Today’s Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-18, 1 Samuel 16:7
Eli’s question to Hannah—How long will you keep on getting drunk?—was quite assuming. He obviously had come to a conclusion without knowing all the facts. Not only did he accuse her of being drunk. He accused her of continually being drunk, implying that this was an on-going problem.
Before casting judgment on Eli, I feel a need to check my own heart, because I tend to do the same thing—come to conclusions without all the facts. This week’s quest may lead us all on a heart-checking journey. Are you ready?
First, here’s the story in a nutshell. Elkanah had two wives. One was Peninnah, who bore him several children. The other was Hannah, whom Elkanah loved the most, even though she was barren. In Bible days it was considered a reproach for a woman not to have children, and Hannah felt the pain of that disgrace. Peninnah made it worse by continually provoking Hannah to the point of tears and angst.
Every year, Elkanah and his wives journeyed to Shiloh (where the ark of the covenant was located at that time) to sacrifice to the Lord. On one of the trips, Hannah was especially grieved over not being able to bear children. She prayed from her heart, as her lips moved soundlessly. Eli, the priest, observed and immediately concluded that she was drunk.
This week’s quest will teach us a thing or two about Eli’s unwarranted assumption and Hannah’s gracious response. Guess who God blessed?
- How quickly do you judge based on man’s outward appearance or actions? How accurate are your judgments?
- What can you do to look at a person’s heart before casting judgment based on outward appearances?