1 Samuel
Chp. 1
Hannah. Although I have known that Hannah was a woman in the Bible, I'll be real, I don't know that I would have told you I identified with her. I have been blessed with children so that is where I would have told you her story isn't my story. But scripture is so alive and constantly new. So I see it now.
Hannah was mocked and shamed by Peninnah for not having any children. Let us go ahead and insert whatever it is for us.. money, husband, job, status. Peninnah is our present day 'mean girl'. #1: Dear Lord, Let me (or my daughters) never be a Peninnah. #2: Let me be reminded of this the next time I feel like Hannah. There is a confidence and identity issue for Peninnah. Hannah was shown favor from Elkanah, their husband. Ouch. A thorn in Peninnah's side.
Here is what I learned from Hannah this morning.
- She returned to the temple (v.7) year after year. So many mornings when I wake up early before the rest of my family and sometimes before the sun, I feel like that is my trek to the temple year after year. But God is faithful. My job is to keep seeking Him. Not to keep the world rotating on its axis. Remember my position.
- Don't walk the streets late at night praying and pleading with God. (v.13) I might get hauled off.
- Lay it all down before the Lord. (v.15). Pour it all out. Give all my anxieties and vexations to HIm.
- Even when you lay it all down, you still have to get up the next morning and still walk in obedience when you don't see your prayers being answered immediately. (v.19)
A couple pieces of this section jump out at me this morning.
- Hannah waited till Samuel was weaned (v24) to meet her family at the temple. This leaves my brain firing with a few questions... Not all that I understand or have answers for, mind you. After a little bit of looking, I find this was appox 2-4 years of age. I understand her not wanting ot travel with her son she had waited for due to morality rates during this time. But does that mean she was away from her husband for that long? I can assume by the sacrifice she brings along with her when she finally does make her way to alter, that Elkanah was a weathy man. So we can deduce that she wasn't sitting in her house ALL by herself. I am sure she had nurses and servants. But still, my head kinda swirls around the idea of Jason being gone. Like not around at all, for the first 2-4 years of our kids' lives.
- (v28)"Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD...". I read this over a few times. Perused through the orginal text of the word "lent". No real massive discovery there honestly. But in the definition of the original word, the word 'ask' kept glaring at me. Here is my ultimate inner contemplation I was left with; God gave her Samuel, the child she named 'heard from God'. And then He asks for him back from her. So she did. By what I can draw the conclusion of, Samuel stays at the Temple. Cool I guess in times. But again, my head tries to see myself leaving Jaden at 2-4 years old. Hmmm... Could I? So larger picture, what has God given to me, to then ask for right back to then weave into His story in massive ways? After waiting and pleading with God, how is the condition of my heart to let the desires of my heart go to ultimately tell His Story and not just mine?
There is so much rich, vibrant promises in this prayer. I quite possible should pray this over myself and my children every. single. day.
As I re-read the words to say in response, I just keep being drawn to just write the entire prayer. So my suggestion is to simple read it and find what comes to light for you. And be aware that each day is brand new and when you read it again tomorrow, God just might be shining some new truth to you.
May we remember the truth in v2. There is none beside you. My brain sometimes thinks in song. If you need this truth ringing through your ear, press play here. Build My Life by Shane & Shane
v6 shows us right into the gospel. Did Hannah know she was telling the Jesus' story here?!
Honestly, we could walk through verse by verse. But I will spare us the space in internet world and tell you again. Just go read and pray this over your life.
A couple notes on words.
v1 horn: qê-rên (Gk). metaphor for strength, might
v6 Sheol: seol (Gk). the grave, void, wastelands
v11 ministering: hayah (Gk). to become
1 Samuel 13
The first part of this chapter I kinda had to read a little faster and attempt to not let my imagination run to wild. This was a time of war. {3 years had past since Samuel's annoucement that God would give them the requested King in Chapter 12. (So much to be learned here too... Go give that one a read. Will make you think before you request things from God that might be outside His will. Oh He just might give them to you.. and then what?!) }Not a massive fan of thinking of enviroments that I would find protection in graves (v6). But this was the reality. And sometimes in life this is what it feels like. People around me scattering. Feeling like I am loosing the battle. It is easy to understand why Saul, the newly appointed King was getting anxious and impatient.
But. This is the kind of "but" I hope to avoid in my life. v8 starts with King Saul pacing. I can just see him not sleeping, fighting with the internal enemy about the impending failure of his people scattering and loosing the battle. For seven days. Can you just feel the tension? So King Saul took things into his own hands. He stole the offering right out of the priest 'office'. This was outside the Law and Saul knew it. Quite immeidately we are told that Samuel shows up and fills Saul in that because his actions show quite clearly his heart did not seek after God, that his replacement is already being sought out. Imagine living the rest of your life with that kind of paranoia.
This is the start of the end of King Saul. And the story continues to unfold...
So what does this mean to me, and maybe even you? Am I seeking God through my torment? Will I be patient and wait for God? And leaves me with the praying that I would be the tool that God uses. May I not fail in my appointments. God's plan will be fulfilled with or without me. So I pray my heart and head stay on point so my replacement isn't being groomed before I am done. Can I get an AMEN?!
~Kamille