There is a story in 1 Samuel 1-2 of a woman who was distraught, for you see she was barren. She was married to a prominent man(Elkanah), from the tribe of Levi.
According to the genealogical tables, Elkanah was, a Levite, a fact otherwise not mentioned in the books of Samuel.
Hannah was the loved wife but again as in the story of Leah and Rachel, she was barren. Her rival wife(Peninah), taunted Hannah as Penninah had many children.
Even Elkanah said to her, "Is not my love for you better than ten sons." Almost annoyed at her for being so sorrowful over the barrenness of her womb.
Every year they would go to Shilo (the place of the Tabernacle), to offer sacrifice and burnt offerings to the Lord.
Here is the rest of the story:
1 Sam. 1:9
So Hannah rose after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside a post of the temple (tent) of the Lord.
10And [Hannah] was in distress of soul, praying to the Lord and weeping bitterly.
11She vowed, saying, O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and [earnestly] remember, and not forget Your handmaid but will give me a son, I will give him to the Lord all his life; no razor shall touch his head.
12And as she continued praying before the Lord, Eli noticed her mouth.
13Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.
14Eli said to her, How long will you be intoxicated? Put wine away from you.
15But Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I was pouring out my soul before the Lord.(A)
16Regard not your handmaid as a wicked woman; for out of my great complaint and bitter provocation I have been speaking.
17Then Eli said, Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.
18Hannah said, Let your handmaid find grace in your sight. So [she] went her way and ate, her countenance no longer sad.
19The family rose early the next morning, worshiped before the Lord, and returned to their home in Ramah. Elkanah knew(INTIMACY) Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.
20Hannah became pregnant and in due time bore a son and named him Samuel [heard of God], Because, she said, I have asked him of the Lord.
21And Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow.
22But Hannah did not go, for she said to her husband, I will not go until the child is weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there as long as he lives.
23Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems best to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the Lord establish His word. So Hannah remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24When she had [a]weaned him, she took him with her, with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin bottle of wine [to pour over the burnt offering for a sweet odor], and brought Samuel to the Lord's house in Shiloh. The child was growing.
25Then they slew the bull, and brought the child to Eli.
26Hannah said, Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here praying to the Lord.
27For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted my petition made to Him.
28Therefore I have given him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is given to the Lord. And they worshiped the Lord there.
Hannah made a VOW to the Lord and she kept it.
Do you know that Samuel was probably 3 years old when Hannah gave Samuel to the Lord?
He was a tiny little toddler. But Hannah made a VOW to the Lord and she kept it.
How many times do we make promises to the Lord based on a desire of our hearts and then we fail to keep the VOW? Can you imagine giving up your toddler of 3 years old to leave him with a man who was old and whose sons were very ungodly?
Hannah could not drive to see Samuel when she missed him. She saw him once a year and brought him a beautiful coat each time.
But it was this very act of Faith that changed history-for you see it was a very Dark time for Israel and they were not following after God. But it took the PRAYER/VOW of one woman to ACT and keep her VOW to God to change the nation of Israel and bring them back to God.
She believed her God, no matter what her present situation.
Are you believing God today, no matter what situation of circumstance is present in your life?
Are you going to be a History changer because of your UNWAVERING FAITH in your God-THE MOST HIGH GOD-the only true God-Adonai?
According to the genealogical tables, Elkanah was, a Levite, a fact otherwise not mentioned in the books of Samuel.
Hannah was the loved wife but again as in the story of Leah and Rachel, she was barren. Her rival wife(Peninah), taunted Hannah as Penninah had many children.
Even Elkanah said to her, "Is not my love for you better than ten sons." Almost annoyed at her for being so sorrowful over the barrenness of her womb.
Every year they would go to Shilo (the place of the Tabernacle), to offer sacrifice and burnt offerings to the Lord.
Here is the rest of the story:
1 Sam. 1:9
So Hannah rose after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside a post of the temple (tent) of the Lord.
10And [Hannah] was in distress of soul, praying to the Lord and weeping bitterly.
11She vowed, saying, O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and [earnestly] remember, and not forget Your handmaid but will give me a son, I will give him to the Lord all his life; no razor shall touch his head.
12And as she continued praying before the Lord, Eli noticed her mouth.
13Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.
14Eli said to her, How long will you be intoxicated? Put wine away from you.
15But Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I was pouring out my soul before the Lord.(A)
16Regard not your handmaid as a wicked woman; for out of my great complaint and bitter provocation I have been speaking.
17Then Eli said, Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.
18Hannah said, Let your handmaid find grace in your sight. So [she] went her way and ate, her countenance no longer sad.
19The family rose early the next morning, worshiped before the Lord, and returned to their home in Ramah. Elkanah knew(INTIMACY) Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.
20Hannah became pregnant and in due time bore a son and named him Samuel [heard of God], Because, she said, I have asked him of the Lord.
21And Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow.
22But Hannah did not go, for she said to her husband, I will not go until the child is weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there as long as he lives.
23Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems best to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the Lord establish His word. So Hannah remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24When she had [a]weaned him, she took him with her, with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin bottle of wine [to pour over the burnt offering for a sweet odor], and brought Samuel to the Lord's house in Shiloh. The child was growing.
25Then they slew the bull, and brought the child to Eli.
26Hannah said, Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here praying to the Lord.
27For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted my petition made to Him.
28Therefore I have given him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is given to the Lord. And they worshiped the Lord there.
Hannah made a VOW to the Lord and she kept it.
Do you know that Samuel was probably 3 years old when Hannah gave Samuel to the Lord?
He was a tiny little toddler. But Hannah made a VOW to the Lord and she kept it.
How many times do we make promises to the Lord based on a desire of our hearts and then we fail to keep the VOW? Can you imagine giving up your toddler of 3 years old to leave him with a man who was old and whose sons were very ungodly?
Hannah could not drive to see Samuel when she missed him. She saw him once a year and brought him a beautiful coat each time.
But it was this very act of Faith that changed history-for you see it was a very Dark time for Israel and they were not following after God. But it took the PRAYER/VOW of one woman to ACT and keep her VOW to God to change the nation of Israel and bring them back to God.
She believed her God, no matter what her present situation.
Are you believing God today, no matter what situation of circumstance is present in your life?
Are you going to be a History changer because of your UNWAVERING FAITH in your God-THE MOST HIGH GOD-the only true God-Adonai?
No comments:
Post a Comment