesn't resort to human solutions or succumb to despair; instead, she seeks solace and intervention from the Lord, demonstrating a deep and personal faith even in the face of immense personal pain. Her prayer is not a casual request but an outpouring of her soul, a testament to her reliance on divine power for a situation that seemed hopeless from a human perspective.

Context and Background

1 Samuel chapter 1 introduces Hannah, one of two wives of Elkanah. Elkanah loved Hannah dearly, but God had "shut up her womb" (1 Sam 1:5), meaning she was unable to conceive. Her rival, Peninnah, who had many children, continually provoked and distressed Hannah because of her barrenness, exacerbating Hannah's pain. This rivalry and Hannah's subsequent sorrow are the immediate backdrop to her prayer. The setting is Shiloh, where the tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant were located, signifying a place of worship and divine presence.

Key Themes and Messages

Several key themes emerge from this verse:

• The Power of Prayer in Anguish: Hannah's prayer is a powerful example of turning to God during times of deep suffering. It underscores that prayer is not merely for comfortable times but is a vital resource for navigating life's most difficult challenges.
• Persistence and Desperation: The "weeping bitterly" suggests a prayer born out of genuine desperation and a fervent desire for God's intervention. It speaks to the intensity of her plea.
• Faith in the Face of Barrenness: Hannah's situation represents a deeply felt human longing (for a child) that is seemingly thwarted by divine decree. Her prayer signifies faith that God can overcome even biological limitations.
• The Lord's Sovereignty: The narrative implicitly acknowledges God's control over human fertility, as stated in verse 5. Hannah's prayer is an appeal to the One who holds this ultimate power.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, Hannah's experience offers profound lessons. It teaches believers to approach God with honesty and vulnerability, bringing their deepest sorrows and desires to Him without pretense. Her act of prayer, even amidst intense emotional turmoil, exemplifies trust in God's ability to hear and answer. This verse encourages us to engage in persistent prayer, understanding that God is attentive to our cries, particularly when we feel most helpless. It also reminds us that perceived divine silence or obstacles are not necessarily barriers to God's eventual grace and intervention.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

Hannah's story is a foundational narrative in the books of Samuel, setting the stage for the rise of Samuel, a pivotal prophet and judge in Israel. Her prayer and subsequent vow (detailed in the following verses) lead to the birth of Samuel, who plays a crucial role in the transition from the era of judges to the monarchy, anointing both Saul and David as kings. Her barrenness and prayer can be seen as a precursor to other narratives of God intervening to bring forth significant figures from seemingly impossible circumstances, such as Sarah's conception of Isaac.

Analogies

Hannah's situation can be likened to a plant wilting in drought, its leaves drooping in desperation, yet its roots still reaching down for the life-giving water. Her prayer is that deep, desperate reach for the divine "water." It's also akin to a person lost in a dark forest, calling out for help, not knowing if anyone will hear, but trusting in the possibility of rescue. Her weeping is the audible expression of that profound need.

Relation to Other Verses

This verse resonates with numerous other biblical passages that speak to prayer and God's response to suffering:

• Psalm 56:8: "You have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?" This verse echoes Hannah's weeping, suggesting that God meticulously records and values the tears of His people.
• Jeremiah 29:12-13: "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Hannah sought the Lord with all her heart in her anguish, fitting this promise.
• Hebrews 4:15-16: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need." Hannah's approach to God, though filled with sorrow, was ultimately a bold seeking of grace.
• Luke 11:9-10: "And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." Hannah's earnest prayer exemplifies this principle of seeking and asking.