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Nehemiah 1:10-11, Jeremiah 32:26

Too Hard For God

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
August 25, 2023

Nehemiah did not try to blame others for Israel’s captivity in Babylon. Shifting from the third person to the first person, Nehemiah identifies the cause of the fall of Israel with the sins of the nation. He recognizes that Israel is in the situation it is in because of its own failures. He is part of the sinful nation and does not shy away from his identity with them and his accountability to God. Yet, he knows that the God who saved them from slavery in Egypt generations earlier was the same God he addressed today. He looked to God to “redeem” the nation again as He had done in Egypt. At that time, God heard the groaning of his people in slavery and acted out of his undying love for them. They were his own chosen people. Nehemiah rehearsed God’s previous redemption and asked God to hear their cry for help now. He acknowledges God’s compassion and mercy on His children and asks Him to intervene with the King of Babylon just as He did with Pharoah in Egypt. He does not ask for plagues, however, but for God to move the heart of the king to release His people and send them back to their own land. We see this in Nehemiah 1:10-11, “They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”

 Nehemiah asked that God show his children favor once again through his omnipotent ability to work in the heart and mind of the king. If God can send hail, locusts, frogs, and other plagues to Egypt, He could surely move this one king. If God could speak to the Red Sea and make it part to allow the Israelites to escape their slave masters in Egypt, he could surely affect the thinking of this one king.  Smith says, “We do not know how many days Nehemiah made this specific request before the opportunity actually presented itself. One would assume that he focused on confessing sins for some days and that at some later date, he began to pray for God to use his own contact with the king to bring about a solution to the disgraceful situation in Jerusalem. Thus, Nehemiah believed God could influence the mind of a pagan king.”[1]

When we look at the world with all of its trials, troubles, tribulations, its heartaches, its problems, its calamities, and distresses, we sometimes ask this question: “Where is God? Why doesn’t He step in? Why doesn’t He do something?” And we look at our own lives, and we have problems on top of problems. And it seems that our problems have problems. And we wonder, “Why doesn’t God move? Is it that God is not able? Is the situation too big, too large, too strong, too difficult for God?” As Israel was facing the destruction of their city and temple, Jeremiah asked God similar questions with much weeping. Jeremiah, as you know, is the weeping prophet. But he tells us how God answered him in Jeremiah 32:26. It reads, “The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ‘Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?’” Jesus demonstrated his own power to work miracles on behalf of his chosen people as well. We see five thousand fed with a few loaves and fish. We see storms calmed on the seas. We see lepers healed, blind people receiving their sight, women with incurable diseases healed, and ultimately, we see Lazarus raised from the dead. Do you really think there is anything too hard for God?

[1] Smith, Gary V. 2010. Ezra-Nehemiah & Esther. Vol. 5b. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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Ezra 2:1-2, Revelation 3:5

Names On A List!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
August 24, 2023

As God had moved in the heart of Cyrus to enable the return of the Israelites to their homeland, Ezra spent some time writing a list of those that returned from captivity to take up residence once again in the promised land.  Ezra 2:1-2 tells us, “Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.” This is one of the many passages in the Bible that I would skip over or just skim through. It’s a very tedious list of unpronounceable names with apparently no devotional value. There seem to be a lot of passages with lists of names, lists of materials, and lists of ritual duties that seem to be irrelevant to the modern mind. But it’s difficult to ignore the Apostle Paul’s statement in 2 Timothy 3:16 that teaches us that all scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for us. How are these names beneficial for us?

Beville says, “Such a manuscript is a historian’s dream and relatively rare. But it is the providential hand of God that has preserved it throughout the centuries, and what a marvelous account it is! Perhaps you have tried to trace your ancestry with a view to producing a family tree. Many people who engage in such a project find themselves frustrated by poor parish/church records of marriages, births, and deaths. Many more modern records are frequently lost, damaged, or destroyed. This comprehensive list is very precise in the detail it records and does not leave room for imaginative speculations. Such minutiae may appear insignificant or irrelevant, but the Holy Spirit has been careful to attend to detail. Therefore, this is not trivia; rather, it is the Lord’s list, which is recorded not only on earth but also in heaven! Rather than seeing this as a tedious catalog, we should see it as a scroll of honor.”[1]

Annually, the Navy would publish the list of names of all those who were advanced after taking the advancement exam. I remember the heartbreak I would feel after studying for several months and then finding my name was not on the list. On the other hand, I remember when the list for advancement to Chief Petty Officer came out, and my name was on it. There it was!!! “Charles E. Larsen” advanced from first-class petty officer to chief. I really loved seeing my name on that list. I still have copies of that list. They published the list in the Navy Times! It was a boring read for most people. But it was exciting for me because I was on it! My name was on the list, but advancement would not become effective for six months or so. I had to wait from October 1974 to May 1975 before I could change my stripes. But my name was on the list, and I knew it was coming.

Well, I have my name on a much more important list today. The Bible refers to it as the Lamb’s book of Life. I’m more secure on this list than on the Navy’s list. There are eight references in the New Testament to the ‘book of Life,’ and two of them refer specifically to the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Seven of the references appear in the book of Revelation. Those whose names are written in the Book of Life are those who belong to God, those who have attained eternal life.”[2] Revelation 3:5 refers to the book of Life in which the names of believers in the Lord are found. This verse also makes it clear that once a name is written in the Book of Life, Jesus promises that He will never blot it out, proving once more the doctrine of eternal security.

[1] Beville, Kieran. 2004. Exploring Ezra: The Secret of Spiritual Success. Exploring the Bible Commentary. Leominster, UK: Day One Publications.

[2] Got Questions Ministries. 2002–2013. Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

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2 Chronicles 1:11-13, Various

The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
August 23, 2023

Solomon was appointed king at a very early age. Most commentators agree that he was around 20 years of age, give or take a year or two. He realized that he was very young to have such responsibility, and when offered the chance to have anything he wanted by God, he chose wisdom so that he might be able to fulfill his duties well. When he could have had all the wealth or earthly things he wanted, he simply asked for the skill necessary to lead the great nation of Israel. God was pleased with his request and answered him in 2 Chronicles 1:11-13. It says, “God answered Solomon, ‘Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom, and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.’ So, Solomon came from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.”

 Solomon became famous for wise sayings. One of the most important of those sayings is found in the first chapter of Proverbs, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” It wasn’t so much that Solomon wanted wisdom over wealth that God approved of his request. It was because, as the text says, what was in his heart. A humble and contrite heart is what God approves of. Jesus said that it is this attitude of heart that will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). One website records the ten most important things in life.[1] They are, in order: 1) Health, 2) Self-development, 3) Connections, and relationships, 4) Goals and dreams, 5) A joyous and happy life, 6) Contribution and service, 7) Financial security, 8) Quality of life, 9) Spiritual enlightenment, and 10) Gratitude. The thing that bothers me about this list is that it is all about “Me.” One commentator observed, “While our culture sometimes admires and advances people who are full of themselves, God operates a very different type of economy. God requires his appointed leaders to empty themselves of pride and privilege. God seeks a humble and contrite heart and hates a prideful heart. God calls us to empty ourselves of ourselves. “[2]

Solomon knew that he couldn’t do what he was called to do on his own. He needed God’s help. He humbled himself before God, and it was this that won the approval of God. “Because of the humility of the young king and the fact he placed his own people above himself, God promised him not only wisdom and knowledge but all the things he could have chosen but foreswore.”[3] Jesus taught his disciples the same principle when they were stressed out over the details of their lives. They were concerned with where they would live, what they would eat, where they would get clothes to wear, and other earthly issues of daily living. Jesus said to them in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Yep, God promises that it is the “meek” who will inherit the earth.

[1] 10 Most Important Things in Life (reliablelifestrategies.com)

[2] Selvaggio, Anthony T. 2014. From Bondage to Liberty: The Gospel according to Moses. Edited by Iain M. Duguid. The Gospel according to the Old Testament. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing.

[3] Merrill, Eugene H. 2015. A Commentary on 1 & 2 Chronicles: Commentary. Kregel Exegetical Library. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic.

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1 Chronicles 1:17-27, Romans 11:6

Sons of Shem

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
August 22, 2023

Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. From these three, all the nations of the world were populated. 1 Chronicles identifies the lineage from all three. It is a long list of names.  Verses 1 through 4 give us the line from Adam to Noah’s sons. Verses 5-7 give us the list of those descended from Japheth. Verses 8-16 give us the names of those that descended from Ham. 1 Chronicles 1:17-27 gives us Shem’s descendants. It says, “The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. And the sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. Arpachshad fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber. To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg (for in his days the earth was divided), and his brother’s name was Joktan. Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan.  Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah; Eber, Peleg, Reu; Serug, Nahor, Terah; Abram, that is, Abraham.”

I think we see two different lines in this genealogy that might be worth looking at. Eber is the father of both lines. The lines seem to divide with Peleg on the west while Joktan was the line on the east. This might be seen in the genealogy that was recorded earlier in Genesis at the incident of the tower of Babel. Whereas we’ll see Abraham come through the line of Peleg, we’ll see the children building the tower of Babel might come from Joktan. This might be why the text adds a little comment regarding Peleg. It adds, “For in his day, the earth was divided.” Barker observes, “Thus a dividing line is drawn through the descendants of Shem on either side of the city of Babylon, falling between the two sons of Eber, Peleg, and Joktan. One line leads to the building of Babylon, and the other to the family of Abraham. A hint to this division is in v.25. Typically, the ‘earth’ refers to the ‘inhabitants of the land.’ Thus not only is the land divided in the confusion of languages (11:1), but two great lines of humanity diverge from the midst of the sons of Shem: those who seek to make a name for themselves in the building of the city of Babylon and those for whom God will make a name in the call of Abraham.”[1]

From the line of Abraham come those who trust in God. From Babylon comes the line of those who trust in the works of their own hands.  Abraham’s call was to trust God to fulfill his unconditional promise to make him a great nation. Abraham attempted to help God along with that promise several times in his life but was always frustrated in his efforts. When they thought Sarah was the infertile one, Abraham took Hagar and had a son with her whom they named Ishmael. But he wasn’t the one. It has been observed that when Abraham feared himself to be the infertile one, he attempted to have Sarah impregnated by either Pharaoh or Abimelech. God would not allow it. The dividing line still exists today. There are those who trust God’s promises of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Then there are those who feel they have to help God fulfill that promise with their own efforts and the works of their hands. This is the dividing line in the world today as well. The Bible teaches us that we are saved by Grace. In Romans 11:6, Paul tells us that if we’re saved by grace, then works have no place to play in our salvation because if they did, “grace would no longer be grace.” “Grace is, by definition, unearned, and Scripture makes it clear that God’s grace in salvation destroys the argument for human effort.”[2]

[1] Barker, Kenneth L., and John R. Kohlenberger III. 1994. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition: Old Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

[2] What is the biblical understanding of faith vs. works? | GotQuestions.org

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2 Kings 1:11-15

A Humble And Contrite Heart

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
August 21, 2023

Ahaziah sent to Baal for a cure for his sickness but did not find one. Elijah, the man of God, informed Ahaziah that he would never recover. Ahaziah sought to coerce Elijah into changing his prognosis by sending 50 soldiers. When they called Elijah to come down from his mountain, Elijah, the man, “Ish,” of God, sent fire, “Esh,” from God down, and it devoured the whole company. The king still thought he was the authority of the land and had to be obeyed, so he sent another 50. 2 Kings 1:11-15 tells us what happened to the second company, and then the third company was sent to retrieve Elijah. It says, “Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, ‘O man of God, this is the king’s order; ‘come down quickly!’ But Elijah answered them, ‘If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.’ Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. Again, the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up and came and fell on his knees before Elijah and entreated him, ‘O man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in your sight. Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty men with their fifties, but now let my life be precious in your sight.’”

 We must remember that “Elijah” in Hebrew literally translates as “Yahweh is my God.” It stands as a perpetual confession of who should be worshipped and who should be sacrificed to. Ahaziah, at the beginning of this narrative, sought healing from a pagan god and was confronted with the question, “Is there no God in Israel that you should look to the god of the Philistines for healing?” We know that this pagan god had a reputation for healing over the past few centuries, and it prevailed even at the time of Christ. You might remember that some of Jesus’ detractors associated Jesus’ healing abilities with Beelzebub. So Ahaziah approached the wrong god for healing earlier, and now he approached the right God’s man. But he approaches him the wrong way. Auld says, “Elijah, like his God, is to be entreated, and not commanded. And it may be tragic truth that the first two detachments had to perish before the king was receptive to Elijah’s authority.” Elijah said there would not be healing for Ahaziah, and “Ahaziah died in his second year of office and was succeeded by Jehoram.”[1]

The prosperity gospel of our day urges adherents to demand things from God. It’s sometimes referred to as the “name it and claim it” view of prayer. It’s usually based on John 15:7, where Jesus tells his followers, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” The notion that the Greek word “ask” in this verse is really a demand of some sort seems to be the focus of the prosperity gospel.  One writer says, “To tell the truth, God wants you to act boldly and courageously in prayer. He wants you to seize His will for your life and demand that it come into manifestation! He’s just waiting for you to ask! And don’t think that you can only come to God for spiritual blessings. As noted earlier, the word used in John 15:7 primarily has to do with requesting things of a physical and material nature, such as food, clothes, shelter, money, and so forth. Jesus plainly stated in Matthew 6:33 that if we seek the Kingdom of God first, God will see to it that all the material things we need are provided.”[2] Such an approach to God contradicts a contrite and humble heart. It fails to acknowledge that we’re all sinners saved by Grace. Another writer on the other side of the issue concludes, “Sadly, ‘name it and claim it’ theology promotes self-centeredness. It promotes greed, which is a sin. If you only have enough faith, you can get anything you want, including wealth.”[3] Elijah, God’s namesake for Israel, could tolerate such a bold and arrogant approach. But he would respond to a humble and contrite approach. “In Isaiah 66:2, the Lord says, ‘These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.’ And in Psalm 51:17, David writes, ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Contrition is spoken of as something God likes, and it is linked in these verses to humility, brokenness, and a healthy fear of God’s Word.”[4] Thus, the third company of fifty men received mercy.

[1] Auld, A Graeme. 1986. I & II Kings. The Daily Study Bible Series. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.

[2] Do You Have the Right To Demand Anything From God? | Renner Ministries

[3] Is “name it and claim it” biblical? – Mark 11:23-24 | NeverThirsty

[4] Got Questions Ministries. 2002–2013. Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

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1 Kings 1:7-8

Jesus Became Sin For Us!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
August 20, 2023

No one had a dysfunctional family like King David had. One son raped a half-sister. Another son murdered the rapist. Two of the remaining sons led a rebellion against David to strip him of his throne. Absalom failed first, then Adonijah attempted the coup when David was bedridden. 1 Kings 1:7-8 begins the story of the rebellion and puts the various player on the respective sides of the rebellion. It says, “He (Adonijah) conferred with Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar, the priest. And they followed Adonijah and helped him. But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and David’s mighty men were not with Adonijah.” Rebellion against authority is a constant theme in world history. There is always someone who thinks they can do a better job or doesn’t think they are getting their due respect or recognition.

I don’t think it matters what organization you might lead. It could be a city, state, or national government. It could be some corporate institution. It might be a church. Whenever there is a power struggle, you have those who might support you and those who will be against you. In the church splits I’ve experienced, I’ve been fortunate to have my own “Nathans” and others who would support me. Even as the president of the Seminary class back in the early 80s, I had those who didn’t like me and challenged my role. The coup failed, and I was reelected, but then I decided that politics wasn’t for me and gave up the role in my third year. In the church splits that followed, I found the most painful experiences in ministry involved behind-the-scenes rebellions. It wasn’t the work of preaching every Sunday. It wasn’t the work of administration or visitation or anything else. What drove me to retirement was the realization that I was a terrible politician. I hate the power struggles and the maneuvering to take charge of every situation. I say all this just to point out how heart-breaking it is when you have someone who is supposed to love and trust you betray you. Can you imagine David’s feelings? His very own sons betrayed him and raised armies to push him out of power. He gave life to them. He supported them. He put them in positions that enabled them to raise dissent. I always think of David’s lament, “Absolom, Absolom, my son, my son!” David’s general could not understand why David was sad at his rebellious son’s death. But his grief was inconsolable for some time.

I’ve never considered myself a good leader. I had and still have many faults. I sometimes will beat myself up for being a poor judge of character. A fault that led to several betrayals in my life.  In many ways, I deserved the betrayals. A close look at the life of David as a father would lead us to believe he deserved his treatment, also. But think of Jesus’ own betrayal. Whereas I deserved it at times. Jesus did not. Just consider what happened to him. Moller writes, “He was scandalously betrayed with a kiss by one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot. He was arrested, manacled, and brought to trial in a manner befitting a great criminal. He had to suffer the intense disappointment of a disciple very close to Him (Peter) denying Him. While He Himself was obedient to God to the utmost, He was accused of blasphemy. While He came to earth to reconcile a godless and rebellious humankind with God, He Himself was falsely accused and found guilty of revolting against God and the emperor. He was considered so insignificant and despicable that He did not even get a just trial. A variety of false witnesses were allowed to be brought against Him. His judge, Pontius Pilate, found Him guilty against his own conviction and sentenced Him to death just to gain favor with high priests and their elders. This humiliation was intensified further when the crowd preferred a notorious criminal (Barabbas) to Him. He, who brought deliverance and healing to the Jews, was hated by them and rejected with derision. He, who is, in fact, the Lord of life and King of kings, was humiliated and derided by soldiers who also spat in his face.”[1] Jesus experienced all this for you and me. He took the sins of the whole world upon Himself and underwent the judgment resulting from it. He subjected Himself to this humiliation, loneliness, rejection, derision, anguish, pain, disappointment, and injustice for the specific purpose of delivering us from the consequences of our own sin. He, who knew no sin, became sin for us, to deliver us from the utmost destitution and misery.

[1] Möller, F. P. 1998. The Wonderful Christ and the Meaning of Humanness (Christology and Anthropology). Vol. 2. Words of Light and Life. Pretoria: Van Schaik Religious Books.

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2 Samuel 1:17-18

The Book Of Jashar

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
August 19, 2023

Samuel reported David’s weeping at the death of Saul and his son Jonathan. David has the Amalekite, who claimed to have been the one to put Saul out of his misery. Saul was God’s anointed, and David never lost respect for that fact and refused to take decisive action against Saul, even to save his own life. He expected everyone in Israel to weep over the loss of Saul and his defeat at the hand of their common enemy. David wants the nation to have great respect for God’s anointed. In 2 Samuel 1:17-18, David wanted the people to learn a lament that was contained in a non-canonical book, the Book of Jashar. The passage says, “And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.”

 We don’t know a lot about the book of Jashar. The Yale Bible Dictionary tells us that it is quoted in three Old Testament passages; Joshua 10:12-13, 2 Samuel 1:18, and possibly in 1 Kings 8:12-13.[1] Because it has been quoted as authoritative, several commentators recognize it as being of value. But it has remained extracanonical for most of its history. We have versions of the book from 1552 AD and then another from Venice, Italy, around 1625. These are the oldest manuscripts we have of the book. Or at least they were the oldest until 1947 when the little Bedouin shepherd boy threw his rock into a cave at Qum Ron, where the dead sea scrolls were discovered. There were only fragments discovered of the book, but many scholars have argued that the book of Jashar should date back as far as the other books of the Old Testament. Surely, if Samuel is quoting from the book as he says so here, it must date back to before his time. He uses the quotation as if it’s a well-known resource in his day.

The Book of Jashar appears to have been a book of songs. This seems to be clear from the way it is used in the three references to it in the Old Testament. The Joshua 10 passage refers to it as the song celebrating God holding back the night long enough for Joshua to conquer his enemies completely. Jashar says, “Sun, stand still in Gibeon! Moon, (stand still) in the valley of Aijalon! The Sun stood still. The Moon stayed until He had taken vengeance upon the nations of His enemies.” The second reference to the book of Jashar is seen in this passage, 1 Samuel 1:18. It records the depth of David’s mourning over the death of King Saul and Saul’s son, David’s friend, Jonathan. Bergen says, “This piece of oral and written literature played the valuable role of preserving the memory of a crucial event in Israelite history while reinforcing the office of kingship through its portrayal of the king as the agent through whom prosperity was brought to Israel.”[2] The Book of Jashar was a collection of Patriotic songs that celebrate the war heroes of Israel. Saul had delivered Israel from their enemy on numerous occasions, and David memorialized that in this song and taught it to Israel. It’s the battle hymn of the theocracy.

[1] Christensen, Duane L. 1992. “Jashar, Book of.” In The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, edited by David Noel Freedman, 3:646. New York: Doubleday.

[2] Bergen, Robert D. 1996. 1, 2 Samuel. Vol. 7. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

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1 Samuel 1:6-7

Trusting God to Make it Right

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
August 18, 2023

Hannah, Elkanah’s first wife, was childless. But his second wife bore him many sons and daughters. Yet Elkanah had a profound affection for Hannah that Peninnah did not have from her husband. When they went on their annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the great celebration with all of Israel, Elkanah would show Hannah favoritism before all the people. This did not sit well with Peninnah. 1 Samuel 1:6-7 tells us, “And her rival (Peninnah) used to provoke her (Hannah) grievously to irritate her because the Lord had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore, Hannah wept and would not eat.”

The treatment that Hannah received from Peninnah caused great consternation. Commentators observed that Hannah’s “irritation” was as severe as a storm with thunder and lightning. One commentator says, “The Hebrew word used here literally ‘means ‘to thunder’ or ‘to roar,’ like a storm. This is the sort of word that would be used to describe being caught in a hurricane. In other words, Hannah’s emotions were thundering and roaring like a hurricane. The text even tells us that Peninnah’s harassment was continual. There was no relief for Hannah from the relentless reminders of her barrenness. To say that Hannah was a deeply distressed individual is an understatement. Verse 7 indicates that her depression was so intense that she even refused to eat. Hannah must have lain awake many nights in despair, feeling like a broken, hopeless failure.”[1] That Hannah would not eat is an interesting remark because it follows the comment that Elkanah, her husband, gave her double portions of the sacrifices because he loved her so much. Hannah’s sorrow was so severe that food couldn’t help her in the least. The only thing she wanted was a child.

Many people know what it is like to have an antagonist in their life that they can do nothing about. It’s terribly disruptive in life. One cannot sleep or eat without the nagging presence of the one that strives to cause you pain. David lived with Saul, the King of Israel, as his antagonist. He found himself in such a predicament that it grieved his soul, yet there was nothing he could do about it. It drove David to write many songs. We call them the “Imprecatory” Psalms because David dumps his problems on God. He refused to take retaliatory action himself. Instead, he trusts God to deliver him from his antagonists. He trusts in the goodness and fairness of God and looks to God to take care of His problem. In Psalm 69, we read, “Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.  Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!” David trusted God to set things right. Hannah did the same thing.

[1] Greear, J. D., and Heath A. Thomas. 2016. Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Samuel. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference.

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