1 Samuel 1:3-8

-Meditation-

1 Samuel 1:3-8

--TheSecretPlace--

V.3---> Year after year Elkanah went up to Shiloh, where the house of God was, to worship, and sacrifice to the LORD. Year after year he went to worship, he was being faithful to the vow he had made to the LORD, Elkanah had a set aside time each year for the LORD.

I believe that is awesome, but I also believe that right now in this point and time that the LORD is calling us, and extending the invitation, and the call to worship Him NOT ONLY year after year, or month after month, not only week after week, or day after day, but the LORD is calling His people to be in worship to Him 24/7. I believe also He is calling us to set aside special time each day to spend with Him alone. This is truly the greatest calling, and it is upon the lives of every person who is a Christian.

Just as Elkanah was in the routine, and the (good) habit of going to the house of the LORD every year, we need to get into the habit, or rather LIFESTYLE of setting aside time, and energy for the LORD every day so that we do not run dry.

V.4-5---> Elkanah gave Peninnah, and all of her children meat from the offering to eat, and then to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and because her womb was barren, the LORD closed her womb.

What a hard place to be. Hannah was treated well by Elkanah, but she had no children, and his other spouse, Peninnah, had a lot of children. It was probably dreadful for her to sit at that table.

V.6--->Because Hannah was barren, and could not have children her rival against Peninnah provoked her, and irritated her to the point of absolute brokenness. Hannah was hurt by the fact that she couldn't give to Elkanah what Peninnah could, and did, when Peninnah gave Elkanah many children Hannah couldn't give him any, and that broke her. Hannah couldn't find comfort anywhere, or in anyone, not in Elkanah, and not in children, the Only One in whom she could find comfort was the LORD. Even if everyone else looked down upon her she could find refuge in the LORD.


V.7--->Year after year they would go up to Shiloh, and Hannah's heart would not change in its brokenness.

V.8---> Elkanah her husband 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?"


It is so easy to look at what others have, and become jealous, and maybe even irritated because you don't have that which you want, that which others have, and it is so easy to be provoked in anger, and all of those things Hannah held in her heart, but the LORD calls us, instructs us, and HELPS us to find all we need in Him. We cannot be fulfilled or satisfied with any other person, or any other thing but GOD ALONE.

Hannah's brokenness was an open door for God to come in and speak to her heart, as our brokenness opens the same door. In that place we can put ourselves before God, and listen to His voice, because when we reach the point of desperation, and brokenness the voice of the LORD, if our focus is on Him, should be the only voice we let in to heal us, guide us, and lead us.

---Intercession---

Jesus, thank You for how You are making us ready for Your return, and a great move of Your Spirit. I pray that everyone who reads this would be able to cultivate lives of humility, and love. I also pray that we would find ourselves in You LORD. Thank You for being our God, and being so good to us. I love You LORD. Be blessed LORD. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Blessings!!

Kasey