1 Samuel 1:1-8
His father, Elkanah was a Levite with two wives. He yearly brings his family to Shiloh to worship & offer sacrifice. He loved and gave double portion to Hannah, and rebuked her for focusing on her barrenness.
1. A devout man. The mention of ‘yearly’ and ‘early’. He complied to religious rules, but did not consider morality as part of it.
2. An unfair man. Just like Jacob, maybe he married Hannah first, then took Penninah to keep his family line. He gave double portion to Hannah infront of Penninah and his children to her.
3. He talked, not walked. Hannah can argue back ‘don’t I mean more to you than sons? why did you have to marry Penninah?’
Application:
1. A name, status, or position, even diligence and commitment, is nothing, if unaccompanied by righteous living.
2. It is the family who first suffers from sin’s consequences.
3. God’s grace allows Him to bless us with the best things (Samuel), despite our sins.
His stepmother, Peninnah, whose name means pearl, was regarded as ‘other’ wife. Yearly, whenever they go to Shiloh to sacrifice, she would see Elkanah giving double portions to Hannah. And her children probably saw it too, which maybe added up to her already insecure heart. And in misery, provoked her rival to misery.
1. The blessed but insecure woman. Her name means pearl and she had sons and daughters, but she focused on comparing herself to the childless Hannah, whose name means favor.
2. The unloved, also the unloving. Yearly, she was publicly reminded of being just the ‘other wife’, and in bitterness, she didn’t stop until Hannah paid for her pains.
Application:
1. An unloved person, even in abundance, is sadly,always wanting. It takes faith to choose joy amidst pain. So give love not just gifts, and help someone find Joy today.
2. A loved person, even in nothingness, is always full. Better is one day in God’s love than in a thousand elsewhere!
Samuel’s mother, Hannah, was the loved wife but for years without a child. And yearly, Penninah added insult to that injury, which caused her to cry and not eat in the Lord’s presence. Elkanah rebuked her and asked if 10 is greater than 1
1. The ungrateful woman. She focused on her want that she forgot what she had. She let herself be robbed of the joy of having a husband and the hope she had in God.
2. The unaccepting woman. She lived not by faith. She drowned herself to self-pity, allowing herself to be taunted, because she wouldn’t accept God’s lot for her at that time. That’s pride.
Application:
1. I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord! One is greater than Ten!
2. Do not enter the King’s presence with a sad face. It’s an insult to His grace.
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