1 Samuel 1-2   I have always thought of Hannah as an older woman, like Sarah or Elizabeth, barren and past child-bearing age, but as I read this today, there is nothing that indicates that that is true. What we do know is that  she is a married woman who had no children.  Her husband has two wives, Peninnah and Hannah.  We are not told which one was the first wife, only that Peninnah had children and Hannah did not.  We are also told that Elkanah loved Hannah and that Peninnah harassed Hannah.  Not exactly a great family life.

Hannah was "greatly distressed".  Her distress grew more and more each year that she failed to have a child.  She wept and refused to eat even when she was given a double portion from the yearly sacrifices.  But, Hannah also learned how to pray.  When Hannah prayed, it was with her whole heart.  ".. but I have poured out my soul before the Lord", Hannah tells Eli.  ( v15) Hannah made a vow to the Lord and even though it must have been so hard, she kept that vow.  Samuel was born and when he was barely weaned, Hannah took him to the priest, Eli, and left him there in Shiloh, dedicated to the Lord.  Hannah was blessed with 3 more sons and 2 daughters, but she returned yearly to Shiloh with new clothing for Samuel, watching as he grew "before the Lord".  Samuel "was growing in stature and in favor both with the Lord and with men."  How Hannah must have rejoiced!

In contrast to Hannah and Samuel,  we read about Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas.  We are told that these sons  "were worthless men; they did not know the Lord and the custom of the priests with the people."  In 1 Sam. 2: "12-17 we read that the men forcibly took from the sacrificial offerings what they wanted, not following the commandments of God. They would eat the fat instead of burning it as an offering to the Lord... as described in Leviticus 3 " it is an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord."  All the fat belonged to the Lord.  Hophni and Phinehas had no regard for the Law or for the people.   In verses 22-25 we are told that Eli heard what his sons were doing.  Not only were they taking what did not belong to them of the offerings, but they were immoral.  They were having sex with women that "served at the doorway of the tent of meeting."  They were evil men, not men of God.  The Lord convicts Eli. " Why do you kick at My sacrifice and at My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling, and honor your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the choicest of every offering of My people Israel?"  They were showing disregard not honor for the Lord.  In fact the Lord says they "despise" Him.

Because of Eli's failure to make his sons do right in the office of priests, two things would happen:
First, both of his sons would die on the same day.
Second, the office of priesthood would be taken out of his family line. "But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul; and I will build him an enduring house and he will walk before My anointed always." 

Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.  Lord God, You are holy and worthy of our worship and esteem.  May we be faithful to serve You in obedience and reverential fear.  We need to learn from Your Word, Lord God.  To be obedient to Your commands and precepts.  Not that we are under the Law of Moses, for we have been freed from the Law of sin and death,  but we are under the Law of Grace. We belong to You and we abide in Christ by faith, through grace.   Thank You for being patient and forgiving.  Your lovingkindness is unsearchable and unending.  Father, make us like Jesus, obedient to every Word that You speak.  We are weak, but He is strong.  We will cling to Him.
Fill us Holy Spirit for the day ahead, for the things that You desire to do through our lives, for we present our bodies, living and holy sacrifices, acceptable to God, our spiritual service of worship. Amen.