1 Samuel 1:15 - Drunken Prayers

He asked her, "How long will you keep getting drunk? Get rid of your wine!" (1 Samuel 1:14, KJC paraphrase)

The man was a priest named Eli. The woman was Hannah.

Hannah desperately wanted to get pregnant, but it never happened. Family members even taunted and teased her about it. (v.6) She had gone to the temple to "pour out her heart to God." It's the same word used in Psalm 62:8... to pour out utterly and completely. She hadn't been pouring out wine, but pouring out her grief and longing. She was so earnest about her prayer that she promised that if it was a boy, she would dedicate him to God's service. (v.11)

Eli had been watching her from a distance. He watched her weeping. He saw her lips moving, though her voice couldn't be heard. This happened after a feast of eating and drinking (v.9) and Eli interpreted her behavior as drunkenness... though in likelihood, she neither ate or drunk out of her grief. (v.7)

At least Eli listened to her explanation. “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, New Living Translation, 2015)

What happened to Hannah's baby, Samuel, is another story. But this interchange with Eli is a warning against judging people's behavior when it seems erratic to us.

It should also encourage us to pray, even when people don't understand our prayers or how we pray.

Thank you, God, that you don't judge us when we pray. We don't have to "pull it together" and present nice, pretty prayers. Give us courage to pour out our heart to You the best that we know how, regardless of what others think. In Jesus' name, Amen

Don't jump to conclusions about the photo. A shakerato: espresso + sugar shaken with ice like a cocktail and served like one. The discovery of a new and delicious treat created the smile, not alcohol. Rome, 2018.