A Peasant girl and the Commander

Today we are beginning a new series on Samuel is an intriguing Old Testament book. I encourage to read through it in the upcoming weeks. 1 Samuel has stories of people from all walks of life, ordinary peasants and shepherds, kings and his court, and prophets, and priests.

A barren woman conceives a child destined to serve the Lord, and anoint Isreal's first king. Wars break out; a shepherd boy defeats a giant, and a King ruthlessly guards his throne and chases his soon to be successor throughout the land.

It is a book filled with contrasts; good kings, and corrupt Kings, devoted priests and corrupt priests. Dedicated men, scoundrels. We will witness a battle between good and evil occurring inside of the hearts of men, as they either turn toward God or away from him.

1 Samuel is also a study in leadership. Good, noble leaders with hearts fully devoted to God, and, corrupt leaders who hearts are far from God, and 1 Samuel show how people are to respond in situations where the leadership is less than ideal.

And all of these contrast and struggles and battles are all occurring under the overarching umbrella of the sovereignty of God Almighty. Throughout all of the ups and downs, through all the good and bad leaders, through all the tragedies it is still very apparent that God has his hand in all of it. God Almighty, in spite of the fallen leaders, in the middle of the corruption, using ordinary men, God is still working out his sovereign plan of redemption, and 1 Samuel is a critical part of that.

So with that, let's begin our new series, Prophets, Priests, and Kings.

Let's pray

The author of the book of Samuel is anonymous. The book does not name the author, but Jewish tradition holds that the authors were the prophet and judge Samuel, and the prophets Gad and Nathan. The present form of the book most likely came together over a considerable period of time.

Let's pray

Let me give you a quick timeline of where this occurs. God led the Israelites out of Egypt, and they settled in the promised land. The nation was a young theocracy. A theocracy is a form of government that has God as its ruler. You have heard of democracy, a government ruled by the people. Israel is a theocracy a nation that has God as its ruler. And the Law for this government was given to Moses, on Mount Sinai. When Israel first settled in the promised land, the human leadership was carried about through Judges. Judges were tribal leaders that served as spiritual and military leaders, but they were only temporary. You may remember some of the more noteworthy one such as Sampson, and Gideon. The period of the judges is described in the book of Judges.

The author of the book of Samuel is anonymous as that the author is not identified in writing, but Jewish tradition holds that the authors were the prophet and judge Samuel, and the prophets Gad and Nathan. The present form of the book most likely came together over a considerable period of time.

1 Samuel picks up where the Book of Judges leaves off. Now perhaps you are thinking to wait a minute, my Bible has Judges, then Ruth then Samuel. The Book of Ruth describes events that occurred during the time of the Judges, so in the canon of scripture the book is placed after judges, and before first Samuel.

Let me give you a quick timeline of where this occurs. God led the Israelites out of Egypt, and they settled in the promised land. The nation was a young theocracy. A theocracy is a form of government that has God as its ruler. You have heard of democracy, a government ruled by the people. Israel is a theocracy a nation that has God as it's ruler. And the Law for this government was given to Moses, on Mount Sinai. When Israel first settled in the promised land we entered the period of the judges. Judges were temporary tribal leaders that served as spiritual and military leaders, but they were only temporary. The period of the judges is described in the book of

The book of Judges ends with this ominous verse that sets the stage for the struggle for leadership of the Nation of Israel that will occur in 1 Samuel.

(NIV)

Judges 21:25 NIV

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They aroused the LORD’s anger 13 because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 14 In his anger against Israel the LORD gave them into the hands of raiders who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. 15 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the LORD was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.

"25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit."

1 Samuel picks up where the Book of Judges leaves off. Now perhaps you are thinking to wait a minute, my Bible has Judges, then Ruth then Samuel. The Book of Ruth describes an event that occurred during the time of Judges, so the book is placed after judges, and before first Samuel.

16 Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. They quickly turned from the ways of their ancestors, who had been obedient to the LORD’s commands. 18 Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them. 19 But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their ancestors, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

When we open the book of Samuel, in chapter 1 we are told of the Birth of Samuel, one of the last great judges of Israel.

1 Samuel chapter one verses one through three describes a man named Elkanah. Now, Elkanah has two wives; one is Hannah, one is Penninah.

1 Samuel picks up where the Book of Judges leaves off. Now perhaps you are thinking to wait a minute, my Bible has Judges, then Ruth then Samuel. The Book of Ruth describes an event that occurred during the time of Judges. Chronologically, Ruth takes place during the time of Judges.

The book of Judges ends with this ominous verse that sets the stage for the struggle for leadership that will occur in 1 Samuel.

What are we supposed to make of two wives?

The book of Judges ends with this ominous verse that sets the stage for the struggle for leadership that will occur in 1 Samuel

(NIV)

The Old Testament took place in ancient times. In those days there were customs such as polygamy and slavery, and often we are confused by them, and we do not know how to reconcile them in on modern times, and in light of the New Testament.

(NIV)

"25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit."

People who wish to attack the validity of Christianity or the Bible, in general, will often attack these various issues.

When we open the book of Samuel, in chapter 1 we are told of the Birth of Samuel, one of the last great judges of Israel.

25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

Today, we are looking at this man Elkanah, who has two wives. Is the Bible promoting polygamy? Absolutely not; let me explain.

1 Samuel chapter one verses one through three decribes a man named Elkanah. Now, Elkanah has two wives; one is Hannah, one is Penninah.

When we open the book of Samuel, in chapter 1 we are told of the Birth of Samuel, one of the last great judges of Israel.

Whenever we read the Bible, we need to pay attention to the type of book in the Bible that we are reading. The Bible is composed of many books. Some of the books are prophecy; some are poetry, some are books of the law. In First Samuel, we are reading history. We must, therefore, approach it as history.

1 Samuel chapter 1, verses 1 and two talks about a man named Elkanah. Now, Elkanah has two wives; one is Hannah, one is Penninah.

What are we supposed to make of two wives?

So when we read that Elkanah has multiple wives, it does not mean that the Bible is endorsing polygamy. 1 Samuel describes the history of Israel, so it is a matter of historical the fact that Elkanah has multiple wives. We open 1 Samuel and the historical facts of Elkanah's family situation are reported.

However, if we look at the overall message of God's word, we find that multiple wives are not God's perfect plan for marriage. God created man, Adam, and while He certainly had the opportunity to create multiple wives for Adam, God only created one, Eve. God's intention for marriage has always been one man and one woman.

The Old Testament took place in ancient times. As a result, there are many customs that we find strange. There are customs such as pologamy, slavery, and odd dietary restrictions, and often we are confused by them, and we do not know how to reconcile them in on modern times.

As it says in Genesis chapter 2, verse 24.

People who wish to disprove or attack the validity of Christianity or the Bible, often try to attack these various issues. So, let me take a minute to answer the question how DO we deal with these difficult cultural anomalies?

Today, we are looking at this man Elkanah, who has two wives. Is the Bible promoting polygamy? Absolutely not; let me explain.

Genesis 2:24 NIV

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."

Whenever we read the Bible, we need to pay attention to the type of book in the Bible that we are reading. The Bible is composed of many books some books are prophecy; some are poetry, some are the law, in this case, in First Samuel, we are reading history. We must, therefore, approach it as history.

Of course, Elkanah, Peninnah, and Hannah are not the only recorded instance of polygamy in the Bible. There are several examples of polygamy. But let's be clear, the Bible was not endorsing or recommending plural marriage, but the Bible was recording the lives of people as it happened.

So when we read that Elkanah has multiple wives, we are not to take it that the Bible is endorsing polygamy. We are in a Book of the Bible that is describing the history, so it is a matter of historical the fact that Elkanah has multiple wives, and the Bible is reporting is as such.

Whenever we see instances of multiple wives in the Bible, there are usually problems. In many instances, multiple wives are taken as a response to infertility. When a wife cannot bear children, the husband takes on another wife to fulfill that duty.

If we look at the overall message of God's word we find that multiple wives are not God's perfect plan for marriage. God created man, Adam, and while He certainly had the opportunity to create multiple wives for Adam, God only created one, Eve. God's intention for marriage has always been between one man and one woman.

In Genesis chapter 16, verses two through four, we see this played out with Abraham and Sarah

As it says in ,

Genesis 16:2–4 NIV

so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.

2 so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”

"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."

Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. (It all seems good and fine, but here comes the problem)

Of course, Elkanah, Peninnah, and Hannah are not the only recorded instance of polygamy in the Bible. There are several examples, but what was happening was not that the Bible was endorsing or recommending plural marriage, but the Bible was recording the lives of people as it happened.

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress."

Whenever we see instances of multiple wives in the Bible, there are usually problems. In many instances, multiple wives are taken as a response to infertility. When a wife cannot have a child, the man takes on another wife to have children.

This is what we see here with Hannah and Elkanah. Elkanah was married to Hannah, but she was infertile, so Elkanah took on another wife Penninah to carry on the family line. As is often the case with multiple wives, there are problems.

In Genesis chapter 16, verses two through four, we see this played out with Abraham and Sarah

3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. 6 Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

(NIV)

2 so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”

Year after year, Elkanah goes to Shiloh to worship. Elkanah, a faithful and devoted leader of his family, brings them year after year to worship. But, whenever Hannah, goes up to the house of the Lord, the text tells us, Penninah provokes her. She aggravates her.

Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. (It all seems good and fine, but here comes the problem)

Now, Hannah is already faced with the incredible disappointment of not being able to conceive.

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress."

In many cases when parents can't have children it can be very disappointing. When there is a problem conceiving, it is heartbreaking not only to women but men as well. Often people tie up their identity and worth in being able to have a family, and when that doesn't happen, people feel pretty bad about themselves.

This is what we see here with Hannah and Elkanah. Elkanah was married to Hannah, but she was infertile, so Elkanah took on another wife Penninah to carry on the family line. As is often the case with multiple wives, there are problems.

This is right where the enemy attacks. At your identity.

The thoughts start rolling, you can't have children, you are not worth anything. And even though the Bible says here, not once but twice, that the Lord closed her womb, she is very depressed.

It is just like that with us. The Bible is full of passages that tell us that we are loved by God. That God works alll things for the good of those he has called, yet when the thoughts start rolling, we don't see it.

3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. 6 Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

Then to make matters worse, the enemy attacks Hannah right at church. This is rough. Imagine, coming to church, into the sanctuary, the safe space that you can come to God, and there is someone throwing that in your face, judging you. The one place that you can lay troubles down, and then this other woman bothers throws up your failings in your face.

Hannah's Problems

No one needs this at church, but it happens. I am sorry to say that no church is immune to this problem. Somehow, us church people like to show our superiority to others. Sometimes we do it directly, other times it is a passing glance, or we ignore them. But it happens a lot, nore often than it should.

Year after year, Elkanah goes to Shiloh to worship. The ark of the covenant is in Shiloh. The permanent home of the Ark, the Temple has not yet been built in Jerusalem, so people travel to the tabernacle located in Shiloh. Elkanah, a faithful and devoted leader of his family, brings them there year after year to worship.

Hannah is so troubled that she can't even eat, all she can do is weep. Elkanah tries to make it right, but can he? "Don't I mean more to you than 10 sons?" he says Husbands try to fix it, but this is a matter of her very identity. This something you can't fix. Perhaps, you could have prevented it, at least the ridicule, but not fixed it.

He faithfully divides up the meat between Peninnah and her children and Hannah. But, whenever Hannah, goes up to the house of the Lord, Penninah provokes her. She aggravates her.

Although He faithfully brings the family to worship, he didn't protect her from Penninah hurtful words. He allowed this multiple wife intrusion into the sacred marriage union, and the enemy is using it, and now his beloved Hannah is suffering for it.

That must be rough. Hannah is already faced with the disappointment of not being able to conceive, then every time she heads all this way to worship God, this other woman throws it her face.

Hannah cannot find her worth in you. She has to find her worth, somewhere else.

I mean this is rough. Imagine, coming to church, into the sanctuary, the safe space that you can come to God. The one place that you can lay troubles down, and then this other woman bothers throws up your failings in your face. Talk about being judged! I mean we all have stuff, failings, and we try and bring those things to God, what of they are constantly, every time you come, being thrown right back into the face. Especially, when as it says in the text it is from the Lord. It is the Lord who closed her womb in the first place. How does she deal with that?

"9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, 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.”

Hannah is so troubled that she can't eat, all she can do is weep. Elkanah tries to make it right, but can he? "Don't I mean more to you than 10 sons?" he says.

Elkanah, yeah you are great and all, and Hannah loves you, but this is a matter of her identity. This something you can't fix. This is a matter of who Hannah is, her very identity as a woman to bear your children. She cannot find her worth in you. She has to find her own worth. Where is she going to get that?

Hannah comes to the Lord and makes a vow.

1 Samuel 1:11 NIV

And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, 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.”

Making matters worse, is when she tries to go and worship, when she tries to find her identity in God, the enemy throws it in her face. Who are you Hannah to go and worship God? You can't even do the one thing that makes you a woman?

This is not bargaining. A vow is different than a bargain. We do not bargain with God. A bargain is an attempt at manipulation. A vow is based on the concept of returning a favor. Think of it like this. I catch a criminal red-handed stealing from my neighbor. He attempts to bargain with me to let him go, and he says I will give you some of the stolen merchandise to let me go. There is no gratitude there, just an attempt to get out of jail. In a vow, the situation is based on gratitude. Imagine my neighbor asks me to help him move a couch into the house, and he says, if you help me move this couch, I would be so thankful, I would cook you dinner.

In the vow, Hannah is expressing that if God will grant her this favor or letting her bear a son, she would be so thankful she would give Him back to God for him to use to further His kingdom.

This is bad. Hannah is in a bad place. A desperate place. Even her devoted husband can't do much about this. He is devoted to the Lord, He brings the family faithfully to worship, he divides up the meat, but like all human leaders, he is not perfect. He allowed this multiple wife intrusion into the sacred marriage union, and the enemy is using it and now his beloved Hannah is suffering for it.

Now, why would she want something only to give it back to God? If she wants the boy so bad, what is the purpose of giving it back to God? It must be because she just wants to bear a child. She wants this incessant attack by the enemy on her identity to stop. She wants to be able to be able to freely come before the Lord, She wants to know that God heard her.

"9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, 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.”

Look at the words she used in her prayer. She addresses God as the Lord Almighty in the NIV. If you have another translation like the ESV, it says the Lord of Hosts.

The Lord of Hosts is first used here in 1 Samuel back in verse 3. In some cases the heavenly hosts are referred to the sun moon and stars. It is also can refer to the angels, as a heavenly army. Shiloh, where the tabernacle was located was used as a military command center in the book of judges, so here we have strong instances of the Lord being referred to as leading a heavenly army, fighting on behalf of the Nation of Israel. So we see Hannah calling on Lord of Hosts, the commander of the heavenly armies to come to her rescue. verse 11

A barren woman conceives a child destined to serve the Lord, and anoint Isreal's first king. Wars break out; a shepherd boy defeats a giant, and a King ruthlessly guards his throne and chases his soon to be successor throughout the land.

It is a book filled with contrasts; good kings, and corrupt Kings, devoted priests and corrupt priests. Dedicated men, scoundrels. We will witness a battle between good and evil occurring inside of the hearts of men, as they either turn toward God or away from him.

1 Samuel is also a study in leadership. Good, noble leaders with hearts fully devoted to God, and, corrupt leaders who hearts are far from God, and 1 Samuel show how people are to respond in situations where the leadership is less than ideal.

And all of these contrast and struggles and battles are all occurring under the overarching umbrella of the sovereignty of God Almighty. Throughout all of the ups and downs, through all the good and bad leaders, through all the tragedies it is still very apparent that God has his hand in all of it. God Almighty, in spite of the fallen leaders, in the middle of the corruption, using ordinary men, God is still working out his sovereign plan of redemption, and 1 Samuel is a critical part of that.

So with that, let's begin our new series, Prophets, Priests, and Kings.

Let's pray

The author of the book of Samuel is anonymous. The book does not name the author, but Jewish tradition holds that the authors were the prophet and judge Samuel, and the prophets Gad and Nathan. The present form of the book most likely came together over a considerable period of time.

Let me give you a quick timeline of where this occurs. God led the Israelites out of Egypt, and they settled in the promised land. The nation was a young theocracy. A theocracy is a form of government that has God as its ruler. You have heard of democracy, a government ruled by the people. Israel is a theocracy a nation that has God as its ruler. And the Law for this government was given to Moses, on Mount Sinai. When Israel first settled in the promised land, the human leadership was carried about through Judges. Judges were tribal leaders that served as spiritual and military leaders, but they were only temporary. You may remember some of the more noteworthy one such as Sampson, and Gideon. The period of the judges is described in the book of Judges.

1 Samuel picks up where the Book of Judges leaves off. Now perhaps you are thinking to wait a minute, my Bible has Judges, then Ruth then Samuel. The Book of Ruth describes events that occurred during the time of the Judges, so in the canon of scripture the book is placed after judges, and before first Samuel.

The book of Judges ends with this ominous verse that sets the stage for the struggle for leadership of the Nation of Israel that will occur in 1 Samuel.

(NIV)

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