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“’In that case,’ Eli said, ‘go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him’” (1 Samuel 1:17, NLT).
Insight
Priests have two main roles. First, is to represent the people before God (prayer/intercession). Second, is to represent God before the people.
Eli the priest came upon Hannah. She “was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord” (1:10, NLT). She had been taunted, made fun of and wept on many occasions over a certain issue in her life. Perhaps you know a Hannah. A person who is carrying a burden, fear or has a need… Has your path crossed with hers?
As Eli realized her situation he responded, “In that case, go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you asked of Him” (1:17). As a priest he represented the Lord to Hannah. Eli spoke a blessing over Hannah. He ministered peace to her troubled heart. He pointed her to God who answers prayers. Eli was a priest who took advantage of the moment to minister the heart and will of God to her.
Peter reminds us that we are royal priests designed to “show others the goodness of God” (1 Peter 2:9, NLT). We are called to represent. We are anointed to minister, bless and speak forth the heart and mind of God to the hurting. Declare His peace saying, “Go in peace!” Declare Him and His goodness praying, “May God grant your request.” We can do this because He makes the weak strong, answers the confused, gives joy to the downcast and brings rejoicing out of sorrow. “No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides You; there is no Rock like our God” (2:2).
Prayer
Father, as a priest and Your very own possession, I will show others Your goodness today. Cross my path with the hurting so I can minister your peace and love. Give me boldness to speak and declare your heart and mind over each person. In Jesus name, AMEN.
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Great thought Todd.. I also was impressed with Elkanah, Hanna's husband. Vs. 5 indicates that he very much loved Hannah and gave her double that of his other wife. Yet, vs. 8 suggests that he was perhaps hurt by her constant depression and felt that he wasn't nearly fully appreciated for all that he did for her. Yet, he did not abandon or shun her (vs.19). But, perhaps his greatest contribution in this chapter was his affirmation of Hannah in verse 23. He recognized her individualism and dignity as a person by allowing her request to stay at home while the family went on their annual pilgrimage to worship in Shiloh. He very wisely 1) restated her suggestion; 2) affirmed her by approving of her plan; and 3) asked her to consider God's confirmation as the only limitation to her giving THEIR son away to the Lord. Pretty amazing how he handled this very significant and consequential scheme of Hanna's when he was under no cultural obligation whatsoever to do so...How many of us husbands have squashed our wife's suggestion over very important family matters without honoring her as a person and helpmate. How many of us could let go and trust that God would lead HER in the right direction when perhaps we aren't behind the idea 100%. Which I had been as wise in times past....
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