A Vow to Cherish

“In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord. And she made a vow…”

1 Samuel 1:10-11a

 

Vows. We tend to view them within the context of marriage ceremonies, in which brides and grooms exchange beautifully emotional declarations to one another. Many modern-day wedding services incorporate vows into their programs, and articulate a desire to exhibit an enduring love, a love that prevails in all circumstances, through the best of health and the worst of sickness. How tragic then that so many marriages fail to live up to the promise vocalized during the ceremonial vows? Divorce is rationalized and justified in some cases with little-to-no plausible pretext, and certainly no visible expression of an enduring, compassionate love. An enduring, compassionate love, by the way, that is often formally pledged to be unconditionally rendered, no matter what hardships arise. And even for the marriages that do not encounter divorce how many spouses can wholeheartedly say they enjoy a marital environment that daily yields spiritually rich blessings, including love, laughter, meaningful companionship, and deep communication? All of which are referenced, or alluded to, in wedding vows.     

 

So what are we to glean from the aforementioned considerations? And what are we to better understand about vows? To fully appreciate the significance of these questions we must look to a biblical example of a woman, Hannah, who made an unforgettable vow. 1 Samuel 1 introduces us to Hannah, and the difficult situation she found herself submerged in. The narrative that identifies her trying condition is brief, but packed with ample information. 1 Samuel 1:2 says Hannah was one of two wives married to Elkanah. Elkanah’s other wife had several children, “but Hannah had none.” Four short words tell us so much about the immense adversity Hannah constantly battled.

 

Hannah’s barrenness probably sparked feelings of discouragement, jealously, pain, and despair. There were children running throughout her house, but none of them were ushered into this world through her body. She knew what it meant to tend to children’s needs as a surrogate mother, but she never knew the joy of carrying a child in her womb. Even though she probably performed her share of the maternal responsibilities with much diligence and tenderness, the likelihood that she herself would never conceive a child had to feel like an emotional dagger, a dagger that continually widened an open wound. She had never experienced the incredible privilege of pregnancy and longed for the opportunity to be divinely entrusted with a life in her care. She was so close, and yet seemingly so far away.

 

How did Hannah respond to her grief? How did she react to her dismay? She rightly took her plight to the throne of God, the appropriate source for matters that burden the heart. Hannah stated her case and pleaded for holy benevolence. She did not insist that the Lord meet her demands; she inquired for God to hear her out. She did not list stipulations to God; she spoke supplications. And the root cause of Hannah’s desire to bear a child was clearly communicated in the vow she proclaimed in 1 Samuel 1:11. Her singular desire to bear a child was so that her offspring might be a noble instrument of God. And she proved this by conveying her willingness to turn over the child to the ministry if God would see fit to answer her prayer and vow. Dwell on the impact of this. That which Hannah so yearned for, a child, she was willing to relinquish to God.

 

There is almost nothing harder in this world to imagine than a mother releasing her child, especially at so young an age. But that is exactly what Hannah professed, and eventually did. She understood that vows are honorable, and should be cherished and kept. Hannah did not seek to elevate her social status in the eyes of others or herself. She sought to glorify God in all matters, including her barrenness. As Hannah confirmed, vows are intensely solemn commitments. They are meant to be unbreakable oaths, oaths that cannot be recanted or retracted. Hannah handled her life matters with spiritual strength, courage, and gratitude. In the end, Hannah did not lose a son, she gained three boys and two girls (1 Samuel 2:21). It is remarkable how God can return and multiply even small seeds of faith and trust. God responded in abundant fashion to Hannah’s need. Her vow ignited a testimony that has inspired many generations past her lifetime. What vows will we make that might do the same?