Proper 19
1 Samuel 1; 2

The sermons for Sundays Proper 19 and 20 are provided by Rev. Joy Streight. Joy serves as the senior pastor of Castle Hills Church of the Nazarene in Boise, Idaho.

Raising children is not for the faint of heart; many parents or grandparents in the midst of caring for them will gladly share their latest antics or challenges. On Grandparents Day, we would seldom focus on Hannah and her agony in remaining childless. But as parents and grandparents, it may have merit to reestablish our footing on the One Who gives us the strength to love and guide our precious children “on loan” from God.

Hannah took her longing heart to the sanctuary of her God. Though she was suffering, living in close proximity to her husband’s second wife and their children, she resisted the temptation to become bitter or hopeless. She took her pain and her hope of a child to God.

In the midst of her ardent praying, the priest Eli observes her. He makes a snap judgement of Hannah’s character by her disheveled appearance. He assumes she has hidden herself away from the masses gathered in Shiloh for the feast so she can give in to drunkenness. Hannah, however, seeks blessing from the misguided priest and explains her tears. Eli is faithful to add his blessing to the fervent prayers of this young wife. Hannah leaves the sanctuary renewed and finds joy before she has a tangible sign of God’s answer.

Like Hannah, we may find ourselves struggling in life with an impossible situation or a lengthy heartache. We have this opportunity again to realize our Lord is capable of carrying our heavy burdens and giving joy before and through the solution. Hannah received the joy of a precious son and then entrusted him to an elderly priest who had failed miserably as a parent. Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phineas, were allowed to serve in the temple even though their hearts were far from God. Every trip to Shiloh was another reminder of Eli’s disastrous parenting. In spite of this grim knowledge, Hannah dedicated her miracle child to God and left him in Eli’s care. Hannah believed the Lord would transcend the earthly relationships her son would experience and God would be enough for him. She could have confidence in God, even if it was a stretch to have confidence in Eli; because God had been enough for her.