1 Samuel 1:9

1 Samuel 1:9 says, So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.  Hannah arose early while they were at Shiloh.  Eli the priest was at a post by the temple after Hannah and her family had eaten.  He was one of the last two judges of Israel, though he wasn't included in the book of Judges.  Verse ten adds, And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.  Hannah was bitter in her soul because she had not been able to conceive and was being put down by Peninnah.  Sometimes, if people today believe that life is treating them unfairly, even Christians, they can become bitter in their soul instead of still thanking God for all that He has blessed them with.  Verse eleven continues, And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head.  Hannah made a vow to God concerning Him blessing her with a son.  It was an if-then vow, her obedience being dependent on God's blessing her with what she desired.   I believe that we should really avoid these type vows as Christians and be content in the Lord no matter what.  She said she would give her son to God and no rasor would come on his head, which was a part of the Nazarite vow.  I believe we should do our best to give our children to God if we are blessed with them, without any special requirements from Him.  Verse twelve states, And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.  While Hannah was pouring out her soul to God, Eli saw her and watched her lips moving.  Verse thirteen adds, Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.  Since she was moving her lips without any words coming out, Eli thought she was drunk, even though it was early in the day. We should never make assumptions when we see someone in distress, but should actually ask them what is wrong and how we can help.  Verse fourteen continues, And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.   Eli then asked her how long she would be drunken and advised her to put away the wine.  He was actually being judgmental without knowledge of all the facts.  This is not how we should be as followers of Christ today.  Verse fifteen declares, And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.  Hannah didn't lash out at Eli's faulty assumption, but told him what was really going on.  She was not drunk, but was pouring out her soul in prayer, which had become bitter at least before her time in prayer.  Verse sixteen adds, Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.  Hannah asked Eli to not think she was a worshipper of Baal, but to know instead of her great complaint against God.  If we believe that we have a complaint against God as Christians today, we need to pour out our heart to Him, and if we are doing so, we need to pray that our fellow believers will support us and not wrongly judge us.  Hannah had done nothing wrong except become bitter in her soul.  Verse seventeen continues, Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.  Eli then told her to go in peace and asked that God would grant her petition.  Verse eighteen concludes, And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad..  Hannah asked that she might gain grace in Eli's sight, but it was God's grace that she needed.  Still,she left no longer sad and bitter in her thoughts.  If we pour out our soul to God, we should be able to go away with no more sadness and bitterness in our soul if we have truly turned the problem over to Him.