Hannah is regarded for her faithfulness and desire. She fervently prayed to be able to bear a child. Her desire is a mixture – for legacy and for status. Status for all women who were marginalized because they did not bear a child. With the birth of Samuel, Hannah’s “silenced status” moved to be among the accepted in the culture. The passage for our thoughtful reflection includes these words, “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my salvation.” 1 Samuel 2:1. A change of status hoped for and realized is her fate in life. Where once she was considered an intoxicated person because of her “fervent” prayer style by Eli the priest, Hannah dedicates Samuel to the Lord’s service in the same Temple and to the same priest. Hannah is either an amazingly forgiving person or a prophet in the making. I think she is the latter; every time Eli saw Samuel he would remember Hannah’s faithfulness. This is something that a priest ought to be able to see, experience or even possess. Eli would remember.
Hannah would give birth to other children, three more sons and two daughters. Hannah became a forerunner in faith within Judaism, and is only mentioned in these few passages. Hannah, like other women on the “outside”, is a great leader of the faith from example and experience. Her story relates to the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who like Hannah, was on the “outs” culturally, and yet plays a central role in the development of faith.
This faith development is the thread and the fabric of why we gather today and why so many come every year to worship in the church during the Advent and Christmas season. We want to be reminded that roles can be reversed, that the weak may be made strong, the hopeless may find hope, that each of us may be made whole in whatever brokenness we might find ourselves and that finally evil, may be completely overcome by good.
Life is sometimes complex and difficult. Fervent prayer leads to blessings that are not subject to our schedules or wishes but will only come when it comes. This is what I gather from this season of Advent where we will focus each week on a song of faith, the hopes and longings for blessing. Each is granted in time, but oh, we would like it on our terms and not God’s. May we have the patience to pray, to listen and to hope in these Advent days!