Having concluded her prayer, there is the curious matter of the incident with Eli. Because Hannah is not praying out loud, he thinks that she is drunk. Hannah protests; she is speaking from a place of contrition and sorrow. She is pouring out her soul to the Lord, lamenting the condition of Israel and her own infertility. In response to her faith she receives God’s blessing; her prayer has been answered, and it is not long before she conceives a son. Now, it is somewhat peculiar as to why these details have been recorded. Why do we need to know of Eli’s strange accusation? Why not simply move from the conclusion of the vow in 1 Samuel 1:11 to the confirmation of God’s answer in 1 Samuel 1:19–20?
These details most certainly serve to highlight the sincerity and genuineness of Hannah’s faith and devotion; she is presented as a godly woman. They also serve to give us a glimpse into the kind of deliverer that Israel needs.
Past judges were generally all about politics. They were good battle leaders, courageous military commanders, but they did not live particularly close to the Lord. They all had knowledge of his Word, but their lives were not transformed by him. As a result, they did not lead Israel back to the Lord. There was little concern for right worship and obedience to the terms of the old covenant. It is not surprising then to find that the general spiritual condition in the land is so low that Eli assumes Hannah is drunk. That is the manner in which people have been turning up to worship. That is the manner in which people have been celebrating the annual festivals. It is how the pagans worshipped their gods; and now Israel is doing the same.
Samuel, however, will be different; he must be different. He must lead people back to the Lord. He must not only be an instrument to deal with the consequences of Israel’s suffering, but someone who addresses the cause, someone who speaks to the covenant disobedience and apostasy in the land. Israel does not need another leader who will simply plaster over problems; they need someone who can deal with the cause, a deliverer who can free them from slavery to sin and depravity.
But that is something which Samuel could never achieve. He could call attention to God’s past revelation and the terms of the covenant, and that is what he will do, but he cannot get rid of sinful human natures and he cannot deal with the judgment that sins deserve. That is a salvation which only Christ could accomplish. Born of a woman, Jesus is the perfect Servant who was sent to destroy the sting of death. He is the only begotten Son who was given by the Father, the Son who fulfilled the Nazirite vow, the only human being who was ever completely and fully devoted to God. By his obedience many will be made righteous. It is because of Jesus’ life and death that there can be forgiveness of sin and ultimately freedom from our sinful natures.
12 As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.