And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of Him. And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. (1 Sam. 1:15-20)
Having finished our journey through the Gospel of Luke, we turn back again the Old Testament and begin our journey through the history of Israel, from Samuel to the last of the kings of Judah. Here Samuel is introduced as a long-awaited child given because God heard Hannah’s heartfelt prayer which she brought to the tabernacle every time she came. This appearance caused her to appear to be drunk and Eli called her on it. Her response of heaviness of heart spurred Eli to also pray that her petition would be granted, and the Lord remembered her prayer and gave her a son, which she named Samuel because of her asking of him from the LORD.
God had a plan for this special servant and prophet of God. The LORD, the giver of life, either in the timing or the healing of Hannah, gave Hannah life in the boy she conceived and brought forth, naming him Samuel. Hannah appeared to be drunken in the House of the LORD because of her heaviness of heart and her burden for children. God blessed her with Samuel and she returned Samuel unto the LORD because of her gratefulness unto God for His blessings upon her.
Though our prayers and burdens may seem foolish to this world, and even to other fellow believers, be bring our heavy burdens unto our Lord for He has told us to. Whether it is for a child as Hannah, or for a place of service as Eli and Samuel, or even for lost relatives and friends, those deep heartfelt burdens we bring are heard by the Lord and He answers every one of our prayers. He answers in His time and for His purposes and glory, but He answers them nonetheless. We often ask for the wrong things because of our desires, but when our petitions are His will He will give us that which we ask for, not always in the way we ask or think, but always according to His will and ways. Those who are in Christ and have received His grace through faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary and repentance of their sins know the joy of answered prayer and the burden of petitions not yet answered, but the peace that God will answer as He has promised. Nothing is too hard for Him and all good things come from God and so we have the blessed assurance, not only of our salvation because of His sacrifice of Himself for us, but also because we can boldly approach the Throne of grace through the blood of Jesus Christ which covers the sins of those who trust Him.
While we are here, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
God had a plan for this special servant and prophet of God. The LORD, the giver of life, either in the timing or the healing of Hannah, gave Hannah life in the boy she conceived and brought forth, naming him Samuel. Hannah appeared to be drunken in the House of the LORD because of her heaviness of heart and her burden for children. God blessed her with Samuel and she returned Samuel unto the LORD because of her gratefulness unto God for His blessings upon her.
Though our prayers and burdens may seem foolish to this world, and even to other fellow believers, be bring our heavy burdens unto our Lord for He has told us to. Whether it is for a child as Hannah, or for a place of service as Eli and Samuel, or even for lost relatives and friends, those deep heartfelt burdens we bring are heard by the Lord and He answers every one of our prayers. He answers in His time and for His purposes and glory, but He answers them nonetheless. We often ask for the wrong things because of our desires, but when our petitions are His will He will give us that which we ask for, not always in the way we ask or think, but always according to His will and ways. Those who are in Christ and have received His grace through faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary and repentance of their sins know the joy of answered prayer and the burden of petitions not yet answered, but the peace that God will answer as He has promised. Nothing is too hard for Him and all good things come from God and so we have the blessed assurance, not only of our salvation because of His sacrifice of Himself for us, but also because we can boldly approach the Throne of grace through the blood of Jesus Christ which covers the sins of those who trust Him.
While we are here, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
RSS Feed