In the book of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, lead up to and set the stage for the background of 1 & 2nd Samuel. The state of things was pathetic. The High Priest, Eli, was complicit with his apostate sons, Hophni and Phinehas: the Lord said to Samuel through “a man of God”...”You scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor yours sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?
(1 Sam 2: 29/also 2: 12-17)
“The sin of the young men was very great
in the Lord’s sight for they were treating
the Lord’s offering with contempt.” (vs 17)
Not only was the Temple worship and the High Priest and all the Levites in the temple in a mess, the people were as well. Because of what the “leaders” were doing, they were in bondage to the heathen nations surrounding them.
God always has His people in all places. Hannah was childless. He heart was so broken over this and God saw it. God spoke to her and she responded. Give me a man-child and I’ll give him back to you...”...then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” (vss 10,11)
One comment on application: All this can never mean to us today what it never meant to them then! We must be very careful in application of all this and remember the players: God, His chosen folks, His covenant keeping promise to bring a Savior to this world through Israel, and what it meant to be the chosen High Priest and in the priesthood representing the people to God in heart and action. These are weighty subjects and many “timeless truths” are just below the surface of this seemingly hopeless situation.
As I reread this and meditated over there plight and ours today, there are so many parallels...sad to say! One thought I had is this: What a heart God gave to Hannah...what a desire He nurtured in HER heart for HER that was clearly in His divine will and intent for all history. Little did she know of the bigger picture! She had no promise of other children! The little boy Samuel was approximately 3 years old when she took him on the journey to Shiloh to never have him live with her again! As a father I cannot imagine that. As a mother...??? Even more astounding.
I have one thought today: Given today’s sad state of things in the “organized church”, regardless of the abomi...whoops, “denomination” who would do such a thing. Who today could be a believer, desperate for a child, and receive a little boy, then having promised such, take him to live “in the house of the Lord” today? The Scripture says that Hophni and Phinenas exploited “all the Israelites” that came to make an offering, so it’s possible, I believe probable, that she knew exactly what was going on “in the ministry!” Perhaps she did in fact know that God would begin to save Israel through this little one. Maybe not?
But we see clearly the mystical union and cooperation between the natural and the supernatural.
One thing for certain, however, to note...God used a man and a woman who loved each other deeply and loved their God with a sincere devotion regardless of the “state of the ministry” they lived in and under. Oh that we might today lift our eyes and hearts up, off, and away to Jesus, the Author and Finisher (THE OBJECT) of our Faith. I want my heart so dominated by HIM that I’ll serve Him without regard to “the state of things today” in the organized church. I have spent far too much valuable time thinking and fussing over the “state of things” than I ever did in quiet communion and fellowship with the Creator!! God shows up where He is “wanted”! Lord Jesus, please give us today hearts that are panting after you and wanting you! Not what you can do for us today, but just You! I pray that these will turn from just words I’ve so often prayed, to a reality! Father, I pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart of understanding today to see YOU!
To balance a broom on your finger, you must look up to establish and maintain the proper “alignment” between what you look at, what you “see”...where you fix your gaze, and how you act, react, behave! Look down, look around, and this “alignment” is lost and the broom falls.
Father, may the “broom” of my Life be kept in “balance” ...so aligned that I move “unconsciously” in alignment & cooperation (Spirit filled, Spirit led) with what the Spirit puts in my sight: You Jesus!! May I today, “...turn my eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and realize that the things of this world will grow strangely and beautifully “dim” in the light of His glory and grace!”
May the Lord bless you and keep you, make His face to shine upon you today, and be gracious unto you,
Jerry
Col 1:18b “...that in all things, Christ might have the supremacy!”
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