(Day 8) Seeking God Through His Word, Prayer, and Fasting

1 Samuel 1:1-28

Praise and worship often flows from our brokenness and the hurt places in our lives. It's through the workings of God that this is accomplished. None of us raise our hands, volunteering for adversity or hard times; but the Lord often uses our trials and tribulation to produce character in His children. Genuine love for God and true thanksgiving leaks out of us through our yielded hearts. During our times of testing, we have to guard our hearts from becoming bitter. How exactly can we protect our heart and spirit from getting a root of bitterness? The Hebrew writer warns of this troublesome root; looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled (Hebrews 12:15).

The clause "looking diligently", means to pay great attention to or a careful watchfulness. The Word of the Lord is telling us to be on alert about any root of bitterness because the nature of it is to:

1. spring up

2. trouble us

3. defile us

In 1 Samuel chapter 1, we read of a woman by the name of Hannah, who was married to Elkanah, who also had another wife named Peninnah. Elkanah was well off, and as many rich men in biblical times did, he married multiple wives; and as we see in many of the polygamous marriages recorded in scripture, there was an intense rivalry. Peninnah had borne children to Elkanah, but Hannah was barren. During biblical times, women attached their value as wives to childbearing. There's an important point that we don't often dwell on when we consider this passage. Notice what we are told about this situation; but the Lord had shut up her womb (1 Sam. 1:5). Although Peninnah was bearing children for Elkanah, Hannah was the wife that he preferred. The previous verse informs us about that; And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: but unto Hannah he gave a worthy poriton; for he loved Hannah (1 Samuel 1:4-5).

Notice what is repeated as we read this account. And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb (1 Sam. 1:6). When things are repeated in scripture, the Lord is highlighting that to stress the point. Hannah's womb that God had closed, He could at any point, open, relieving her of the painful disappointment. Elkanah says to Hannah, after observing her behavior; Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons? (1 Sam. 1:8). Attempting to comfort his heart-broken wife, he's at least able to convince her to eat.

This years long ordeal was taking a toll on Hannah as she dealt with the constant agitation from Peninnah that vexed her soul. What was God's purpose in all of this? What was God after from Hannah? Verse 10 tells us that as Hannah was in the house of God, she was in bitterness of soul. We've already talked about the dangers of bitterness and how a root of bitterness can spring up to trouble and defile us. After all of our experiences and things that we have suffered over the years, bitterness is a real possibility, that can cause us to be angry, even with God. But what we see in Hannah, who was dealing with bitterness of soul, is a strong example of how to overcome it.

After we are told that she was in bitterness of soul, the scripture quickly points out that she prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore (verse10). The failure to swiftly take our hurts, disappointments, and even our complaints to the Lord in prayer, opens the door for the seeds of bitterness to be planted in our hearts. During this time of God denying her of what she really wants, (a son), He is breaking her to get the release of her faith, worship, and praise. She goes on to vow a vow unto the Lord that if He blesses her with a baby son, she will give him back to the Lord to serve Him all the days of his life; this speaks of her prophetic faith, that her son would be committed to God as long as he lives.

Eli the priest notices Hannah as she is praying; she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken (1 Sam. 1:13). Unfortunately, as the priest, he wasn't sensitive to the depth of her pain or the sincerity of her prayer, and misjudged her sincere seeking of God. The unimpressive priest took her desperation to reach God, to be drunkenness. Her pain was beyond words; all she could muster was the movement of her lips and a steady stream of tears. In explaining this to Eli the priest, she says, 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 (1 Sam. 1:15-16).

* There is a breakthrough for us that is within reach when we empty ourselves in prayer. Staying before God, travailing in His presence, produces the release that God is seeking to bring out of us. Eli tells her to go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of Him (verse 17). So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad (verse 18). That's a breakthrough! That's how we can overcome bitterness of soul! The breakthrough from bitterness made her worship better. She and her husband rose up early in the morning and worshipped before the Lord, returned home and made a baby! the text says, and the Lord remembered her (verse 19). That baby boy was Samuel, who went on to be a great servant of the Lord. Hannah explains the meaning of his name, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord (verse 20).

As pain is released through prayer:

1. promises are fulfilled (1 Sam. 24-28)

2. praise is produced (1 Sam. 2:1-11)

3. purpose is realized (1 Sam. 3:19)

From the heart and hand of Pastor Reginald Reaves