And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.
(1 Samuel 1:24-28 ESV)
What an emotional moment!!! A mother, bringing her only child, a long-awaited child, to leave him at the tabernacle to grow up to serve God. Almost unimaginable. And she "lends" him to the LORD? She is responding to God's grace to her. The word she uses is the same word as "prayed". Samuel is the answer to her prayer, so it is only fitting that she answer the answered prayer like giving what God had given. This son was lent by God to her; now she is lending him back. Long-term lending. Lifetime lending. She and God are speaking each other's language. She trusts God, and realizes that in lending, she is not losing, because God is good and full of grace. Do we speak with God so clearly? Do we trust Him so fully?
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Friday, May 6, 2016
Supporting mom...
The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the LORD and dwell there forever.” Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the LORD establish his word.” I Samuel 1:21-23
Hannah had vowed to the Lord. The LORD provided. But by Jewish law, her husband had to approve the vow. He was wise enough to. He had to give up his son as well. He paid a vow demonstrating that approval, and told his wife he trusted her. That is huge - to tell your wife, a mom, you trust God's leading in her life. He also speaks a blessing into his child's life, asking for God to use him to make an impact. May we support the women in our lives as well.
Hannah had vowed to the Lord. The LORD provided. But by Jewish law, her husband had to approve the vow. He was wise enough to. He had to give up his son as well. He paid a vow demonstrating that approval, and told his wife he trusted her. That is huge - to tell your wife, a mom, you trust God's leading in her life. He also speaks a blessing into his child's life, asking for God to use him to make an impact. May we support the women in our lives as well.
Thursday, May 5, 2016
What she asked for...
They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the LORD.”
(1 Samuel 1:19-20 ESV)
Hannah had fervently asked God for a son that she could give back to Him. She got what we asked for. She was specific. She was in tune with God. She trusted in His power and faithfulness. He knew the desire of her heart; she knew the desire of His. He wants us to ask, trusting Him. It is the same kind of faith Abraham took up on the mountain with Isaac, willing to "give him" to God. God is not a vending machine to give us what we want on demand. He knows our hearts. He knows what (or who) we want and why. Do we know His heart? Have we come to a "meeting of the hearts" with Him?
Hannah had fervently asked God for a son that she could give back to Him. She got what we asked for. She was specific. She was in tune with God. She trusted in His power and faithfulness. He knew the desire of her heart; she knew the desire of His. He wants us to ask, trusting Him. It is the same kind of faith Abraham took up on the mountain with Isaac, willing to "give him" to God. God is not a vending machine to give us what we want on demand. He knows our hearts. He knows what (or who) we want and why. Do we know His heart? Have we come to a "meeting of the hearts" with Him?
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Passionate Praying
As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
(1 Samuel 1:12-18 ESV)
Hannah had been fasting and praying before coming to the Tabernacle. She continued to do so there with the same intensity she had been. She was so involved with God, it was like no one else was there. Eli thought the worse at first, but had the wisdom and experience to quickly backtrack and instead approve of her actions. She was wrestling with God in prayer. She came away with her immediate condition unchanged - she still had no child; she still had "the other woman"; but she now had hope for what God was able and going to do. That's what passionate praying can do.
(1 Samuel 1:12-18 ESV)
Hannah had been fasting and praying before coming to the Tabernacle. She continued to do so there with the same intensity she had been. She was so involved with God, it was like no one else was there. Eli thought the worse at first, but had the wisdom and experience to quickly backtrack and instead approve of her actions. She was wrestling with God in prayer. She came away with her immediate condition unchanged - she still had no child; she still had "the other woman"; but she now had hope for what God was able and going to do. That's what passionate praying can do.
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Recognizing the Realities of Motherhood
After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
(1 Samuel 1:9-11 ESV)
Despite her desperate state, Hannah kept her focus. She came to God in prayer, poured out her heart, and made a promise. In this vow we see that she truly understood the heart of God. Children belong to Him. He entrusts them to parents, but they are His. What she is willing to do is go above and beyond - to give Him up early, to limit her days with her son. She is also willing to let go on the back side of things, when her son would be able to come back and care for her. Normally this vow was for a limited time, but she gives him to God "all the days of his life." Oh that we all would be willing to do that - to entrust our children freely to God, to allow them to serve Him wherever, however, and however long He may call.
(1 Samuel 1:9-11 ESV)
Despite her desperate state, Hannah kept her focus. She came to God in prayer, poured out her heart, and made a promise. In this vow we see that she truly understood the heart of God. Children belong to Him. He entrusts them to parents, but they are His. What she is willing to do is go above and beyond - to give Him up early, to limit her days with her son. She is also willing to let go on the back side of things, when her son would be able to come back and care for her. Normally this vow was for a limited time, but she gives him to God "all the days of his life." Oh that we all would be willing to do that - to entrust our children freely to God, to allow them to serve Him wherever, however, and however long He may call.
Monday, May 2, 2016
The Heart of a Childless Mom...
There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 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.
Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD. On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb. And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:1-8 ESV)
Hannah had it bad. She longed to be a mother. Her "rival" rubbed it in her face, and her husband wrongly took her desire as "what's wrong with me?!?" She did the right thing: she devoted it to fasting and prayer, seeking for what she believed God had called her to be: a mother. What devotion; what faith. Waiting for what you cannot see, cannot hold, cannot hear cry. Will God hear her cry? What do you think? Will He hear yours?
Hannah had it bad. She longed to be a mother. Her "rival" rubbed it in her face, and her husband wrongly took her desire as "what's wrong with me?!?" She did the right thing: she devoted it to fasting and prayer, seeking for what she believed God had called her to be: a mother. What devotion; what faith. Waiting for what you cannot see, cannot hold, cannot hear cry. Will God hear her cry? What do you think? Will He hear yours?
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Doubly Desperate Days
And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of palms. And the people of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, and the LORD raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab. And Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit in length, and he bound it on his right thigh under his clothes. And he presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man. And when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute. But he himself turned back at the idols near Gilgal and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” And he commanded, “Silence.” And all his attendants went out from his presence. And Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” And he arose from his seat. And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly; and the dung came out. Then Ehud went out into the porch and closed the doors of the roof chamber behind him and locked them.
When he had gone, the servants came, and when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “Surely he is relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber.” And they waited till they were embarrassed. But when he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them, and there lay their lord dead on the floor.
Ehud escaped while they delayed, and he passed beyond the idols and escaped to Seirah. When he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim. Then the people of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was their leader. And he said to them, “Follow after me, for the LORD has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites and did not allow anyone to pass over. And they killed at that time about 10,000 of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men; not a man escaped. So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.
(Judges 3:12-30 ESV)
Some of the stories if the judges are short and sweet, while others go into great detail. The event before this one ended with forty years of rest, while this one resulted in 80 years. Twice the time of peace and 4 times as many verses! What made for the difference? I don't think it was just because Ehud had more classic John Wayne or Clint Eastwood type statements like "I have a message from God for you," while he executes Eglon. It has more to do with how severe the calamity had been on the people of Israel. The people of Moab were always a thorn in Israel's side; they annoyed them here for twice as long as the event before; Israel had done twice the evil in the sight of the LORD. Those were doubly desperate days, so the deliverance was doubly memorable, and so were the people's determination to not go back there again. How desperate are we today? The Deliverer is still there. Let's not wait any longer.
Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, and the LORD raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab. And Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit in length, and he bound it on his right thigh under his clothes. And he presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man. And when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute. But he himself turned back at the idols near Gilgal and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” And he commanded, “Silence.” And all his attendants went out from his presence. And Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” And he arose from his seat. And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly; and the dung came out. Then Ehud went out into the porch and closed the doors of the roof chamber behind him and locked them.
When he had gone, the servants came, and when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “Surely he is relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber.” And they waited till they were embarrassed. But when he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them, and there lay their lord dead on the floor.
Ehud escaped while they delayed, and he passed beyond the idols and escaped to Seirah. When he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim. Then the people of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was their leader. And he said to them, “Follow after me, for the LORD has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites and did not allow anyone to pass over. And they killed at that time about 10,000 of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men; not a man escaped. So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.
(Judges 3:12-30 ESV)
Some of the stories if the judges are short and sweet, while others go into great detail. The event before this one ended with forty years of rest, while this one resulted in 80 years. Twice the time of peace and 4 times as many verses! What made for the difference? I don't think it was just because Ehud had more classic John Wayne or Clint Eastwood type statements like "I have a message from God for you," while he executes Eglon. It has more to do with how severe the calamity had been on the people of Israel. The people of Moab were always a thorn in Israel's side; they annoyed them here for twice as long as the event before; Israel had done twice the evil in the sight of the LORD. Those were doubly desperate days, so the deliverance was doubly memorable, and so were the people's determination to not go back there again. How desperate are we today? The Deliverer is still there. Let's not wait any longer.
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