Monday 2021.07.26 12:35 hrs GMT+8
In olden days in Israel, it was a custom to pray aloud. That day, however, Hannah was in deep anguish at the temple. She prayed silently. Eli the priest saw her lips move but could not hear her voice. He thought she was drunk.
About two months ago, I wrote briefly on the practice of praying aloud. You can read my posts here:
andEli didn't know that Hannah was pouring out her soul to the LORD in her anguish at not having a child for many years. She was praying silently out of grief.
1 Samuel 1:9 - 16 NIV
9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
