Word of Encouragement (07/19/2023)

And she vowed a vow and said, "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 Sam. 1:11)

We are reflecting on Hannah’s votive prayer for a son.

There is something fascinating about her vow. She asked for a son and, if God should grant her one, she would give him back to God! This was a strange vow, wasn’t it? This makes us question what it was that Hannah wanted. Was it a son that she really wanted? Or was it just the removal of the shame of being childless? Did she just want to save face? Or was it something else?

There are actually three other requests she is making: “…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…” (v. 11). She begged the LORD of hosts to look on the affliction of His servant, to remember her, and not to forget her. She seems to be aware that her ultimate problem was not childlessness. What Hannah really wanted was proof that God did not curse her with barrenness because He opposed her.

Not being able to bear a child and having the joy of holding her baby in her arms was bad. Being persecuted by the other wife of her husband for that was bad. Even her husband not understanding her and getting frustrated with her was bad, too. But what was at the core of her sorrow was that the LORD of hosts might be against her. Whether it was from her experience of sadness, her observations of others, or her theological understanding, she knew that life and all the joys it can afford her—including a son—meant nothing if the LORD of hosts should be against her. So, it was not a son she ultimately wanted. That was why she could gladly give him back to God. What Hannah ultimately wanted was God Himself and the assurance that God is for her, not against her.

Notice Hannah’s humble and desperate condition. She could not offer to give God anything unless God granted something to her. All that she could do was to return to God what He would deign to give her. But is that true only in Hannah’s case? Can we give to God what He has not given us already? If we can serve God, it is because God gave us health and strength and skills. If we can give our time to God, it is because God gave us life. If we can tithe to the Lord, it is because God was behind all of what we have worked for: “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Ps. 127:1).

Understanding her lowly condition, what could Hannah demand from God? She did not dare ask for anything big or grand. All she could ask for was this—that God would simply take notice of her affliction, how much she was suffering; that God would only remember that she was His servant and not forget her. She didn’t want anything from God. She only wanted her God to take notice of her. If she so desperately wanted a son, it was only as a sign that God did take notice of her. That is why she had no problem returning him to God “all the days of his life” (v. 11).

What is it that you really want from God? Maybe you are where Hannah was, wanting God more than anything. Be encouraged that God is pleased with your desire and He will grant it to you. Maybe you are not where Hannah was. You still want so many things from the world. If so, know that the source of your desire is the void that you have because your relationship with God is not wholesome. May the Spirit help you see it and cause you to desire God more than anything.

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