Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
1 Samuel
Book: 1 Samuel
Chapter: 1
Overview:
Elkanah and his family.
(1-8) Hannah's
Prayer.
(9-18) Samuel,
Hannah presents him to the
Lord.
(19-28)
1-8 Elkanah kept up his attendance at
God's
Altar,
notwithstanding the unhappy differences in his family. If the
devotions of a family prevail not to
Put an
End to its
divisions, yet let not the divisions
Put a stop to the
devotions. To abate our just
Love to any relation for the sake
of any infirmity which they cannot help, and which is their
affliction, is to make
God's
Providence quarrel with his
precept, and very unkindly to add affliction to the afflicted.
It is evidence of a base disposition, to delight in grieving
those who are of a sorrowful
Spirit, and in putting those out of
humour who are apt to fret and be uneasy. We ought to
Bear one
another's burdens, not add to them.
Hannah could not
Bear the
provocation. Those who are of a fretful
Spirit, and are apt to
lay provocations too much to
Heart, are enemies to themselves,
and strip themselves of many comforts both of
Life and
Godliness. We ought to notice comforts, to keep us from grieving
for crosses. We should look at that which is for us, as
Well as
what is against us.
9-18 Hannah mingled tears with her prayers; she considered the
Mercy of our
God, who knows the troubled soul.
God gives us
leave, in
Prayer, not only to ask good things in general, but to
mention that special good thing we most need and desire. She
spoke softly, none could hear her. Hereby she testified her
belief of
God's knowledge of the
Heart and its desires.
Eli was
high
Priest, and
Judge in
Israel. It ill becomes us to be rash
and hasty in censures of others, and to think people guilty of
bad things while the matter is doubtful and unproved.
Hannah did
not retort the charge, and upbraid
Eli with the wicked conduct
of his own sons. When we are at any time unjustly censured, we
have need to set a double watch before the door of our lips,
that we do not return censure for censure.
Hannah thought it
enough to clear herself, and
So must we.
Eli was willing to
acknowledge his mistake.
Hannah went away with satisfaction of
mind. She had herself
By Prayer committed her case to
God, and
Eli had prayed for her.
Prayer is
Heart's ease to a gracious
soul.
Prayer will smooth the countenance; it should do
So. None
will long remain miserable, who use aright the privilege of
going to the
Mercy-seat of a reconciled
God in
Christ Jesus.
19-28 Elkanah and his family had a
Journey before them, and a
family of children to take with them, yet they would not move
till they had worshipped
God together.
Prayer and provender do
not hinder a
Journey. When men are in such haste to set out upon
journeys, or to engage in business, that they have not time to
Worship God, they are likely to proceed without his presence and
blessing.
Hannah, though she felt a warm regard for the courts
of
God's
House, begged to stay at home.
God will have
Mercy, and
not
Sacrifice. Those who are detained from public ordinances,
By
the nursing and tending of little children, may take comfort
from this instance, and believe, that if they do that duty in a
right
Spirit,
God will graciously accept them therein.
Hannah
presented her
Child to the
Lord with a grateful acknowledgment
of his
Goodness in answer to
Prayer. Whatever we give to
God, it
is what we have first asked and received from him. All our
Gifts
to him were first his
Gifts to us. The
Child Samuel early showed
true
Piety. Little children should be taught to
Worship God when
very young. Their parents should teach them in it, bring them to
it, and
Put them
On doing it as
Well as they can;
God will
graciously accept them, and will teach them to do better.