Tuesday 22 December 2009
- Bible Book:
- 1 Samuel
"And she said, 'Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.'" (v.26-28)
Background
A common theme throughout the Bible is that of childlessness anda strong link used to be made between being blessed by God andhaving children. Conversely, it was seen to be a punishment fromGod to not have a child. In this passage Hannah lived with a greatdeal of shame as a woman unable to have a child. The assumption wasmade that the 'fault' lay with the woman and that, even if she hadled a blameless life, it would be a punishment from God for wrongsdone by her ancestors.
We live in a time when we know a great deal more about the humanreproductive system, and many have a New Testament, Christianunderstanding of God loving all people, not punishing them inseemingly arbitrary ways. Yet still today a great deal of pain anddistress is caused to people who would like to have children butcannot.
Hannah has prayed fervently in the Temple that she might have ason, and makes a deal with God that if she does she will give thechild back to God. In the story her prayer is answered and in duetime, when the child is weaned, she offers him to the Temple. Itseems extraordinary that a woman who has longed for a child is ableto leave him in the care of the Temple when he was only a fewmonths old. It is difficult to imagine the grief and sacrificeinvolved in this act.
The boy is Samuel who has a vital role in the history of Israel. Hewill become a great priest and the spiritual guide to King David(see 1 Samuel chapters 1-25).
Time and again in the Old Testament, a longed for and unexpectedchild becomes a key character in transforming the history of God'speople. Abraham finally had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, and theconflict between the mothers of the boys led to a family feud thatstill affects our world today in battles over the Holy Land (
Christians recognise that the most important child to transformhistory is Jesus Christ and that, as Hannah offered her son to God,God's child is given to the world.
To Ponder
What characters from the Bible or history do yourecognise as having a particularly important role in shaping theworld?
How are people who choose not to have children,or who are unable to, regarded today?
What is precious to you that you would be willingto offer to God?