1 Samuel 2 Devotional
by Pastor Lawrence

The Lord “brings low and he exalts,” is just one of the notes of praise that comes out of the mouth of Hannah in the beginning of this chapter, but it also serves to demonstrate what is happening in the rest of the chapter.  Because Eli had honored his sons above the Lord and thereby had despised the Lord’s offerings, the Lord would esteem him and his household very little.  On the other hand, because Hannah had loved the Lord more than her firstborn son and had given him to the service of the Lord, the Lord would exalt him before kings.  And soon enough, Eli’s household would come crumbling down with the death of his two sons precipitating even his own death, whereas the Lord would build up Samuel’s house that he might “go in and out before the Lord’s anointed forever.”

          Proverbs 14:35 attests that this is how things normally, or, at least, ought to fall out in the ordinary course of events that “a servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.”  But we also understand that the Lord’s judgment is not always implemented this quickly or clearly in every generation, for sometimes the king himself is unwise and wicked, and/or the shameful man is able to get away with his heinous sins through duplicity and ongoing deceit.

In fact, we don’t know exactly how long Eli’s sons got away with their evil deeds before the Lord called them to account, nor do we know how long Hannah was barren or how many children Peninnah had and boasted of before the Lord finally blessed Hannah with children.  More than likely, in both cases, godly people suffered under the hand of the wicked for many years, and they cried out to the Lord in great desperation for help, but the Lord did not immediately grant their request.  This seems to be how things often fall out in God’s good providence more often than not.  This is not because the Lord doesn’t care for his people nor because he is unable to do anything about it.  Somehow, in his great wisdom, power and love, the Lord is longsuffering with the wicked only bringing judgment upon them when their iniquity is complete, thus magnifying his justice, and, all the while, at times, he waits to be gracious to us in order that we might learn to rely upon him more and also exalt him all the more for his eleventh hour mercies.

To the unbeliever, that logic seems absurd, but to the ones who have waited upon the Lord and been the recipients of his daily grace, favor and mercy, waiting for a particular mercy from God, as difficult as that may be, teaches us to trust the Lord, to sometimes reconsider our own requests, and at times to marvel at the wondrous works of God, who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.