Text: 1 Samuel Ch 1 to Ch 2 v26.
Samuel Ch 1 starts off straight to the point. If the text said their was a different kind of man, it would perhaps aid our thoughts in the direction the narrative is going in, forward in time. Forward unto the end.
Five generations are listed of his family. The truth of the man of Grace, still to come, who loved his own unto the end.
These generations are speaking to us of the Father and Son relationship. The son of, the son of.
In this we have the redemptive narrative being told still to come from the beginning. The heredity goes right back to Adam and the fall from the bond of the Father and the Son. Yet while this can be traced backwards to the fall, it is speaking/revealing forward to the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, the Son of God.
The Fathers heart is seen through the life and message of Jesus Christ.
Life either degenerates or becomes brighter. If we are consumed with the backward journey (modern philosophy, Freud et all), we will become cynical concerning the present. But if we have a hope of being like him when we see him, the future is exciting.
Gods heart has never changed and has always been at work to reveal truth – Rev Ch 21-22. Union in his dwelling place, all things shared. The Spirit and the bride say come.
Pentecost is the foretaste of Gods fullness, love spilling out, giving hope to the nations.
Concerning Elkanah’s two wives, it is a hard thing to understand. I know their will be a biblical explanation for this, but within all our hearts we know that we ourselves were not designed for such a relationship. Irrespective to the calibre of man Elkanah was, his home experienced the tensions that ought to be expected.
Nevertheless, he is a type of Christ.
According to the original hebrew grammar Hanna was unequivocally the primary wife. Perhaps that is why he had also married Peninnah, as Hanna’s womb had been barren.
Hanna’s life must have been very awkward. Imagine dinner time, sons and daughters to cater for and counsel. Much of her day must have intertwined with these children, and along with the secret heart break of that, she has a provocative adversary determined to make her fret.
This unhappy bond went on year after year.
It is insightful to Hanna’s disposition to see how she responds to her husbands love. She rises and eats. She was not stubborn, but could not rest until her adversary was silenced. That her life was not a reproach to God. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is Paul’s Romans Ch 8 being born of God, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Her rising again to go to prayer has echoes of Jesus on the last day of the feast: If any man thirst.
Yet, she was in bitterness of soul, and vowed a vow.
Her prayer started with, ‘O Lord of Hosts’, and when we consider the answer to her prayer, it was certainly correctly addressed.
Eli observes Hanna’s lips move without sound.
Hanna informs Eli that she was not of the daughters of Belial. This suggests that Eli was a man who disapproved of such. Eli speaks a blessing towards Hannah.
Elkanah knows Hannah again, and The Lord remembered her. This has echoes of Genesis Ch 4 v1, yet the fruit is only good.
Now Elkanah, went up yearly to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice. Everything we have recorded about this man is excellent. He is leading his family to worship and sacrifice, while also making it a time of personal increase for them all. Love is the dominant force managing Elkanah’s life.
And the Lord remembered her. I believe this has a deeper reference to that which Hanna represented, women, Eve, the bride (purpose of the Church).
Elkanah’s love for Hannah and knowing of her is only a type of the bridegroom who knew her most and loved her most, and desired to give her wine that only got better as she abided in the vine. The Lord remembered the bride, why he had brought to man a women taken from his side.
The forward movement of hope to Calvary. The unseen man of Gen Ch 2, manifested.
The fruit of Hannah’s womb is very good, very good only. Not good and evil. Not good and; gloating, competitive, superior, cynical, mocking and selfish. It was fruit of the Spirit, for others benefit, for the nation and nations.
The baroness had been Gods pruning so that the fruit was only good.
Something of John Ch 15 is in verse 22.
The commentaries vary on verse 23. However, I believe it can be applied to both; the Lords word and the Lords Word in Samuel. Personally, I believe this verse really shows us the calibre of Elkanah, with his attentiveness and respect to Hannah’s counsel.
Elkanah, willingly allowed the first born child from the women he loved to be given to the service of God. The Lord chose this couple because they were of one heart before him. I believe Elkanah was far more aware of the problems concerning Samuel Ch 2 v17. Yet, he was faithful and made the worship and sacrifice to The Lord yearly, and made it an event that endeared and blessed his family. ‘Only The Lord establish his word’, Elkanah loved God and this offering was for the establishing of Gods nature to be truly represented within the heart and service of worship.
In the relationship between Elkanah and Hannah, we have a beautiful balance between the masculine and feminine, love empowering harmony, service and purpose in all things.
It was Elkanah’s seed combining with Hannah’s, yet Elkanah does nothing to hinder her personal relationship with The Lord. Love brings full liberty and freedom. Love ennobles the individuals will. Hanna named the child and Hanna determined his future; I WILL not go up until the child be weaned and I WILL bring him.
Elkanah knew all about her adversary, the affliction, the weeping and pillow heartache. His love for her is demonstrated to have been genuine. He did not love her due to the fruit of her womb. Elkanah, must have known that this child was being given to answer the adversary of a nation, to speak as Abraham had shown up a mountain, that the Father offers the Son, a provided sacrifice to bring the blessing and increase of true worship in liberty and freedom to the nations.
When we consider the veil, that fully covers women and mens heart from this great truth there today, we glimpse the centrality of believing upon the Father through his only begotten Son.
‘Come see a man’, said a women returning from a well, living water he gave me, personal heart access direct with the Father, wherever I am. Her deepest need to be set free, spontaneous liberty. Leaving earthen vessels, running at giants past, girded with strength and song. No fingers pointing condemnation the greatest adversity, at the pillars in her society that had failed to know Gods remedy.
Many believed, before their eyes, a women revealing God ‘can’ and will’s true liberty.
Hannah’s song was a proclamation from the heart of Gods mandate, his pillars of the earth.
In verse 9 of chapter 2 Hannah declares that by strength shall no man prevail. In verse 16 we have the sons of Eli attempting just that. Their hearts were very similar to Peninnah, who did not understand the heart of worship unless it involved personal gain.
But God, reconciled us while we were yet sinners.
Verse 19. This is a delightful verse in the narrative. Hannah was right not to go up previously until the Child was weaned, it was a critical time of the sincerity of Gods Word, and all the nutrients of a mothers love. But this knitted coat was unequivocally a daily embrace of a mothers love for her child. I believe that neither Hannah nor Samuel suffered any lack of love from his offering.
In these two chapters that mention Hannah, we catch a sense of continuity. She continued in prayer after she had made her vow. She fulfilled her vow, by offering the child in service to The Lord. She prayed with rejoicing after she had relinquished her son. I have no doubts that Hanna’s prayer life went into every thread of that coat made for Samuel year by year, ‘make him a man who will care for the afflicted, for the downtrodden, a man who will look upon the heart and not outward strength’.
The story of the distant sons in Luke ch 15, is one of the clearest illustrations that the song of Hannah was from deep within the heart of God, her offering is an answer from God to return to the Fathers house, clothed and in right mind (sober and clean), to worship. His righteousness from youth given to cover our iniquities.
Hannah, has 5 children after Samuel. This speaks to me of the opening verse and the 5 generations named.
Grace for Grace, of his fullness have we all received.
John’s gospel chapters 1 and 2, and Acts 1 & 2 have messages that relate to Samuel Ch 1 & 2.
John Ch 1 v 12: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believed on his nature.
And the Word was made flesh. Born in us not by blood or the will of flesh, nor the collective (babel) will of man, but of God.
And the Word was made natural, instinctive.
Full of Grace. If we think of a car tank being full of grace, it is that which drives the car. Grace motivated Jesus, all the way to Calvary, with his final breath ‘It is Finished’, saving people from their sins.
At another mans wedding, his word is established and the bride is remembered. His mother responds just like Hanna would, ‘Whatsoever, he says to you, do it’, continuing at the feast.
At another mans wedding, Jesus makes better wine for all to enjoy. The knowledge of His actions, the weight of His Fathers song. Jesus never married, and shows us the heart of God for union, community and nations: No adversary only making better wine for others to enjoy.
From this place he cleanses the temple, least anyone forget the pattern already given to the establishing of Gods Word! Drunkenness, and hearts given to Baal can not be mixed with the wine of heaven.
Grace for Grace.
All things made through the Word. Full of Grace he cry’s and rests creation complete. Genesis Ch 1 & 2.
He has always been full of grace, and has made all things through his grace. That we should become sons of grace.
120 people come out of an upper room, the nation in captivity to gods of baal, and a religious system that pledged allegiance to Caesar rather than the establishing of Gods supreme Courts, within mens hearts.
120 in one accord, singing Hannah’s song, Grace for Grace, not drunken in the day. But this is that, laid down by God as the pillars of the earth, before the foundations of the World.
Out to giants of the past, by grace you must be saved, open the doorway of your heart and day it will begin.
And God said: Let there be light and there was light.
Notes:
Including Samuel Hannah had 6 children: Hear Him, establishing His word.
While reading opening chapters of Samuel this week, I overheard a conversation between my mother and her friend. My mum reiterated a quote made by the wife of an outstanding man of God from the last century, who died in the early 60’s.
“My first husband loved God, My second husband loved me”.
Its a profound quote, and I have pondered it a lot. For a women to say that her husband loved God is the highest compliment you can give, that grace ruled his life.
For this women, in a sense she was given the knitting needle of Samuels coat. After having experienced a marriage of consecration, she was further blessed by comforting affection.
Dear, Elkanah, he loved Hannah, and yet Hannah was not satisfied with less than knowing Gods answer is love.
Yesterday, I went to a Daily Bread conference at local Baptist Church, with speaker Bill Crowder. He was excellent, his theme being: Elisha, filling big shoes – they said it will go on the daily bread website, one part reminded me of another summit word. I was blessed by all he said and much was quickened in a personal manner, such as a reference to the women at the well, having left to attend at that junction (Paralleling, the little maid who loving her enemies took Gods answer of love to heal a leper in a foreign nation – the outward momentum of Gods love).
While considering this post, I was thinking did Jesus sing in scripture. Below is a link on that subject. John Ch2 has the passover, and the temple following the marriage. Jesus continued in prayer after the passover meal and song. A blessing for all nations is his home within your heart, no adversary towards another.
http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/jesus-sings
Mr Crowder stated that scripture has 5 recorded prayers of Elijah. The fifth one being the only one unanswered: Let me Die (Grace for Grace). At the close the last miracle of Elisha was expounded, with another man being raised from the tomb. Life brought back from the dust. Mr Crowder highlighted illustrations of relationship aka Moses and Joshua and a principle of forerunner and finisher. But that Jesus is Alpha and Omega. For me their is forward momentum to Calvary in this apparently unanswered prayer!
Mr Crowders point was, Elijah was dead, Elisha was dead. But God is still the one who raises people from the dust. Our trust should be in God, and not the instrument he speaks through. Even if the land is being invaded by Mo re Bite ing frogs.
When The Lord entered the pillars of the earth, many men were seen arisen again.
Jesus the resurrection and the life.
A new, journey, family and song.
eternalrays 