Samuel
– A Lifetime
Serving God
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On
the one hand, the family can be one of the greatest sources of frustration and
anger, yet it can also be the greatest source of happiness and peace. The Bible
tells it like it is.
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Samuel
came from a Levite family (1:1; I Chron. 6:34,35). They lived near Ramah, an
area at the center of many important places in Israel's history.
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Elkanah
had two wives. We've already seen the trouble this can cause in a household,
especially when one wife has children and the other does not. Why did God
tolerate this?
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In
spite of this shortcoming, Elkanah seemed to be a religious man. He faithfully
observed the three special feasts outlined in Exodus 23:15-17. He took his
family to Shiloh as commanded, and observed the sacrifices. (Notice to whom
they sacrificed in v. 3)
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Twice
we're told "the Lord had closed" Hannah's womb. Is it because of sin,
and the curse of Deut. 28:4,18, or is God's sovereignty at work, as in John
9:1-3?
·
Elkanah
obviously cared for Hannah, for we see him giving her double portions (v. 4,5)
This might have antagonized Peninnah, for she mercilessly torments Hannah (v.
6,7). This causes great anguish for Hannah (v. 7,8), and it goes on for years.
·
In.
v. 8, Elkanah asks 4 questions that might be described as typically male. The
first three he asks as if he didn't already know, and the fourth puts the focus
on him. He only added to Hannah's emotional turmoil. How should he have reacted
to Hannah?
·
Driven
to her knees by the emotional battering, Hannah cries out to the Lord in
"bitterness of soul" (v. 10). Her prayer is one of the most emotional
in the Bible.
·
Hannah
asks for a son, but in a moment of remarkable unselfishness, she offers to give
the son back to the Lord. (v. 11). She refers to the Nazarite vows in Numbers
6. Those vows could be only for a time, but Hannah is willing to make them
binding for "all his days" (v.12)
·
Her
prayers are so intense, Eli thinks she is drunk (v. 13). Great, another
insensitive man. First her husband, now her own "pastor" tells her to
clean up her act. Hannah defends herself well, and Eli quickly sees her sincerity
and pain, and joins her in prayer (v. 17)
·
Hannah
leaves with feeling better (v. 18) Funny how sincere prayer can do that. Hannah
conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him so all would know that prayer was
answered.
#1) It's easy to carry out the
external requirements of Christianity, but neglect the internal commitments
#2) Husbands should not be
threatened by their wives' emotional states, but should be understanding
#3) God responds to prayer that
flows from a heart that is broken and sincere
#4) All Christian should
dedicate their children to the Lord, praying they will follow God's will
For
next week, read I Samuel 1:21 - I Samuel 2:10
