The following is a fictional story based on 1 Samuel 1. I hope you enjoy it.
Reaching the altar, she collapsed to her knees and clasped her hands together. Tears flowed out of eyes uncontrollably. She rocked back and forth on her knees.
Trying to calm herself, she vowed to Adonai with a broken heart, “Adonai-Tzva’ot, if you will notice your servant, if you will remember me and not forget your servant and give your servant a male child, then I will give him back to you for as long as he lives and no razor will come to his head.” She continued to pray silently to Adonai in her heart.
After a long time had passed, Eli noticed Hannah still knelt before the altar. Her lips were moving, but no sound came out.
‘She must be drunk,’ thought Eli. ‘Who else prays that long? Everyone else who comes here never stays this long. She’s got to be drunk.’
Eli shouted to her, “Woman, how long are you going to be drunk before Adonai? Stop drinking all that wine and get up.”
Hannah quickly defended herself, “No, my lord. I am not drunk. I have not had anything to drink, not wine or any hard liquor. I am pouring out my heart to Adonai. I am speaking to him from the very depths of my soul.”
Eli felt bad for accusing her. He replied to her, “Go in peace. May Elohim of Israel grant you your petition.”
“Thank you, my lord. May your servant find favor in your sight.” Hannah stood up. She felt a whole lot better. Sadness, pain, broken-heartedness was no longer her friends. She felt light, happy, and joyous. She knew Adonai had heard her prayer and the High Priest had blessed her. All of a sudden she felt famish so she hurried to find herself something to eat.
The next morning she got up and worshipped before Adonai. She sensed a newness in her during the journey home. Elkanah watched his wife closely. Something was definitely different about his wife. She strolled through the crowd, looking straight ahead, and smiling.
She looked to be in a hurry to get home. He wondered why. After giving it some thought, he decided it didn’t matter. Thrilled to see her smiling again, he hurried up to walk next to her. He reached down to hold her hand. She smiled at him and his heart melted. Now he couldn’t wait to get home.
Once home, Elkanah escorted his beautiful wife into her tent. He made love to her with all his being. He couldn’t remember when he’d last felt like this with her. When they finished he laid next to her, holding her in his arms. He kissed her goodnight and drifted off to dreamland. Hannah rubbed her stomach and silently thanked Adonai for she knew he had remembered her.
The End