“Bruised in Spirit”

Mother’s Day sermon

Today, I want to start by wishing our moms a Happy Mother’s Day. I pray that each of you have a blessed day in Jesus and that you sense His presence close in your hearts.

Last week, we began our study in the book of Colossians. I announced that we would be in chapter 2 today, but I have chosen to go in a different direction.

I invite you to take your Bibles and turn with me to the book of 1 Samuel. As you are turning, I will begin with some opening thoughts.

Opening:

In past sermons, you have heard me mention my days when I was learning karate.

One of the key aspects of our training was learning how to spar.

We would stretch and then gear up for our matches. We would then face one another and begin throwing punches and kicks at each other.

The rules of the game involved learning how to pull your punch.

We were supposed to retract our strike before it landed on its target.

This was to train us to control our offensive moves while maintaining safety for our partners.

Unfortunately, there were times when punches and kicks were not pulled.

For the most part, it wasn’t intentional. We simply got caught up in the match and our adrenaline took over.

At times, we would walk right into a punch.

I have seen classmates lying on the floor out cold because they stepped forward as the punch approached.

When a strike lands it creates a bruise.

There were many times when I left our practice with new bruises.

The most painful bruises resulted when the same place was struck time after time.

In the heat of the sparring match, we tend to default to what has worked best in the past.

This results in throwing the same punches, kicks, and blocks. The more we train these techniques, the more proficient they become.

In addition, not only do our techniques become stronger, but our bruises become deeper.

When we hit the same area, we develop a bruise on top of a bruise.

A bruise on top of a bruise goes deeper.

These bruises take longer to heal, and when they continue to get hit, they may never completely heal.

The only way for a bruise on top of a bruise to get healed is for it to no longer get hit.

In life, we get bruised.

These bruises can be physical, mental, emotional, relational, or spiritual.

When we get hit in the same place, we develop a deep bruise that becomes sensitive and needs deep healing.

One of the greatest promises in the Bible has this to say about the bruises we receive in life.

Jesus is teaching the temple and is handed the scroll of Isaiah. He finds the place where it is written:

[Luk 4:18 KJV] 18 “The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”

“To set at liberty them that are bruised.”

Bruises produce captivity.

The language Jesus used associated the need for liberty in the areas of our bruises.

How do bruises cause captivity?

We become aware of where the strike lands each time we are hit.

When we are hit in the same place, we begin to flinch before the strike lands.

We anticipate the pain, and as a result, attempt to protect the tender spot of previous bruises.

The next thing we know, we no longer want to get in the match for fear of getting hit in the tender spots.

Transition:

Look with me now at a story in the Old Testament about a woman who I believe experienced bruises on bruises. Her story is found in 1 Samuel chapter 1.

[1Sa 1:1-20 ESV] 1 “There was a certain man of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah. 2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other was Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD . . .

4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb.

6 And [Hannah’s] rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her because the LORD had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, [Peninnah] used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.

8 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?"

9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah arose.

Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. 10 [Hannah] was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.

11 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."

12 As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.

13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli assumed she was a drunken woman.

14 And Eli said to her, "How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you."

15 But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman troubled (bruised) in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.

16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation."

17 Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him."

18 And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then [Hannah] went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

19 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.

20 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."

Opening Observations:

We see the dynamics of a family. A husband with two wives; one who could bear children, and the other who could not.

We see favoritism from the husband to his wives. Elkanah gave Hannah twice what he gave Peninnah.

We see rivalry between the wives. Peninnah intentionally didn’t pull her punches. She wanted to irritate Hannah because it was evident that Elkanah loved Hannah more.

We see that this went on year after year. As a result, Hannah was continually bruised in the same place. It created a bruise on top of a bruise, and it went deep.

We see a clueless husband. He questions Hannah why she is sad and suggests that he should be enough for her.

Hannah takes her bruises to God. She was “deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord.”

We see false accusations. The priest assumes something about Hannah and proceeds to accuse her.

We see God’s faithfulness in granting Hannah a son.

I want to focus on the statement that Hannah made when she was falsely accused of being drunk.

“I am a woman bruised in spirit.”

How did Hannah become bruised in spirit?

1. The first bruise we see in the story is: “The Lord had closed her womb.”

Did God intentionally bruise Hannah?

I have heard it said that “God doesn’t hide things from us, but He hides things for us.”

The thought of this statement indicates that God wants us to seek Him in the pursuit of getting healed from our bruises.

God didn’t set out to bruise Hannah.

God’s heart was the very opposite.

He not only wanted to provide her with a son, but He wanted to provide her with a personal relationship with Himself as she brought her bruises to Him.

Scripture tells us, “God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

It is the very nature of God to reward.

At first glance, it sure doesn’t appear as if God is rewarding Hannah, but her reward comes in her pursuit.

It is in her pursuit that she finds healing for her deep bruises.

Some here today may be experiencing the effects of a deep bruise.

Maybe you have lost your Mother and today is a reminder of her absence.

Perhaps some of you are experience the bruise of being unable to have children like Hannah.

Mother’s Day serves only as a reminder of this inability and it can add a bruise on top of a bruise.

Maybe you have experienced an abortion in the past and you feel a deep bruise of shame and guilt.

Perhaps you feel as if God has withheld your reward and you have become bitter toward Him.

The healing for our bruises comes in our pursuit of Christ.

Don’t allow your bruises to keep you from God.

Allow your bruises to lead you to God.

2. Sometimes, our deepest bruises happen in the home.

Penninah was abusive to Hannah.

Her intentional strikes at Hannah to cause emotional pain found their mark each time the punch of jealousy was thrown.

When a punch is thrown intentionally to cause harm, it creates deep bruises.

Maybe you are here today and you have experienced or are experiencing an abusive situation.

Abuse can be physical, verbal, or emotional. In Hannah’s case, she was abused by Peninnah's desire to inflict emotional harm through words.

The continual abuse Hannah experienced resulted in her inability to eat which affected her physically.

Our text tells us that this went on year after year and that each time Hannah went to the Temple, Peninnah saw it as an opportunity to throw a punch.

I would suspect that as Hannah prepared to go to the Temple, she flinched because she knew what was coming.

Going to the Temple possibly became associated with the abuse.

It was good that Hannah continued to go to the Temple and pray; however, if you are experiencing an abusive situation, tell someone.

Often, the victims of abuse become isolated for the sake of being controlled by their abuser.

The thought of leaving is overcome by fear and the reality of what it would take to leave the abusive relationship.

In Hannah’s case, her abuse went on for several years, and this still happens today.

We turn to God for help, but we must reach out to those around us who can help us break free from the abusive situation.

God doesn’t want us to continue taking hits.

3. The start of Hannah’s healing is seen in two words:

“9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose.”

Hannah stood up and walked away from the table.

The next thing we notice is that Hannah went to the Lord.

She made a vow stating that if God would grant her a son, she would give him back to the Lord.

To make a vow is to come into a covenant with God.

A covenant is a binding agreement. It is uniting our hearts with the Lords.

When my heart comes into alignment with God’s heart, bruises get healed.

Hannah could have chosen to become angry and bitter.

She could have thrown punches back at Peninnah.

She could have taken the attitude that “no one will ever hit me again” and lived in a defensive posture.

Living in a defensive posture feels safe but creates bruises of a different kind.

When we live in a defensive posture we keep people at a distance.

When we live in a defensive posture we experience disconnection and loneliness.

When we live in a defensive posture we become bruised in our relationships.

Hannah chose to connect with God by bringing her bruises to the One who could heal and “set at liberty” the captivity of her bruises.

4. The pivotal moment in Hannah’s life came in verse 17.

17 “Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him." 18 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.”

Once Eli heard Hannah’s heart, he blessed her with peace and assurance.

Remember, Eli was the priest of the Temple. Jesus is our Great High Priest.

When we bring our bruises to Jesus, He frees us from our captivity and restores our hope with His peace and assurance.

Notice Hannah’s reply to Eli: “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.”

The thought of “finding favor” would suggest a grace that goes to the depth of our bruises.

God’s favor would result in Hannah conceiving and having a son, but God’s favor would also go into the bruise of abuse and isolation.

God’s favor would heal the bruise of deep distress and bitterness of the soul.

God’s favor would heal the bruise of shame and restore hope.

19 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.

20 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."

Notice that Elkanah and Hannah were now moving together instead of separately.

They rose early and worshiped.

They went back to their house.

They experienced intimacy together.

“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."

What bruises do you need to bring to Jesus?

Where do you need healing for a deep bruise?

All you need to do is ask, and God will provide His favor for your bruises.

Altar ministry . . .

Today iys the day to receive liberty for your bruises.

Jesus can bring His deep healing the your bruises on top of bruises.

But we need to stand up and walk away from the hits.

We need to come to the Lord with our bruises.

When we come to Jesus, we will receive His favor of healing that will go to the depths of our deepest bruise.