| ‘Blessed and barren, broken but not bitter’ 1 Samuel 1:1 Now there was a certain man... and his name was Elkanah, 2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests of the LORD, were there. 4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: 5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. ? 6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. 7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. 8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons? 9 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. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 11 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.. 12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. ( In other words he slapped her on the mouth) 13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. (speaking in tongues?) 14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 15 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. 16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. 17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. 18 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. 19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. 20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD... 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her ... unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young... 26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he (they) worshipped the LORD there. REFLECTIONS: Wow what a set of scriptures. There’s so much here to see and catch. So many characters to observe. Ah but the main idea or emphases is bareness and oh what a thing to have to endure. Lets look at these characters starting with Elkanah, Well for one he was a godly and faithful man, but he had one fault or flaw? He had 2 wives, ever wondered why? Well for one his first wife was barren. Oh he could have just gone into a slave girl or got himself a concubine. But he wanted to make it right in the eyes of the law, so he married another woman. However his flaw was that it wasn’t right in the eyes of the Lord. Look at the pain and hurt it caused his beloved Hannah. We sometimes are like him. As long as its ok by the law we will do it. Never mind what Gods word saids. We sometimes try to find a solution or answer to our problems and dilemmas rather than let go and let God have it. We try to fix things and play God. We try fleshy solutions to his Godly promises. Remember Abraham tried that and his people are still paying for it. Which brings us to our next character Hannah now she was some woman of god. She had character and some. She was kind, warm, forgiving, faithful, worshipful, and compassionate. When life handed her a lemon she made lemonaid. When folks mocked and treated her bad she prayed rather than cursed. Hannah did not render to Peninnah railing for railing, but took the trouble wholly to herself, which made her an object of much compassion from God.. Indeed Hannah could not bear the affliction of her barrenness, and she grew melancholy and discontented: It burdened her and broke her but she refuse to give in.. Yet notice she did not allow her circumstances to stop her devotion to God. And though her Husbands devotions to family brought division to their home. she did not let the divisions put a stop to her devotions to God. I wonder if we can identify with her, Oh we may not be barren as far as children are concerned. But we may be barren of things we desire, of hope we have had, prayers we have prayed. Maybe its a longing and a yearning in our hearts that has yet to come to pass. A ministry you aspire to? A person or position you been praying for. Bit now that we can identify with her. I wonder if we can also pray like her, react like her, worship like her, love instead of hate. Forgive instead of fight. She was blessed to be barren.. Then there was Penninah; what a woman. What a wretch, or is it witch? She was rude, arrogant and haughty. Peninnah could not bear the blessing of fruitfulness, she grew haughty and insolent; She had it all together yet she could not find satisfaction or contentment. Something was missing from her life and she knew it. It drove her mad, She left out God but took his blessings, took his love in but gave out hatred in its place. Are we like her sometimes. Were so blessed yet so empty inside. we get but never give, we criticize instead of compliment. We get blessed. And we get haughty thinking were better than others cuz of our blessings. Cuz of our God, think about it... The next character is Hophni and Phinehas, and oh what characters they were.. They were suppose to be spiritual and Religious examples to others. Instead of protecting the people, ministry and temple. They Prostituted their ministry and talents. They slept with the temple prostitutes. They stole the best of the sacrificial offerings. They neglected spiritual responsibilities in place of carnal reprobate desires. Ah but we to are like these fellows sometimes.. We’ve been called, chosen, anointed, given talents and responsibilities. Yes maybe we don’t neglect or disrespect the structural temple of God. But as for this body, the temple of God. We abuse it, neglect it, and miss use it. And as for prostituting the ministry, maybe we don’t? but then again maybe we instead prostitute the talents and things he has given us. How? Hum.. Maybe we choose to ignore the poor part of town, we rather preach at the big and more wealthy Church’s. We rather deal with the more affluent peoples. We rather try to speak to more polite and well to do folks. Then again maybe for some of us, we boldly sleep with the prostitutes in our mist every chance we get. And sacrifices forget that. Oh we’ll take a sacrifice or two maybe 3 or 4, but don’t expect me to give one. Why hey I’m a man of God. Or maybe were not guilty of any of the former that I just mentioned. Perhaps we just don’t give out freely as we have received? Did you know that’s wrong and not pleasing to the Lord. hum... Then there was daddy Eli. If anyone should have known the presence and work of God. It was him, Once anointed as the man of God but now abdicating his responsibility. Old and obese, out of shape and out spirit. He winked at the sins of his sons for to long now God had cursed him and he was going blind. It was his duty to sanctify the people and the sacrifices. And to keep the temple free of sin and idolatry. How many times do we identify with Eli? how many times do we abdicate our responsibilities. We become insensitive to the move of God. To the spirit of God. We fail to realize that we have been given talents. And appointed a task and grave responsibility to lead and guide, comfort and protect Hum.... A PRAYER: Dear Daddy I love you! and I ask your forgiveness for the times when I to try to solve my problems without trusting in you or waiting on you. For the times when I am so barren, so empty, so impatient, I pray for your providence and support, guidance and wisdom. I pray for those who also have a difficult time waiting on you, for those struggling, for those who are also barren, Please help them, bless them, grant them your great provision. And may I be sensitive to their burdens and needs when they cross my path. And may I also be sensitive to their pain and hurts, and may I be sensitive to your presence, power and promises. I pray that when you bless me, when you multiply unto me, I will remember that it all comes from you with a purpose. And may I give and share with others and not prostitute it.. help me to remember that bareness has its reward and purpose. Even when I can’t see it or make sense of it. Help me Lord to remember that you are Lord! even over my situation, even over my barrenness. So blessed be your name my God and my Lord. Amen............ |