Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“And she said, ‘Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.’ She left him there for the Lord.”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, October 17, 2022
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Talk about a sacrifice. Considering the value of sons, and how the worth of a woman as measured by how many she had, how strong and amazing Hannah must have been. Even more, of course, is the reality that this child whom she has nursed for at least three years but as many as nine, and who has certainly brought incredible joy to her life, will now live with someone else and she will seldom see him. I can’t imagine the grief she surely felt even though she was utterly convinced her decision was the right one. Not to overstep, but it makes me think a little of how God our Mother/Father might have felt giving God the Son into the hands of the world for the greater good.
Samuel becomes one of God’s most potent prophets and a central figure in the establishment of the monarchy. In a scripture that so often ignores the contributions (and even names) of women, I find it touching that so much tenderness is given to Samuel’s mother. It’s never occurred to me before, but I’ve always like the figure of Samuel a great deal and I’m suddenly realizing that it’s because of Hannah. Her story is poignant and so full of love—how could Samuel not be a decent guy?
Have I ever considered how my feelings about one biblical figure influence my feelings about another?
