Obscurity is probably not the word that comes to your mind when you think of the nation of Israel. However, Israel’s history reveals the intricacies and complexities of how God birthed a nation from obscurity. To be obscure means to be undiscovered, unknown, or unseen. Consider some of the main characters in Israel’s history. Noah is known for building an ark that housed his family and two animals of every kind. The first scriptural mention of Noah is in Gen. 5:29, where we find him listed in a long genealogy. While his story was miraculous, his beginning was obscure. Another character is Abram, who is later called Abraham. Abram was listed at the end of another long genealogy as one of the three sons of Terah (Gen. 11:27). However, in Genesis twelve, God calls Abram to a new land with the promise that he would make of Abram a great nation (Gen. 12:2).
The book of 1 Samuel details much of the history of the established nation of Israel. When you think of kings, you think of kingdoms, palaces, and royal life, but 1 Samuel also begins in obscurity. Rather than beginning in a palace, 1 Samuel begins in the troubled household of Elkanah, who has two wives—Peninnah and Hannah. Like much of Israel’s history, we see that God works in the lives of obscure people. Have you ever felt that you live in obscurity—undiscovered, unknown, or unseen? Hannah’s story and her tears offer four important reminders for you.
1. The Effects of Brokenness
First, we see that there is a reality for broken people (1 Sam. 1:1-14). The reality is we live in a broken world filled with broken people. This reality results in broken people continuing to break things and hurt one another. This is clearly illustrated in the text as Hannah experiences the painful jabs from her rival—Peninnah. The first 14 verses paint a despairing picture of Hannah’s reality. She was barren (v. 2), the Lord closed her womb (v. 5), Peninnah provoked her (v. 6), she was depressed (v. 7), her husband was out of touch with her feelings (v. 8), and the priest treated her like a worthless drunk woman (v. 13). The broken world was breaking Hannah down at every turn. Many can sympathize with Hannah and relate to her pain. Life has thrown you many pains and hardships and left you feeling broken, depressed, and alone. We must answer an important question: “Where will you go when you reach your breaking point?”
2. The Place for the Broken
The second reminder in the Scripture is that there is a place for broken people (10,15-16). Verse three explains that Hannah would go up to Shiloh yearly to worship. Despite her feelings, she went to worship at Shiloh. Though she was barren, she went to worship at Shiloh. Though her rival mocked her, she went to worship at Shiloh. With tear-filled eyes, she went to worship at Shiloh. Hannah went to Shiloh to worship, but she teaches us how to respond when our circumstances are troubling us. When life breaks us down low, we must lift our prayers high and remember that God hears our prayers. The presence of God is accessible through prayer. As the psalmist writes, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). Later in Israel’s history, King Hezekiah received the troubling news that he must get his house in order because death is near (2 Kings 20). Upon hearing the news, Scripture says Hezekiah prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly (2 Kings 20:2-3). We must seek the presence of God in prayer. What impact does retreating to the presence of God have on us? Like Hannah, like Hezekiah, we must expect that God will meet us there and that He can minister to us amid our brokenness. Following Hezekiah’s prayers, the word of the Lord came back to the king, “Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you” (2 Kings 20:5). Similarly, Hannah received a blessing from the priest, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him” (1 Sam. 1:17).
3. The Faith of the Broken
The third reminder is that there is rest for broken people (18-20). We now notice a change in the story. Hannah came to Shiloh with tears, but she left with trust. She was feeling despair, but now she is emanating faith in God. Trusting God allows us to face troubling days. Her circumstances have not changed when she leaves Shiloh, but her resolve has. She knew she would leave Shiloh with Elkanah and her rival, Peninnah. She knew hard days were ahead, but she walked by faith in God. When we retreat into the presence of God through prayer, we can stand with confidence in the face of uncertainty and trouble. Have you experienced the peace of trusting God?
4. The Savior of the Broken
The final reminder in the text reveals that there is a savior for broken people (2:1-10). Following the miraculous display of God’s mercy, which blessed Hannah with a son, we see that her worship continues. Hannah rejoices in God’s salvation (1 Sam. 2:1) and God’s sovereign rule (1 Sam. 2:2-10). Worship is the proper response for all God has done for broken people. Verse 10 concludes Hannah’s worship, and she acknowledges God’s king and anointed. The interesting point of this verse is that Israel does not yet have a king. Hannah also refers to the king as God’s anointed one (v. 10). While the immediate story anticipates the beginning of Israel’s kingly line, Hannah’s Prayer causes us to look to another king born in obscurity, Jesus, the son of Mary. Though He is the king of the world, He was not born in a palace but in a stable (Luke 2:7). Though He is the Savior of the world, He was despised and rejected (John 1:11). The only begotten Son of God was born into obscurity to redeem sinners from their sins.
Conclusion
Though Hannah lived in obscurity—the barren second wife of Elkanah the Ephrathite—God knew her, He heard her prayers, and He sustained her through her brokenness. Have you experienced the ministry of God to your brokenness? Hannah’s Tears reminds us that no one lives in such obscurity that God cannot hear their prayers and sustain them through life’s storms; therefore, cry out to God.