May 11, 2025 • 43 mins
# 146 - The Prayers of Hannah - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, we journey with Hannah as she pours out her soul to God in the silence of unanswered prayers. Her story reveals a God who not only hears, but remembers and responds with redemption that echoes through generations.
Episode 146 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Joshua.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Psalm 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
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Show Notes:
(02:00) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(03:15) The Prayers of Hannah
(27:33) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Previously on the Chosen People.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Boas is a close relative of my late husband. He
is one of our kinsman redeemers.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
So when you say that Boas has shown me favor,
what you mean to say is do you think you
would marry someone like me. I'm not an Israelite woman.
I did not grow up under your laws.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Perhaps, my daughter, perhaps you have sacrificed so much to
stay by my side. Shouldn't I find rest for you
so that you will be taken care of.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
I made a pledge.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
I will never turn my back on you or our God.
Speaker 5 (00:45):
The Lord be with you all. The Lord bless you
tonight we celebrate the abundance of his provision. Well done, everyone,
Well done.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
I've come to ask you spread the wing of your
garment over me, for you are a family redeemer.
Speaker 6 (01:06):
May the Lord bless you, my daughter. I'm amazed hit
your faithfulness. I'll go and find the other redeemer. If
he wants to redeem you, then that is good. But
if he doesn't want to redeem you, as the Lord lives,
I will. I will gladly redeem.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
You are my family's kinsman redeemer. I have also come
to admire you as a man of valor and integrity.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Ruth believed that Boaz would not rest until they had
an answer. Their patience was finally rewarded when they heard
hurried footsteps on the path to their stone farmhouse in
the late afternoon. She reached the door and opened it slowly.
Speaker 6 (01:51):
Who love you as my old son, Honor you as
my partner, and protect you as my bride.
Speaker 7 (02:02):
God is the keeper of our tears. He bends his
ear to our earnest prayers. Shelloh, my friends, from here
in the holy land of Israel, i'm l Extein with
international fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the
Chosen People. There's a small town in the hill country
of Ephraim, quiet, familiar, full of life, and yet empty,
(02:25):
at least for the woman we're meeting today. Some stories
begin with war, others with miracles. But this one, it
begins with silence. Not the peaceful kind of silence, but
the kind that deafens your soul. And yet the Bible
tells us of a woman, a forgotten woman who dared
to wrestle with God himself, a woman who refused to
(02:47):
let her story end in despair. The story of the
Prophet Samuel begins with the tears of his mother. Let
me ask you, what do you do when life seems baron,
when it feels like heaven is siled? Do you curse
the silence? Or do you press into it wait for
God to answer. The Book of Fir Samuel may be
(03:08):
filled with epic exploits of David, but it begins right
here with Hannah.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
The dusty streets of Rama glowed with a soft light
that danced across the swaying grass. Birds perched in the
sycamore trees that lined the fields filled the dawn air
with tranquil songs, but the melody did little to lift
the heaviness that weighed upon Hannah's weary heart. She clung
(03:38):
to her knees as she knelt over the fire, stirring
a large pot of lentils. Each turn of the spoon
was a subtle reminder of whose bellies would be filled
by the meal from inside. The voices of Panina and
her children carried through the open door. Panina's proud face
(03:59):
emerged to greet.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Hannah, Oh, from the smell you're cooking has gotten better,
but it seems there are still no little ones in
your house to enjoy it, Hannah. Perhaps it isn't your season.
Maybe the Lord will remember you next year, if he
chooses to remember you at all.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Hannah did her best to ignore the comment, though it
sliced through her heart with a coldness that matched the
morning chill. The children's innocent laughter was a stark contrast
to their mother's cutting remarks. Hannah's shoulders tensed around her
neck subconsciously in defense. Years of torment had conditioned the
(04:39):
frail wife.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You know, I only joke, my dear.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Panina let out a laugh that feigned innocence as she
turned on her heels back into her bountiful home. Elcana
emerged through the threshold.
Speaker 6 (04:54):
Good evening, Panina.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
I'm sorry to interrupt, but I believe one of the
boys is found himself in some trouble.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Pannina ran her hand along Elcano's shoulder and gave Hannah
one last sly glance before returning back to the home.
Elcana sauntered gingerly towards Hannah, whose shoulders had already begun
to ease their way down to her sides. She felt
at peace in Elcana's presence, yet her eyes remained steadfast
(05:24):
on the embers and flame dancing before her. Perhaps it
was shame or a sense of guilt that something within
her made her feel as though she had failed Elcana
as a wife. In her barrenness, Elcana strode softly to
Hannah's side. He knelt beside her with a gentle gaze.
(05:44):
Her eyes were still unable to meet his. Elcana could
see the shimmer of tears welling up in Hannah's eyes.
Despite her best efforts to remain strong, Hannah had resolved
to show Elcana she was resilient, if nothing else. Her
husband placed his rugged hand on her temple. At his
loving touch, Hannah could no longer fight her sorrow, silent
(06:09):
sobs and tears streaming down her face. My anma, His
raspy voice trailed off as he considered his next words.
Speaker 5 (06:19):
I know your pain at your baroness, but please cry.
Am I not better to you than ten sons?
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Hannah peered sideways at her husband and forced a smile.
She knew he meant well, but his consolation stung only
slightly less than Panina's coarse jests. She pushed through her
inner turmoil and affirmed herself of Elcana's genuine care for her.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
You are kind, my husband, but I have found that
a heart without hope cannot find the strength to rejoice.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Elcana shifted in the dirt and brought his hands softly
down to her cheek. He lifted his eyes to the
colorful skies and directed Hannah's eyes upwards for the first
time that day.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
But you have forgotten something.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Hannah turned her face to Elcana's, desperately looking for understanding.
Elcana's smile was pursued with empathy.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
As long as the Lord is watching over us, there
will always be reasonable, and that alone will allow even
the weakest of hearts to rejoice. In fact, all my
years on this earth have only proven to me that
it is in our most broken moments that our God
provides profound healing. Perhaps I may not be better than
(07:45):
ten sons, but I assure you that he is.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Hannah's tears began to flow once more. She was stricken
with the tension between her deep hurt and Elcana's encouragement.
She was grieved to be without children. She felt guilty
that her grief created distance between her and her husband.
She felt bitter towards Panina for bearing her husband's children
(08:11):
and rubbing it in her face. Then she felt shame
for feeling bitter. She was lost in a cycle of
self loathing and isolation. Elcana pressed down on his walking
stick and rose to his feet.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
We have a long journey ahead of us to Shiloh.
It's best that I go and finish preparations inside.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
The next morning, the householder rose early. Elkana and his
wives were busily wrapping up food and clothes into sacks
outside the loaded donkey's braid. In anticipation of the journey ahead,
Hannah hoisted her bag over her shoulder, nearly dropping it
as several of Panina's children darted past, laughing and playing.
(09:02):
Panina followed closely behind. She gave a dramatic sigh as
she handed her bag to her eldest son, and made
sure to appear exhausted as she caught Hannah's eyes.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Ah oh, mother's hands are always full.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
With a successful gleam in her eye, Panina continued out
the door after her children. Hannah watched placidly, fighting off
the temptation to spiral into a pit of sadness. She
wanted to find delight in the sounds of playful children.
Knowing she should praise God for giving life, she reflected
(09:39):
on his provision as she looked around their quaint home,
but was only met with reminders that it would never
be filled with her own growing family. As they prepared
to make sacrifices at the altars of Shiloh, she asked
the Lord for forgiveness for her troubled heart and took
meager steps out to join the others. The family formed
(10:03):
a caravan for their journey, gently winding through the sloping landscape.
Dust cascaded into the air as braying donkeys rhythmically clopped
alongside the group. Nature was still waking in the early
morning hours. Birds joined in song with Panina's children as
they skipped and humbed along merrily. Despite their laughter, Hannah
(10:27):
solemnly strode in silence. Her eyes were fixated on the
hem of her garment, flowing delicately with each step. Elkana
led the way a few yards ahead, holding the reins
of a donkey, upon which Panina rode. Hannah could hear
Panina's voice intermingled with laughter, though she couldn't quite make
(10:47):
out the words. Hannah pulled her scarf around her ears
in a vain attempt to drown out the noise. Her
heart sank as Panina raised her voice louder.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
The little one has been so key curious lately. Just
yesterday we were talking about the many blessings of our God,
and he asked why the Lord does not give gifts
to everyone in the same way.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
What a peculiar question, don't you think.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Hannah instinctively laid her open hand gently across her stomach,
her eyes shut, and a small tear rolled down her
cheek and landed like a seed on the earth. Elcana
turned his shoulder back in time to see Hannah draw
her shawl around her face. He could sense her heartache.
(11:32):
In his love for her, he shared in the pain.
He called to Panina's eldest son and passed off the
leather straps. He slowed his pace and walked beside Hannah,
who had already regathered her composure, both out of necessity
and ritual.
Speaker 6 (11:49):
How are you feeling today, why, Hannah?
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Elcana waited for a response he knew would never come.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
Perhaps that is the wrong question. I'm not sure there's
a right one, but please know my love for you
runs deeper than the sea and spans all of the
heavens above.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
As always, Elcana's genuine words of affection warmed her heart,
but they only dulled the pain. Barrenness had left, an
emptiness that seemed insurmountable. Elcana ran his hand down Hannah's
arm and went to grasp her hand, but without thinking,
Hannah drew her hand slightly away an instinct of her
(12:35):
loneliness and shame. Elcana sighed and gave her arm a
tender squeeze. He quickened his pace and shuffled his way
back to the front of the group. It wasn't long
before Hannah heard the shrill laughter of Panina once more.
Hours passed. As the sun lingered high in the sky,
(12:58):
Wisps of cloud danced to cross the blue expanse with
the help of a merciful wind that cooled the tired travelers.
Shiloh sat atop the horizon, nothing more than a speck,
but the mere sight of their resting place was enough
to rejuvenate the group for the last few miles. Of course,
(13:18):
Pannina knew nothing of weariness. She continued to lazily call
out to her children and Elcano whenever she had a need. Hannah,
on the other hand, had pushed aside any feelings of
weariness in her hopes to remove all feelings from within her.
In her mind, no emotion was better than the endless
(13:40):
bitterness she would otherwise endure. By the time the group
reached the city, the sun hung low in the sky.
It cast golden rays in every direction, bouncing over the
tabernacle that sat at the north end of the city.
Thousands of pilgrims lined the streets and crowded into houses
(14:01):
and tents. Each one was focused diligently on preparing their
sacrifices and offerings for worship. The warm smell of roasting
meats intermingled with the fragrance of burning incense. The entire
city was full of life. Sounds bounced all around, but
for Hannah, everything continued to feel empty, hollow, silent. She
(14:27):
promptly began busying her hands as she unstrapped packs from
one of the donkeys, Panina slid off hers with a
flick of the wrist. She sent her sons to gather
all of their belongings. They made light work of unloading
and setting up camp. At the center of their tents,
Elkanna sat near a growing fire. He promptly began preparing
(14:50):
the family's sacrifices. Panina and her children gathered around the fire,
filling the camp with shouts and laughter. Hannah sat off
in the distance. She watched as the setting sun turned
the sky above the nearby tabernacle a royal purple. Her
eyes lingered on the holy dwelling. Year after year, the
(15:12):
sight of it always stirred a mixture of hope and
grief within her. She longed desperately for each year to
be different, but repeated disappointment had taught her to loosen
her grip on the hope of ever seeing her deepest
desire fulfilled. Elcana shouted for everyone to gather around. The
(15:34):
time had come. Elcana began distributing portions of the sacrificial
meal for the family to present offerings. He gave generous
servings to Banina and her children, ensuring each child received
their allotted share.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
You are always so gracious to us, my Elcana, providing
for me and our children so that we might make
sacrifices to add an eye. What more could a wife
need from her husband?
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Hannah could feel Panina's eyes linger on her, but to
her surprise, Elcana gave no reply. Instead, he slowly turned
to Hannah. He presented her with a portion of the
offering without looking up. Hannah began to thank Elcana, but
stopped abruptly as her eyes landed on the tray set
(16:21):
before her.
Speaker 6 (16:24):
Is this not, yes, a double portion for you, Hannah,
For my love for you is great, even greater than
any earthly sorrow.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Hannah's lip quivered, though not for the reasons Elkana had assumed.
Hannah knew her husband meant well. She accepted the gesture
with a grateful heart, but the double portion only served
as a reminder of her barrenness. Panina's eyes were wide,
but quickly drew her attention to her children, loudly discussing
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the generous they had each received. Elkanah shifted closer to Hannah.
He kissed her on the forehead before she slowly slipped
away from the group. It wasn't long before Hannah found
herself before the opening of the tabernacle. She gazed upon
its entryway. Within its meticulously woven walls was the pure
(17:24):
and beautiful presence of God most High, dwelling with his people.
Hannah fell to her knees on the rocky ground. She
let out a whimper that was barely audible as she
searched for words. Her voice trembled as she finally spoke.
Speaker 8 (17:42):
God, Most High Lord of Host, if you will indeed
look upon the affliction of your servant and remember.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
Me, She sobbed as she begged for the Lord's remembrance
yet again.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
If you will give your servant as then you know,
I will give him to you all the days of
his life, No razor shall ever touch his head. He'll
be holy and given to you. It will be yours.
Speaker 8 (18:12):
Just please, Lord.
Speaker 9 (18:17):
Please please, Hannah continued in her wrestling with God, her
lips smiled as silent but desperate plea.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
She laid her face into the dirt. Unbeknownst to Hannah,
a man watched her intently from a few yards away.
He was dressed in a blue robe that got lost
in the purple horizon. He furrowed his brow as he
watched the hysterical woman. He bent his ear to try
and catch any of the woman's words, but her unintelligible
(18:55):
babble told him all he needed to know.
Speaker 10 (18:59):
This woman as a drunken mess. The things I have
to put up with? My lord, is this the lofty
tasks you have laid up for your priest to scrape
drunks half the floor?
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Eli approached Hannah with a judgmental tone.
Speaker 6 (19:18):
How long will you go on in your drunken come?
Speaker 10 (19:22):
Now, put your wine away from you, especially before the tabernacle.
Have some decency.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Eli's voice was rough and firm. His command was deliberate
and sure. This was enough to startle Hannah from her prayers.
She looked up with her muddied face. Her eyes were
a window for the anguish that raged within. She took
her slow, steady breath.
Speaker 8 (19:48):
No, my lord, please, it's not what it seems.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Eli's face remained stern, preparing himself for an excuse.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
I am a woman who is deeply trouble. I can
assure you I have not been partaking of any wine,
nor has any strong drink crossed my lips. All that
has been poured out tonight is my soul before the Lord.
I beg you do not regard your servant as a
worthless woman and drunkard. I have only spoken from my
(20:21):
abundant grief and heartache.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Eli's face softened. In his old age, he had learned
to quickly make amends for any wrongdoing. He now stood
closer to Hannah and knelt by her side. He studied
her tear strewn face.
Speaker 10 (20:40):
Yes, I see. May it please the Lord that you
go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant
you your petition that you have made to him on
this day.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Hannah's heart swelled with both uncertainty and hope. She rose
to her feet and wiped her face with her shawl.
She bowed her head before Eli.
Speaker 8 (21:01):
Let your servant find.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Favor in your set Sadness seemed to fade, like the
dawn mist meeting the sunrise. In its place, Hannah found
joy for the first time in years. The next morning,
the family rose early to worship the Lord before starting
(21:23):
their return trip. The journey back to Rama was quiet.
Hannah had found her usual place in the processions, but
nothing felt the same to her. She repeated Eli's words
the entire trip back, taking in each one like a
precious treasure. Once home, the rhythms of life quickly set
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back in only now what once pained Hannah fanned the
flames of her renewed spirit. Children's laughter fuelled her with hope.
To one day, hear the joyful shouts of her own
As she prepared meals for the family. She could only
hold on to the dream of feeding her own offspring,
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and the fond embrace of Elcana assured her of his
endless love for her. As life steadily rolled along, Hannah
clung to Eli's blessing, believing that God was working and
in the coming months, he answered Hannah's prayer. Hannah conceived
(22:26):
as the child grew in her womb, her faith grew
in her heart. When it was time to welcome the
child into the world, Hannah had already chosen a name.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
I shall call him Samuel, for I have asked for
him from the Lord.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Hannah marveled at her son. The years of brokenness became
a distant memory as she watched her son grow. Newborn
cries turned into the pitter patter of little footsteps. Gentle
cools turned into place full laughter as Samuel crawled through
the house, and the words of Pannina that once pierced
(23:06):
Hannah's heart no longer had power over her. She felt
free and fulfilled, satisfied in the grace of the Lord.
When it came time for the family to return to Shiloh.
Hannah remained with Samuel once weaned, she would make the
journey with her son.
Speaker 6 (23:26):
Are you sure about this, Hanna, I know the joy
you've found in our son. You waited for so long.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Hannah smiled her eyes, testifying to her confidence in the decision.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
The Lord remembered me, so I too shall remember him.
When Samuel is weep, I shall bring him to appear
before the Lord.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
There shall remain.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Elkana dared not disagree. He admired Hannah's devotion and trusted
in God's sovereign will for the boy. Elcana and the
others left the next morning at the first light of day.
Hannah enjoyed the quiet moments with Samuel, savoring them as
the last time together in their home. Over the coming weeks,
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she prayed for Samuel and herself. She asked the Lord
to grant them both peace in the face of the
unknown life ahead of them. Hannah knew the good bye
would come soon, perhaps not a good bye to Samuel forever,
but a goodbye to the normal life that most mothers
in vision with their children. With her hearts steadfast on
(24:41):
the Lord, she and Samuel began the journey to Shiloh.
When they arrived, Hannah found Elcana. He greeted her warmly,
holding on to her and his son longer than usual. Together,
they made their sacrifices before making their way to the
tabernacle in search of Eli. Hannah sauntered leisurely down the road,
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taking every last second she could, but no amount of
time would have felt like enough for her. Standing before
the tabernacle, she heard a voice from behind her.
Speaker 10 (25:16):
Salam, welcome to Shiloh. We are pleased to have you
and your family.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Hannah closed her eyes. The voice was unmistakable. She had
replayed it over and over in her head for years.
She wrapped her arms around Samuel tighter. She turned slowly
as Samuel's delicate fingers interlocked with hers.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
Do you remember who I am?
Speaker 10 (25:39):
We host many pilgrims this time of year, My dear,
I'm the woman who stood here in your presence years ago,
praying before the Lord.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
You've thought I was drunk.
Speaker 6 (25:51):
Oh oh, yes, yes, you were praying for a child.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
Hannah stepped aside and revealed, now weaned and able to walk,
clinging on to his mother's.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Garment, his name is Samuel.
Speaker 8 (26:08):
For this child, I prayed.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
And through your blessing, I held on to hope. And
now I stand here testifying that the Lord has granted
me my petition. Therefore I also have lent him to
the Lord, and as long as he lives, he shall
be lent to the Lord.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Eli's eyes sparkled in amazement. He gingerly took the boy
into his arms. Years of serving the Lord had shown
Eli countless examples of God's faithfulness, but none such as this.
As Samuel took Eli's hand, Hannah knelt before the tabernacle,
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She turned her eyes towards the heavens and raised a
prayer of thanksgiving for everyone to hear.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
My heart exults in the Lord. My horn is exalted
in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I
rejoice in your salvation. There is none holy like the Lord.
There is none besides you. There is no rock like
our God.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Her voice carried over the dull hum of pilgrims. Each
word was like the beating of a heart, the heartbeat
of new life, not only for Hannah and Samuel, but
also for Israel.
Speaker 7 (27:35):
The question that lingers as we enter this story is
one as old as time itself. Does God really care?
Does God feel the ache that we feel. Does he
hear the prayers we've prayed ten thousand times? Does He
experience the silent grief that feels greater than the loudest lament.
For Hannah, this wasn't a theoretical question. It was her life.
(27:59):
She lived in the shadows, under the weight of shame,
surrounded by reminders of what she didn't have, a child,
a future, a place in the ground, story of her people,
the Chosen People. And then the Bible paints a picture
of a God who not only sees, but remembers. As
Hannah waited in faith and trusted God, he remembered and
(28:23):
she was rewarded. Hannah had supreme confidence in God's sovereignty
and thankfulness for everything that he had done for her,
and her beautiful response. Well, it's recorded for us to
learn from right there in the Bible. I'd like to
take a close look at a couple of verses in
(28:44):
Hannah's prayer. She begins her prayer in verse two saying,
there is no one holy like the Lord. There is
no one besides you, there is no rock like our God.
The word for rock in Hebrew is soon, which is
very much like the word sire, which means artist. So
(29:06):
the Jewish sage to say Hannah could really be saying
there's no artist like God. Well, what does that mean?
Look around us? Look around at the majestic trees, at
the colorful birds, at the waterfalls and canyons, at the
long stretches of beach. We have to all ask ourselves,
(29:27):
could any human artist ever create these things? No, just
as Hannah said, there is no artist like God. The
second bit of Hebrew I want to look at in
Hannah's prayer is found in verse ten. Most closely translated,
it reads, made those who contend with Him be shattered?
(29:51):
But who is the word him referring to? The sage
is actually different When answering this question, Some says that
it were to the yet to unborn Samuel, that Hannah's
asking God to shatter the Philistines, who, as the enemy
of Israel, will contend with Samuel. Other sages hold that
him is actually referring to God. Well, I ask, how
(30:15):
could anyone be contending against God? And the sagees answer
that those who oppose righteous people are considered to be
God's opponents too. So even as we read Hannah's prayer,
we're also learning a lesson to respect the righteous and
try to be like them. There's something profound in the
(30:37):
way that Hannah responds to God's answer. She doesn't cling
to the blessing, She releases it. She dedicates her son
back to the one who gave him. This act of
surrender is at the heart of true faith. You would agree, right,
It's not just about receiving from God, it's about trusting
him enough to give it all back. Jewish traditions suggest
(31:01):
that Hannah's prayers for a son were answered because she
made a vow to dedicate him, her child, to the
service of God. This would mean his living at the
temple for most of his life. Her amazing vow makes
me wonder what we pray for for our own children. Well,
(31:22):
Hannah's vow might sound extreme, her son living his whole
life in the temple, but the idea behind the vow
applies to all of us even still to day. What
do we hope and pray for our children? Not necessarily
to be pastors or preachers or rabbis, but at the
very least we must pray that they will be dedicated
(31:44):
to loving our God and living moral, ethical, and honest lives.
That he expects of us. It's Jewish custom to read
these chapters about Hannah and her prayers on the Russia
Shana holiday, that's the Jewish New Year. We read them
as we repent for our sins, and we pray fervently
(32:06):
for ourselves and for our children, so for the Chosen people.
These chapters of the Book of Samuel are not just history.
They are very much alive today. What else does this
ancient story mean for us in our modern world. In
today's world, we often view prayer as a way to
(32:28):
get what we want. But Hammah's story, while it flips
that narrative, her prayer was about partnership with God, about
aligning her heart with his will. This kind of prayer
changes us. It transforms our perspective, our priorities, it transforms
our very identity. But what should we do when the
(32:50):
waiting feels endless, when our prayers seem to hit the ceiling.
We learn from this story we keep praying, We keep trying,
We keep believing that the God who remembers is the
same God who acts. Hannah's story isn't just about her,
my friends, It's about each one of us. It's about
(33:12):
learning to trust in the God who sees the unseen.
Here's the unheard and answers and ways we can't even
begin to imagine. When we bring our pain, our dreams,
and our fears to Him, to God, we are stepping
into a holy partnership with the creator of the universe.
(33:33):
And that, well, it changes everything. To speak more on this,
as Bishop Paulinier.
Speaker 11 (33:41):
Thank you so much. Chill well, here we are in
this Book of First Samuel, not to be confused with
Second Samuel. Did you know that originally all of it
was known as the Book of Samuel, And it wasn't
until seventy two Jewish scholars, six from each tribe, translated
(34:02):
the Hebrew Scriptures into the Greek language known as the Septuagint. Well, anyway,
First Samuels primarily about the prophet Samuel. But you knew
that he was so anointed. And the place we're primarily
speaking of is Shiloh or Shiloh, which is mentioned in
(34:25):
your Hebrew scriptures thirty three times. It's about twenty eight
miles north Jerusalem, about ten miles north of Bethel and
ten miles south of Sachem. In the past few years,
archaeologists have discovered the foundational stone of that place, and
(34:45):
it's the exact specifications of the tabernacle dimensions mentioned in scriptures.
They've also found thousands of bones from Kosher animals that
would have been sacrificed there. In the first chapter, we
beat about a man by the name of Elkanah who
(35:05):
was married to two women, one of them Hannah. This
is probably how the whole thing went down. We are
told that El Kamar loved Hannah. You know, this feels
like it feels like Jacob the way he loved Rachel Dessenon.
But they struggled together because they weren't able to conceive child.
(35:29):
Chapter one tells us that El Kamar took his family
to Shiloh every year to worship the Lord with the sacrifice.
It was about a fourteen mile quest for them six
hour journey, but it could be treacherous with wild animals
and thieves, and usually families would travel together for safety.
Once they'd arrived in Shiloh, it was a time of
(35:51):
celebration and covenant. And in your Bible, the Book of Numbers,
chapter twenty nine, God tells the children of Israel all
the sacrifices there to bring for the appointed times. God
required a hundred and eighty nine animal sacrifices just for
the Feast of Tabernacles. There was actually more sacrifices in
(36:13):
that one festival than all the other Holy Times put together.
Part of the Feast of Tabernacles was a covenant meal. See,
you'd bring an animal who'd be sacrificed, and it would
be laid upon the altar, and it would be burnt
or cooked, and part of it would be given to
(36:34):
the priest, and part of it would be given to
the covenant family, and they would sit there and eat together.
Unto the Lord. But the Bible says it, I wouldn't eat.
See her, her heart was tormented because her womb was closed,
her arms were empty, and she never heard the cry
(36:57):
of her own baby. What made it worse was that
the other wife would taunt her and mark her and
parade her own children in front of Hannah, especially at
the Tabernaclean he tried, you know how we are men,
You tried to comfort and he would actually he would
(37:20):
give her a greater portion of the food of the
covenant meal, thinking that would I don't know what we
were thinking, but she was like Abraham, saying what good
or all these blessings if I don't have another generation
to receive it. While everyone was sitting there at the
table eating, Hannah got up and stepped towards the tabernacle,
(37:44):
and she began to pray quietly into the Lord. She
made a promise to the Most High God of Angel
armies ready for battle. I don't have any seed, but
I'll give you the harvest. I don't have a boy,
but i'll give you a man. I don't have a minute,
(38:08):
but I'll give you the rest of my life. I've
never really prayed, but if you hear my word, I
will praise you forever. And basically what she was promising
here is a Nazaright vowl. Now there's a difference between
Nazarene and Nazarite vow. You know that Jesus was from Nazareth,
(38:33):
so he was a Nazarene. That's what you saw on
the cross, Jesus and Nazareth. But this is different. The
nazar right vow that Hannah was really promising is that
she would not touch his hair, he wouldn't drink wine
or even touch grapes, and he would never touch a
dead thing. Then here, Mama Hannah is making a promise
(38:59):
for a man she hasn't even conceived. And while Hannah
went towards the tabernacle, she didn't even know that Eli
the Prophet was sitting in there. He watched her lips moving,
but he couldn't hear anything she was saying because she
was speaking so softly. He actually thought he thought she
(39:22):
was drunk and jumped her, said, how dare you come
and hear the house of God or or liquored up?
She broke down and wept and explained, I promise you
I'm not drunk. I haven't been drinking at all. My
heart is broken, in my arms so empty, and I've
(39:44):
begged the Lord to hear my cry to give me
a son. And everything changed at that moment, and Eli
realized that she was engaging the glory of God with
everything within herself. And he spoke these words, go in peace,
(40:07):
and made the God of Israel grant what you have
asked of him. He had no idea, Eli, he had
no idea what he was doing. He was literally activating
the judgment of God that was going to sweep in
against him, against his boys, against an entire religious corruption
(40:32):
that had overtaken the holiness of God's people and God's
assignment in the earth. Hannah, She's going to have to
go home and do what a woman does to get
pregnant with her husband. That I'm telling you that was
that was really just a technicality. The word of the
Lord had been spoken, it had been agreed and activated.
(40:56):
Nine months later, Hannah gave birth to Samuel, the prophet.
You'll remember, when Moses was born, his mother nursed his
body and his belief for the first few years of
his life. When Samuel was born, his mother nursed his
body and belief for the first few years of his life.
(41:21):
And after Samuel was weaned kind of brought him to
the temple and left him with Eli, and something started
happening in.
Speaker 10 (41:31):
The spirit realm.
Speaker 11 (41:32):
The Word of God started moving.
Speaker 7 (41:38):
And Hannah's story it invites us to what we're doing
together in each of these episodes, to look backwards and
forward in the Bible. Hannah's bar and womb echoes that
of the matriarchs of Sarah, of Rebecca, and of Rachel,
women who bore Israel's promise in the face of impossible odds.
(42:00):
Each of them demonstrates that when life feels barren, God
is preparing to bring forth something extraordinary and forward. Hannah's son,
Samuel Well. He becomes a bridge between the era of
Judges and the age of kings. Hannah story is a
turning point and reminder that the cries of the forgotten
(42:21):
are the seeds of God's redemption for the Chosen People.
Speaker 1 (42:27):
You can listen to The Chosen People with Yle Eckstein
ad free by downloading and subscribing to the prey dot
Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only made
possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Gattina,
Max Bard, Zach Shellavaga and Ben Gammon are the executive
producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by
(42:50):
Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Caltefianu. Characters are voiced by
Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Gregor, Stephen Ringwold,
Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland, Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and the opening
prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith,
(43:11):
written by Aaron Salvado, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special
thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier Robin van Ettin, Kayleb Burrows,
Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians
and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions
on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple
App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The
(43:33):
Chosen People with Yil Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.
Previously on the Chosen People.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Boas is a close relative of my late husband. He
is one of our kinsman redeemers.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
So when you say that Boas has shown me favor,
what you mean to say is do you think you
would marry someone like me. I'm not an Israelite woman.
I did not grow up under your laws.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Perhaps, my daughter, perhaps you have sacrificed so much to
stay by my side. Shouldn't I find rest for you
so that you will be taken care of.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
I made a pledge.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
I will never turn my back on you or our God.
Speaker 5 (00:45):
The Lord be with you all. The Lord bless you
tonight we celebrate the abundance of his provision. Well done, everyone,
Well done.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
I've come to ask you spread the wing of your
garment over me, for you are a family redeemer.
Speaker 6 (01:06):
May the Lord bless you, my daughter. I'm amazed hit
your faithfulness. I'll go and find the other redeemer. If
he wants to redeem you, then that is good. But
if he doesn't want to redeem you, as the Lord lives,
I will. I will gladly redeem.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
You are my family's kinsman redeemer. I have also come
to admire you as a man of valor and integrity.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Ruth believed that Boaz would not rest until they had
an answer. Their patience was finally rewarded when they heard
hurried footsteps on the path to their stone farmhouse in
the late afternoon. She reached the door and opened it slowly.
Speaker 6 (01:51):
Who love you as my old son, Honor you as
my partner, and protect you as my bride.
Speaker 7 (02:02):
God is the keeper of our tears. He bends his
ear to our earnest prayers. Shelloh, my friends, from here
in the holy land of Israel, i'm l Extein with
international fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the
Chosen People. There's a small town in the hill country
of Ephraim, quiet, familiar, full of life, and yet empty,
(02:25):
at least for the woman we're meeting today. Some stories
begin with war, others with miracles. But this one, it
begins with silence. Not the peaceful kind of silence, but
the kind that deafens your soul. And yet the Bible
tells us of a woman, a forgotten woman who dared
to wrestle with God himself, a woman who refused to
(02:47):
let her story end in despair. The story of the
Prophet Samuel begins with the tears of his mother. Let
me ask you, what do you do when life seems baron,
when it feels like heaven is siled? Do you curse
the silence? Or do you press into it wait for
God to answer. The Book of Fir Samuel may be
(03:08):
filled with epic exploits of David, but it begins right
here with Hannah.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
The dusty streets of Rama glowed with a soft light
that danced across the swaying grass. Birds perched in the
sycamore trees that lined the fields filled the dawn air
with tranquil songs, but the melody did little to lift
the heaviness that weighed upon Hannah's weary heart. She clung
(03:38):
to her knees as she knelt over the fire, stirring
a large pot of lentils. Each turn of the spoon
was a subtle reminder of whose bellies would be filled
by the meal from inside. The voices of Panina and
her children carried through the open door. Panina's proud face
(03:59):
emerged to greet.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Hannah, Oh, from the smell you're cooking has gotten better,
but it seems there are still no little ones in
your house to enjoy it, Hannah. Perhaps it isn't your season.
Maybe the Lord will remember you next year, if he
chooses to remember you at all.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Hannah did her best to ignore the comment, though it
sliced through her heart with a coldness that matched the
morning chill. The children's innocent laughter was a stark contrast
to their mother's cutting remarks. Hannah's shoulders tensed around her
neck subconsciously in defense. Years of torment had conditioned the
(04:39):
frail wife.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You know, I only joke, my dear.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Panina let out a laugh that feigned innocence as she
turned on her heels back into her bountiful home. Elcana
emerged through the threshold.
Speaker 6 (04:54):
Good evening, Panina.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
I'm sorry to interrupt, but I believe one of the
boys is found himself in some trouble.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Pannina ran her hand along Elcano's shoulder and gave Hannah
one last sly glance before returning back to the home.
Elcana sauntered gingerly towards Hannah, whose shoulders had already begun
to ease their way down to her sides. She felt
at peace in Elcana's presence, yet her eyes remained steadfast
(05:24):
on the embers and flame dancing before her. Perhaps it
was shame or a sense of guilt that something within
her made her feel as though she had failed Elcana
as a wife. In her barrenness, Elcana strode softly to
Hannah's side. He knelt beside her with a gentle gaze.
(05:44):
Her eyes were still unable to meet his. Elcana could
see the shimmer of tears welling up in Hannah's eyes.
Despite her best efforts to remain strong, Hannah had resolved
to show Elcana she was resilient, if nothing else. Her
husband placed his rugged hand on her temple. At his
loving touch, Hannah could no longer fight her sorrow, silent
(06:09):
sobs and tears streaming down her face. My anma, His
raspy voice trailed off as he considered his next words.
Speaker 5 (06:19):
I know your pain at your baroness, but please cry.
Am I not better to you than ten sons?
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Hannah peered sideways at her husband and forced a smile.
She knew he meant well, but his consolation stung only
slightly less than Panina's coarse jests. She pushed through her
inner turmoil and affirmed herself of Elcana's genuine care for her.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
You are kind, my husband, but I have found that
a heart without hope cannot find the strength to rejoice.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Elcana shifted in the dirt and brought his hands softly
down to her cheek. He lifted his eyes to the
colorful skies and directed Hannah's eyes upwards for the first
time that day.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
But you have forgotten something.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Hannah turned her face to Elcana's, desperately looking for understanding.
Elcana's smile was pursued with empathy.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
As long as the Lord is watching over us, there
will always be reasonable, and that alone will allow even
the weakest of hearts to rejoice. In fact, all my
years on this earth have only proven to me that
it is in our most broken moments that our God
provides profound healing. Perhaps I may not be better than
(07:45):
ten sons, but I assure you that he is.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Hannah's tears began to flow once more. She was stricken
with the tension between her deep hurt and Elcana's encouragement.
She was grieved to be without children. She felt guilty
that her grief created distance between her and her husband.
She felt bitter towards Panina for bearing her husband's children
(08:11):
and rubbing it in her face. Then she felt shame
for feeling bitter. She was lost in a cycle of
self loathing and isolation. Elcana pressed down on his walking
stick and rose to his feet.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
We have a long journey ahead of us to Shiloh.
It's best that I go and finish preparations inside.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
The next morning, the householder rose early. Elkana and his
wives were busily wrapping up food and clothes into sacks
outside the loaded donkey's braid. In anticipation of the journey ahead,
Hannah hoisted her bag over her shoulder, nearly dropping it
as several of Panina's children darted past, laughing and playing.
(09:02):
Panina followed closely behind. She gave a dramatic sigh as
she handed her bag to her eldest son, and made
sure to appear exhausted as she caught Hannah's eyes.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Ah oh, mother's hands are always full.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
With a successful gleam in her eye, Panina continued out
the door after her children. Hannah watched placidly, fighting off
the temptation to spiral into a pit of sadness. She
wanted to find delight in the sounds of playful children.
Knowing she should praise God for giving life, she reflected
(09:39):
on his provision as she looked around their quaint home,
but was only met with reminders that it would never
be filled with her own growing family. As they prepared
to make sacrifices at the altars of Shiloh, she asked
the Lord for forgiveness for her troubled heart and took
meager steps out to join the others. The family formed
(10:03):
a caravan for their journey, gently winding through the sloping landscape.
Dust cascaded into the air as braying donkeys rhythmically clopped
alongside the group. Nature was still waking in the early
morning hours. Birds joined in song with Panina's children as
they skipped and humbed along merrily. Despite their laughter, Hannah
(10:27):
solemnly strode in silence. Her eyes were fixated on the
hem of her garment, flowing delicately with each step. Elkana
led the way a few yards ahead, holding the reins
of a donkey, upon which Panina rode. Hannah could hear
Panina's voice intermingled with laughter, though she couldn't quite make
(10:47):
out the words. Hannah pulled her scarf around her ears
in a vain attempt to drown out the noise. Her
heart sank as Panina raised her voice louder.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
The little one has been so key curious lately. Just
yesterday we were talking about the many blessings of our God,
and he asked why the Lord does not give gifts
to everyone in the same way.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
What a peculiar question, don't you think.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Hannah instinctively laid her open hand gently across her stomach,
her eyes shut, and a small tear rolled down her
cheek and landed like a seed on the earth. Elcana
turned his shoulder back in time to see Hannah draw
her shawl around her face. He could sense her heartache.
(11:32):
In his love for her, he shared in the pain.
He called to Panina's eldest son and passed off the
leather straps. He slowed his pace and walked beside Hannah,
who had already regathered her composure, both out of necessity
and ritual.
Speaker 6 (11:49):
How are you feeling today, why, Hannah?
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Elcana waited for a response he knew would never come.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
Perhaps that is the wrong question. I'm not sure there's
a right one, but please know my love for you
runs deeper than the sea and spans all of the
heavens above.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
As always, Elcana's genuine words of affection warmed her heart,
but they only dulled the pain. Barrenness had left, an
emptiness that seemed insurmountable. Elcana ran his hand down Hannah's
arm and went to grasp her hand, but without thinking,
Hannah drew her hand slightly away an instinct of her
(12:35):
loneliness and shame. Elcana sighed and gave her arm a
tender squeeze. He quickened his pace and shuffled his way
back to the front of the group. It wasn't long
before Hannah heard the shrill laughter of Panina once more.
Hours passed. As the sun lingered high in the sky,
(12:58):
Wisps of cloud danced to cross the blue expanse with
the help of a merciful wind that cooled the tired travelers.
Shiloh sat atop the horizon, nothing more than a speck,
but the mere sight of their resting place was enough
to rejuvenate the group for the last few miles. Of course,
(13:18):
Pannina knew nothing of weariness. She continued to lazily call
out to her children and Elcano whenever she had a need. Hannah,
on the other hand, had pushed aside any feelings of
weariness in her hopes to remove all feelings from within her.
In her mind, no emotion was better than the endless
(13:40):
bitterness she would otherwise endure. By the time the group
reached the city, the sun hung low in the sky.
It cast golden rays in every direction, bouncing over the
tabernacle that sat at the north end of the city.
Thousands of pilgrims lined the streets and crowded into houses
(14:01):
and tents. Each one was focused diligently on preparing their
sacrifices and offerings for worship. The warm smell of roasting
meats intermingled with the fragrance of burning incense. The entire
city was full of life. Sounds bounced all around, but
for Hannah, everything continued to feel empty, hollow, silent. She
(14:27):
promptly began busying her hands as she unstrapped packs from
one of the donkeys, Panina slid off hers with a
flick of the wrist. She sent her sons to gather
all of their belongings. They made light work of unloading
and setting up camp. At the center of their tents,
Elkanna sat near a growing fire. He promptly began preparing
(14:50):
the family's sacrifices. Panina and her children gathered around the fire,
filling the camp with shouts and laughter. Hannah sat off
in the distance. She watched as the setting sun turned
the sky above the nearby tabernacle a royal purple. Her
eyes lingered on the holy dwelling. Year after year, the
(15:12):
sight of it always stirred a mixture of hope and
grief within her. She longed desperately for each year to
be different, but repeated disappointment had taught her to loosen
her grip on the hope of ever seeing her deepest
desire fulfilled. Elcana shouted for everyone to gather around. The
(15:34):
time had come. Elcana began distributing portions of the sacrificial
meal for the family to present offerings. He gave generous
servings to Banina and her children, ensuring each child received
their allotted share.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
You are always so gracious to us, my Elcana, providing
for me and our children so that we might make
sacrifices to add an eye. What more could a wife
need from her husband?
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Hannah could feel Panina's eyes linger on her, but to
her surprise, Elcana gave no reply. Instead, he slowly turned
to Hannah. He presented her with a portion of the
offering without looking up. Hannah began to thank Elcana, but
stopped abruptly as her eyes landed on the tray set
(16:21):
before her.
Speaker 6 (16:24):
Is this not, yes, a double portion for you, Hannah,
For my love for you is great, even greater than
any earthly sorrow.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Hannah's lip quivered, though not for the reasons Elkana had assumed.
Hannah knew her husband meant well. She accepted the gesture
with a grateful heart, but the double portion only served
as a reminder of her barrenness. Panina's eyes were wide,
but quickly drew her attention to her children, loudly discussing
(16:59):
the generous they had each received. Elkanah shifted closer to Hannah.
He kissed her on the forehead before she slowly slipped
away from the group. It wasn't long before Hannah found
herself before the opening of the tabernacle. She gazed upon
its entryway. Within its meticulously woven walls was the pure
(17:24):
and beautiful presence of God most High, dwelling with his people.
Hannah fell to her knees on the rocky ground. She
let out a whimper that was barely audible as she
searched for words. Her voice trembled as she finally spoke.
Speaker 8 (17:42):
God, Most High Lord of Host, if you will indeed
look upon the affliction of your servant and remember.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
Me, She sobbed as she begged for the Lord's remembrance
yet again.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
If you will give your servant as then you know,
I will give him to you all the days of
his life, No razor shall ever touch his head. He'll
be holy and given to you. It will be yours.
Speaker 8 (18:12):
Just please, Lord.
Speaker 9 (18:17):
Please please, Hannah continued in her wrestling with God, her
lips smiled as silent but desperate plea.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
She laid her face into the dirt. Unbeknownst to Hannah,
a man watched her intently from a few yards away.
He was dressed in a blue robe that got lost
in the purple horizon. He furrowed his brow as he
watched the hysterical woman. He bent his ear to try
and catch any of the woman's words, but her unintelligible
(18:55):
babble told him all he needed to know.
Speaker 10 (18:59):
This woman as a drunken mess. The things I have
to put up with? My lord, is this the lofty
tasks you have laid up for your priest to scrape
drunks half the floor?
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Eli approached Hannah with a judgmental tone.
Speaker 6 (19:18):
How long will you go on in your drunken come?
Speaker 10 (19:22):
Now, put your wine away from you, especially before the tabernacle.
Have some decency.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Eli's voice was rough and firm. His command was deliberate
and sure. This was enough to startle Hannah from her prayers.
She looked up with her muddied face. Her eyes were
a window for the anguish that raged within. She took
her slow, steady breath.
Speaker 8 (19:48):
No, my lord, please, it's not what it seems.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Eli's face remained stern, preparing himself for an excuse.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
I am a woman who is deeply trouble. I can
assure you I have not been partaking of any wine,
nor has any strong drink crossed my lips. All that
has been poured out tonight is my soul before the Lord.
I beg you do not regard your servant as a
worthless woman and drunkard. I have only spoken from my
(20:21):
abundant grief and heartache.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Eli's face softened. In his old age, he had learned
to quickly make amends for any wrongdoing. He now stood
closer to Hannah and knelt by her side. He studied
her tear strewn face.
Speaker 10 (20:40):
Yes, I see. May it please the Lord that you
go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant
you your petition that you have made to him on
this day.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Hannah's heart swelled with both uncertainty and hope. She rose
to her feet and wiped her face with her shawl.
She bowed her head before Eli.
Speaker 8 (21:01):
Let your servant find.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Favor in your set Sadness seemed to fade, like the
dawn mist meeting the sunrise. In its place, Hannah found
joy for the first time in years. The next morning,
the family rose early to worship the Lord before starting
(21:23):
their return trip. The journey back to Rama was quiet.
Hannah had found her usual place in the processions, but
nothing felt the same to her. She repeated Eli's words
the entire trip back, taking in each one like a
precious treasure. Once home, the rhythms of life quickly set
(21:45):
back in only now what once pained Hannah fanned the
flames of her renewed spirit. Children's laughter fuelled her with hope.
To one day, hear the joyful shouts of her own
As she prepared meals for the family. She could only
hold on to the dream of feeding her own offspring,
(22:05):
and the fond embrace of Elcana assured her of his
endless love for her. As life steadily rolled along, Hannah
clung to Eli's blessing, believing that God was working and
in the coming months, he answered Hannah's prayer. Hannah conceived
(22:26):
as the child grew in her womb, her faith grew
in her heart. When it was time to welcome the
child into the world, Hannah had already chosen a name.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
I shall call him Samuel, for I have asked for
him from the Lord.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Hannah marveled at her son. The years of brokenness became
a distant memory as she watched her son grow. Newborn
cries turned into the pitter patter of little footsteps. Gentle
cools turned into place full laughter as Samuel crawled through
the house, and the words of Pannina that once pierced
(23:06):
Hannah's heart no longer had power over her. She felt
free and fulfilled, satisfied in the grace of the Lord.
When it came time for the family to return to Shiloh.
Hannah remained with Samuel once weaned, she would make the
journey with her son.
Speaker 6 (23:26):
Are you sure about this, Hanna, I know the joy
you've found in our son. You waited for so long.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Hannah smiled her eyes, testifying to her confidence in the decision.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
The Lord remembered me, so I too shall remember him.
When Samuel is weep, I shall bring him to appear
before the Lord.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
There shall remain.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Elkana dared not disagree. He admired Hannah's devotion and trusted
in God's sovereign will for the boy. Elcana and the
others left the next morning at the first light of day.
Hannah enjoyed the quiet moments with Samuel, savoring them as
the last time together in their home. Over the coming weeks,
(24:16):
she prayed for Samuel and herself. She asked the Lord
to grant them both peace in the face of the
unknown life ahead of them. Hannah knew the good bye
would come soon, perhaps not a good bye to Samuel forever,
but a goodbye to the normal life that most mothers
in vision with their children. With her hearts steadfast on
(24:41):
the Lord, she and Samuel began the journey to Shiloh.
When they arrived, Hannah found Elcana. He greeted her warmly,
holding on to her and his son longer than usual. Together,
they made their sacrifices before making their way to the
tabernacle in search of Eli. Hannah sauntered leisurely down the road,
(25:04):
taking every last second she could, but no amount of
time would have felt like enough for her. Standing before
the tabernacle, she heard a voice from behind her.
Speaker 10 (25:16):
Salam, welcome to Shiloh. We are pleased to have you
and your family.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Hannah closed her eyes. The voice was unmistakable. She had
replayed it over and over in her head for years.
She wrapped her arms around Samuel tighter. She turned slowly
as Samuel's delicate fingers interlocked with hers.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
Do you remember who I am?
Speaker 10 (25:39):
We host many pilgrims this time of year, My dear,
I'm the woman who stood here in your presence years ago,
praying before the Lord.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
You've thought I was drunk.
Speaker 6 (25:51):
Oh oh, yes, yes, you were praying for a child.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
Hannah stepped aside and revealed, now weaned and able to walk,
clinging on to his mother's.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Garment, his name is Samuel.
Speaker 8 (26:08):
For this child, I prayed.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
And through your blessing, I held on to hope. And
now I stand here testifying that the Lord has granted
me my petition. Therefore I also have lent him to
the Lord, and as long as he lives, he shall
be lent to the Lord.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Eli's eyes sparkled in amazement. He gingerly took the boy
into his arms. Years of serving the Lord had shown
Eli countless examples of God's faithfulness, but none such as this.
As Samuel took Eli's hand, Hannah knelt before the tabernacle,
(26:50):
She turned her eyes towards the heavens and raised a
prayer of thanksgiving for everyone to hear.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
My heart exults in the Lord. My horn is exalted
in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I
rejoice in your salvation. There is none holy like the Lord.
There is none besides you. There is no rock like
our God.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Her voice carried over the dull hum of pilgrims. Each
word was like the beating of a heart, the heartbeat
of new life, not only for Hannah and Samuel, but
also for Israel.
Speaker 7 (27:35):
The question that lingers as we enter this story is
one as old as time itself. Does God really care?
Does God feel the ache that we feel. Does he
hear the prayers we've prayed ten thousand times? Does He
experience the silent grief that feels greater than the loudest lament.
For Hannah, this wasn't a theoretical question. It was her life.
(27:59):
She lived in the shadows, under the weight of shame,
surrounded by reminders of what she didn't have, a child,
a future, a place in the ground, story of her people,
the Chosen People. And then the Bible paints a picture
of a God who not only sees, but remembers. As
Hannah waited in faith and trusted God, he remembered and
(28:23):
she was rewarded. Hannah had supreme confidence in God's sovereignty
and thankfulness for everything that he had done for her,
and her beautiful response. Well, it's recorded for us to
learn from right there in the Bible. I'd like to
take a close look at a couple of verses in
(28:44):
Hannah's prayer. She begins her prayer in verse two saying,
there is no one holy like the Lord. There is
no one besides you, there is no rock like our God.
The word for rock in Hebrew is soon, which is
very much like the word sire, which means artist. So
(29:06):
the Jewish sage to say Hannah could really be saying
there's no artist like God. Well, what does that mean?
Look around us? Look around at the majestic trees, at
the colorful birds, at the waterfalls and canyons, at the
long stretches of beach. We have to all ask ourselves,
(29:27):
could any human artist ever create these things? No, just
as Hannah said, there is no artist like God. The
second bit of Hebrew I want to look at in
Hannah's prayer is found in verse ten. Most closely translated,
it reads, made those who contend with Him be shattered?
(29:51):
But who is the word him referring to? The sage
is actually different When answering this question, Some says that
it were to the yet to unborn Samuel, that Hannah's
asking God to shatter the Philistines, who, as the enemy
of Israel, will contend with Samuel. Other sages hold that
him is actually referring to God. Well, I ask, how
(30:15):
could anyone be contending against God? And the sagees answer
that those who oppose righteous people are considered to be
God's opponents too. So even as we read Hannah's prayer,
we're also learning a lesson to respect the righteous and
try to be like them. There's something profound in the
(30:37):
way that Hannah responds to God's answer. She doesn't cling
to the blessing, She releases it. She dedicates her son
back to the one who gave him. This act of
surrender is at the heart of true faith. You would agree, right,
It's not just about receiving from God, it's about trusting
him enough to give it all back. Jewish traditions suggest
(31:01):
that Hannah's prayers for a son were answered because she
made a vow to dedicate him, her child, to the
service of God. This would mean his living at the
temple for most of his life. Her amazing vow makes
me wonder what we pray for for our own children. Well,
(31:22):
Hannah's vow might sound extreme, her son living his whole
life in the temple, but the idea behind the vow
applies to all of us even still to day. What
do we hope and pray for our children? Not necessarily
to be pastors or preachers or rabbis, but at the
very least we must pray that they will be dedicated
(31:44):
to loving our God and living moral, ethical, and honest lives.
That he expects of us. It's Jewish custom to read
these chapters about Hannah and her prayers on the Russia
Shana holiday, that's the Jewish New Year. We read them
as we repent for our sins, and we pray fervently
(32:06):
for ourselves and for our children, so for the Chosen people.
These chapters of the Book of Samuel are not just history.
They are very much alive today. What else does this
ancient story mean for us in our modern world. In
today's world, we often view prayer as a way to
(32:28):
get what we want. But Hammah's story, while it flips
that narrative, her prayer was about partnership with God, about
aligning her heart with his will. This kind of prayer
changes us. It transforms our perspective, our priorities, it transforms
our very identity. But what should we do when the
(32:50):
waiting feels endless, when our prayers seem to hit the ceiling.
We learn from this story we keep praying, We keep trying,
We keep believing that the God who remembers is the
same God who acts. Hannah's story isn't just about her,
my friends, It's about each one of us. It's about
(33:12):
learning to trust in the God who sees the unseen.
Here's the unheard and answers and ways we can't even
begin to imagine. When we bring our pain, our dreams,
and our fears to Him, to God, we are stepping
into a holy partnership with the creator of the universe.
(33:33):
And that, well, it changes everything. To speak more on this,
as Bishop Paulinier.
Speaker 11 (33:41):
Thank you so much. Chill well, here we are in
this Book of First Samuel, not to be confused with
Second Samuel. Did you know that originally all of it
was known as the Book of Samuel, And it wasn't
until seventy two Jewish scholars, six from each tribe, translated
(34:02):
the Hebrew Scriptures into the Greek language known as the Septuagint. Well, anyway,
First Samuels primarily about the prophet Samuel. But you knew
that he was so anointed. And the place we're primarily
speaking of is Shiloh or Shiloh, which is mentioned in
(34:25):
your Hebrew scriptures thirty three times. It's about twenty eight
miles north Jerusalem, about ten miles north of Bethel and
ten miles south of Sachem. In the past few years,
archaeologists have discovered the foundational stone of that place, and
(34:45):
it's the exact specifications of the tabernacle dimensions mentioned in scriptures.
They've also found thousands of bones from Kosher animals that
would have been sacrificed there. In the first chapter, we
beat about a man by the name of Elkanah who
(35:05):
was married to two women, one of them Hannah. This
is probably how the whole thing went down. We are
told that El Kamar loved Hannah. You know, this feels
like it feels like Jacob the way he loved Rachel Dessenon.
But they struggled together because they weren't able to conceive child.
(35:29):
Chapter one tells us that El Kamar took his family
to Shiloh every year to worship the Lord with the sacrifice.
It was about a fourteen mile quest for them six
hour journey, but it could be treacherous with wild animals
and thieves, and usually families would travel together for safety.
Once they'd arrived in Shiloh, it was a time of
(35:51):
celebration and covenant. And in your Bible, the Book of Numbers,
chapter twenty nine, God tells the children of Israel all
the sacrifices there to bring for the appointed times. God
required a hundred and eighty nine animal sacrifices just for
the Feast of Tabernacles. There was actually more sacrifices in
(36:13):
that one festival than all the other Holy Times put together.
Part of the Feast of Tabernacles was a covenant meal. See,
you'd bring an animal who'd be sacrificed, and it would
be laid upon the altar, and it would be burnt
or cooked, and part of it would be given to
(36:34):
the priest, and part of it would be given to
the covenant family, and they would sit there and eat together.
Unto the Lord. But the Bible says it, I wouldn't eat.
See her, her heart was tormented because her womb was closed,
her arms were empty, and she never heard the cry
(36:57):
of her own baby. What made it worse was that
the other wife would taunt her and mark her and
parade her own children in front of Hannah, especially at
the Tabernaclean he tried, you know how we are men,
You tried to comfort and he would actually he would
(37:20):
give her a greater portion of the food of the
covenant meal, thinking that would I don't know what we
were thinking, but she was like Abraham, saying what good
or all these blessings if I don't have another generation
to receive it. While everyone was sitting there at the
table eating, Hannah got up and stepped towards the tabernacle,
(37:44):
and she began to pray quietly into the Lord. She
made a promise to the Most High God of Angel
armies ready for battle. I don't have any seed, but
I'll give you the harvest. I don't have a boy,
but i'll give you a man. I don't have a minute,
(38:08):
but I'll give you the rest of my life. I've
never really prayed, but if you hear my word, I
will praise you forever. And basically what she was promising
here is a Nazaright vowl. Now there's a difference between
Nazarene and Nazarite vow. You know that Jesus was from Nazareth,
(38:33):
so he was a Nazarene. That's what you saw on
the cross, Jesus and Nazareth. But this is different. The
nazar right vow that Hannah was really promising is that
she would not touch his hair, he wouldn't drink wine
or even touch grapes, and he would never touch a
dead thing. Then here, Mama Hannah is making a promise
(38:59):
for a man she hasn't even conceived. And while Hannah
went towards the tabernacle, she didn't even know that Eli
the Prophet was sitting in there. He watched her lips moving,
but he couldn't hear anything she was saying because she
was speaking so softly. He actually thought he thought she
(39:22):
was drunk and jumped her, said, how dare you come
and hear the house of God or or liquored up?
She broke down and wept and explained, I promise you
I'm not drunk. I haven't been drinking at all. My
heart is broken, in my arms so empty, and I've
(39:44):
begged the Lord to hear my cry to give me
a son. And everything changed at that moment, and Eli
realized that she was engaging the glory of God with
everything within herself. And he spoke these words, go in peace,
(40:07):
and made the God of Israel grant what you have
asked of him. He had no idea, Eli, he had
no idea what he was doing. He was literally activating
the judgment of God that was going to sweep in
against him, against his boys, against an entire religious corruption
(40:32):
that had overtaken the holiness of God's people and God's
assignment in the earth. Hannah, She's going to have to
go home and do what a woman does to get
pregnant with her husband. That I'm telling you that was
that was really just a technicality. The word of the
Lord had been spoken, it had been agreed and activated.
(40:56):
Nine months later, Hannah gave birth to Samuel, the prophet.
You'll remember, when Moses was born, his mother nursed his
body and his belief for the first few years of
his life. When Samuel was born, his mother nursed his
body and belief for the first few years of his life.
(41:21):
And after Samuel was weaned kind of brought him to
the temple and left him with Eli, and something started
happening in.
Speaker 10 (41:31):
The spirit realm.
Speaker 11 (41:32):
The Word of God started moving.
Speaker 7 (41:38):
And Hannah's story it invites us to what we're doing
together in each of these episodes, to look backwards and
forward in the Bible. Hannah's bar and womb echoes that
of the matriarchs of Sarah, of Rebecca, and of Rachel,
women who bore Israel's promise in the face of impossible odds.
(42:00):
Each of them demonstrates that when life feels barren, God
is preparing to bring forth something extraordinary and forward. Hannah's son,
Samuel Well. He becomes a bridge between the era of
Judges and the age of kings. Hannah story is a
turning point and reminder that the cries of the forgotten
(42:21):
are the seeds of God's redemption for the Chosen People.
Speaker 1 (42:27):
You can listen to The Chosen People with Yle Eckstein
ad free by downloading and subscribing to the prey dot
Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only made
possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Gattina,
Max Bard, Zach Shellavaga and Ben Gammon are the executive
producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by
(42:50):
Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Caltefianu. Characters are voiced by
Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Gregor, Stephen Ringwold,
Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland, Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and the opening
prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith,
(43:11):
written by Aaron Salvado, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special
thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier Robin van Ettin, Kayleb Burrows,
Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians
and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions
on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple
App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The
(43:33):
Chosen People with Yil Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.
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