Hannah’s Predicament and Plea

Text: 1 Samuel 1: 1-20

Reflection and Question: The fact is that the love of Elkanah, her husband, does not shelter Hannah from the ridicule and scorn for being barren that is heaped upon her by his other wife. But when Eli takes as drunkenness her passionate plea to God for a child, Hannah stands up for herself. Eli has the grace to correct himself and join in her prayer, which is answered in the birth of her only son, Samuel. Are you in a predicament where you are put down like Hannah? What is your plea to God for redemption?

Prayer: Lord, Jesus, hear the prayers of all Your children who are ridiculed and scorned by others. Make Hannah and Eli an inspiration for us to share our desires with others and to join our voices in making our deepest wants known to You. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).