Mothers are important to society. Think of all the mothers who have made a difference for good throughout the history of humanity. On this day of honoring mothers, there is one Old Testament mother who provides great encouragement to us today, whether we are mothers or not. Her name is Hannah. She lived during the latter part of the period of the Judges. In this time when "there was no king in Israel" and "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judg. 21:25), Hannah arose with an exemplary desire to want something most precious from the Lord in order to give it back to Him.

Hannah's Desire

Hannah's story begins with a man by the name of Elkanah who had two wives: one was named Peninnah and the other was Hannah. This was a time when God tolerated polygamy, but every time we find it, as is the case here, there is much strife and contention. Peninnah had children and received portions from Elkanah (1 Sam. 1:2, 4). Hannah had no children and received a "worthy portion" from Elkanah, who is also said to have "loved Hannah" (1 Sam. 1:2, 5). Peninnah constantly provoked Hannah, reminding the future mother of Samuel that she had no children (1 Sam. 1:6-7). Although Hannah was greatly loved (in word and deed) by her husband, Elkanah, she could not be happy without having a child. She did not want a child to collect more welfare, or produce more "grandchildren," or to get the attention of her peers. Rather, she wanted a son to give to the Lord (1 Sam. 1:11). Her desire to have a child was so great that she wept and would not eat (1 Sam. 1:7-8).

Hannah's Faith

Hannah took her problem to the Lord. "So Hannah rose up...10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 11And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head" (1 Sam. 1:9-11). Since "the LORD had shut up her womb" (1 Sam. 1:5), Hannah had faith that the Lord could open it (cf. Eph. 3:20). She knew that if she asked according to God's will, He would answer (cf. 1 Jn. 5:14). She also approached God in the proper way. Her humility was demonstrated in acknowledging herself as the Lord's "handmaid" (1 Sam. 1:11), the exact terminology Mary, the mother of Jesus, would use hundreds of years later (Lk. 1:38). The fact that her prayer was heard shows that she was righteous, for "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth" (Ps. 34:15-16).

Hannah vowed that if the Lord gave her a son, she would "give him unto the LORD all the days of his life." The phrase, "there shall no razor come upon his head," indicates that her son would take some form of the Nazarite vow (cf. Num. 6:2-13; Judg. 13:5). Hannah made a promise she intended to keep. For what things do we pray most in this life? Do we, like Hannah, pray for God to give us something of great value in order to give it back to Him? Do we follow through on our promises to the Lord?

Hannah's Integrity

"The LORD remembered her. 20Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD" (1 Sam. 1:19-20). God answered her prayer, and Hannah was true to her word. She would no longer accompany her husband, Elkanah, to Shiloh at the times of sacrifice because she wanted to take care of her son until the time she weaned him, and after that time, she would present him to the Lord (1 Sam. 1:21-23). True to her word, Hannah brought young Samuel to Eli, the priest, and said, "For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 28Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there" (1 Sam. 1:27-28).

Too many of us go to the Lord in times of distress and promise Him great things if He "bails" us out of trouble. When He does, we often forget what He did for us and the promises we made. Not Hannah. She kept her word to God! She did not forget God's greatness nor the promise she made to Him. In fact, First Samuel 2:1-10 records her praise prayer to God, which is very similar to the one Mary, the mother of Jesus, gave (Lk. 1:46-55). The section ends, "And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest" (1 Sam. 2:11).

Hannah's Legacy

Hannah provides tremendous lessons from which all of us can learn. First, she was content to fulfill her role before God. Concerning women, Paul wrote, "Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety" (1 Tim. 2:15). This is not saying that all women must bear children in order to be saved, but is a way of summing up the distinct role of women. Thus, a woman must fulfill her God-given role if she is to be saved. Hannah exemplifies this desire. Second, Hannah exemplifies the sentiments of the chorus we sometimes sing, "Where could I go, but to the Lord?" In her most severe distress, she poured her heart out to God. She was so distraught that Eli thought she was drunk when he saw her lips moving but could not hear her voice (1 Sam. 1:12-13). God is the ultimate comforter (cf. 2 Cor. 1:3-7). Hannah recognized, and so should we, that God alone has the ultimate power to help us no matter what our distress (cf. 1 Sam. 2:2-10). Third, Hannah kept her word to God. She did not use God just to get her way and then abandon Him when her trouble passed. She remembered the Lord when He remembered her (1 Sam. 1:19). God has assured His people, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5), but sometimes, especially when things are going well, His people leave and forsake Him (cf. Judg. 2:16-20). Do we keep our promises to God? At our baptism, we all promised Him loyalty. Are we living up to it?