The Fruit of Sorrow and Faith

The book of 1 Samuel begins with a heartbreaking passage of the conflict between rival wives of Elkanah  named Peninnah and Hannah.  Peninnah had sons and daughters, but the LORD had closed Hannah's womb, and as a consequence she was childless.  Peninnah was an hateful adversary to Hannah, who provoked and needled her over her barrenness, and it broke Hannah's heart.  Elkanah loved Hannah very much and supplied her a double portion to show how much he cared for her.  Yet Hannah was so grieved over the provocation she could not bring herself to eat anything.  1 Samuel 1:8 reads, "Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"  Rather than lamenting what she did not have, Elkanah begged his wife to find comfort in his love and provision.

There is no question Elkanah was good to Hannah, and he used a phrase similar to that employed in the previous book of Ruth.  When Ruth gave birth to a son by Boaz, she provided Naomi an heir who would receive the family inheritance.   Ruth 4:14-15 says, "Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! ¹⁵ And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him."  Ruth was a caring, supportive and obedient daughter-in-law who loved Naomi and the LORD God of Israel.  Before they were wed, Boaz affirmed Ruth was known to all those in Bethlehem to be a virtuous woman.  In saying Ruth was a  better daughter-in-law than seven sons, the point was Ruth ought to be treasured by Naomi more than a means to a grandson (or 7 of them!), and Elkanah was a greater blessing to Hannah than any sons he could supply.

The sad story takes a lovely turn when Hannah, in deep grief and sorrow, poured out her heart to the LORD in prayer at the tabernacle.  She begged God to give her conception and promised if God gave her a son she would dedicate him wholly to the LORD's service in the tabernacle.  God did not ignore the cry or tears of Hannah who sought Him:  God Who provided a loving husband in Elkanah also provided a son according to her request without reproach.  God did not chastise Hannah for the desires of her heart, for ingratitude or lack of contentment, as she boldly poured out her soul before the LORD Who was her refuge and giver of all good things.  I am blessed by Hannah's example, that she did not stuff her sorrow away or suffer in silence and neglect coming before the LORD.  Her season of provocation, pain and barrenness resulted in the birth of a son who would grow up to be the prophet and judge Samuel whose name means, "God has heard."  The birth of the child and his life of blessing to the nation was a testimony of the living God who hears and answers prayer--borne out of sorrow by faith in God.

Hannah prayed fervently for a son, and she made good on her promise to the LORD to dedicate him wholly to the LORD.  God did for Hannah more than she asked for as 1 Samuel 2:21 states, "And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD."  See the fruit God causes to grow through sorrow of soul for those who seek and trust in Him!  Hannah shed many tears over the provocations of Peninnah, yet it was after she sought the LORD help and hope was provided by Him.  God did not begrudge Hannah for the desires of her heart and her request to bear a son, and He does not reproach any of His children who approach Him needy, helpless and fruitless to seek His favour.  God is better to us than a spouse or all the sons or daughters in the world, and let us rejoice and worship our LORD with gladness today--as if we have already received infinitely more than we asked for!

Obeying the Gospel

Whether we watch the news on TV or scroll through articles online, this is a common way we receive information about what is happening in the world around us.  Very seldom (if ever) are news articles a call to personal action.  Newsreaders and reporters simply convey a handful of stories of national and international significance and local topics that include politics, traffic, sports and weather.  It makes sense we would seek out a reliable, trustworthy source of news so we can be accurately informed.  The Gospel, the Good News, is much more than a story to believe, for it is a revelation of God and from God Christians are called to obey.

On the topic of these glad tidings Paul wrote in Romans 10:16-17, "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" ¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  The primary imperative of the Gospel is we must receive and believe it, and genuine faith is always evidenced by intentional actions.  Having heard the preaching of God's word, we first obey the Gospel by believing it is true:  God is righteous, I am a sinner, Jesus came to earth to provide atonement for sin and eternal life, and by believing Jesus is the Christ I will be born again, forgiven and adopted into the family of God.  The Gospel we believe is not only the starting point of our faith, but is to guide our thoughts, actions and words going forward.  Having freely been forgiven I am to forgive others; having received the love of God, I also ought to love God and others.

The Gospel not only transforms our spiritual standing before God for eternity, but it also ought to impact our day-to-day lives.  If we believe a story we heard on the news is of interest to us and others, we likely will share it with them.  A story with a headline that has no interest to me will have no impact on my life because I will not bother even to read the article.  I cannot share what I do not know or convey knowledge I do not possess.  There are articles which do interest me but do not interest others in my family, so there is no reason to share them.  The Gospel is of interest for me and everyone else because a relationship with the living God is freely on offer, an open door of salvation, eternal life and fellowship with God swung open wide for all who receive Jesus to walk through.

If I believe asbestos causes lung disease, I will wear the protective equipment and take necessary precautions to prevent fibers becoming airborne.  In like fashion, if I believe I am a sinner headed to hell and there is a way of eternal life available to me by trusting Jesus, faith guides me to humble myself in repentance and reliance upon the risen Saviour today and every day.  In addition to believing the Gospel saves, we also obey the Gospel by humbling ourselves before other people, serving selflessly as Jesus did when He washed the disciples feet.  In coming to earth and putting on human flesh Jesus humbled Himself as an example we are to follow in our households, while driving, whether at work or at play.  Obeying the Gospel is more than listening to it or believing it:  it is walking by faith in God and obedience to God and His word every day in our pilgrimage to glory.  Our countenance can shine because we know we are loved, and we do not despair in trials because we are blessed and greatly helped.

Submission to Every Ordinance

One of the consequences of being an Australian citizen is voting is compulsory.  Those who choose not to vote in local or federal elections or a referendum are required to pay a fine which is currently capped at $55.  For followers of Jesus Christ, it should not be the threat of a fine that leads us to do our civic duty to vote, but submission to the government established by God as unto Him.

1 Peter 2:13-16 exhorts believers in the context of doing good works in the public sphere, "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--¹⁶ as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God."  While there are exceptions to this command of Peter, let us not miss the overarching requirements of the child of God to submit to every ordinance of man for the LORD's sake.  Those who appeal to a "higher authority" to justify disregarding the law everyone ought to follow is blatant rebellion before God.  We have the highest authority, God Himself, commanding us to submit by faith in Him to every ordinance, to kings as supreme and governors who ultimately have been established by God.  It is hypocrisy to use God or our faith in Jesus as an excuse not to comply with court orders, paying due wages and tax, and obtaining licenses--like everyone else is required to do.

Our freedom in Christ is not to be exercised by willful defiance against government but obedience to the government as unto the LORD--regardless if we agree with the ordinances, for our convenience, or to show our displeasure.  Even if churches and believers are unfairly targeted by authorities, by faith in Jesus who rules and reigns over all we are to honour and obey Him by submitting to earthly ordinances.  Should it ever come to a point where a government tries to force believers to deny or disobey our LORD Who has taught us to "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's," we need not be defiant with anger and resentment.  Like the Hebrew trio who cheerfully conversed with King Nebuchadnezzar who threatened their lives with death, we can show due respect by politely declining and continuing in faithful allegiance to God.  God honoured these men by their deliverance and salvation, and their good works made a strong impression on Nebuchadnezzar.  In the New Testament, after believers were commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus, they continued to obey God with joy and gladness--not with anger, frustration and resentment.

Let us take a stand in obedience to God, and know it is God's will we would be as determined to obey our government and local councils as if we were obeying the commands of Jesus Christ Himself.  Rather than defiance and passionate public railing against the Sanhedrin, believers in the early church poured out their hearts behind closed doors in private to the LORD in prayer Who heard and answered them.  The lure of martyrdom for a social, political or a religious cause can be strong, yet to live daily in submission to Christ by obedience to earthly authorities that may despise Him is a true test of our faith in God Who refines us by His grace for His glory.

The Pacifier Lesson

When one of my sons was young, he developed quite a dependance upon a pacifier (dummy) that continued after he was weaned.  At one time there was a pacifier in each corner of the cot, at the changing table, in the pram, and pretty much every room in the house, and he used them constantly.  My wife came up with a solution that worked brilliantly:  she cut the tips off of every one she found with scissors.  If my son scrounged up one she didn't know about, she altered it as well.  I remember him putting an altered pacifier in his mouth, and he immediately pulled it out and threw it to the floor in disgust.  The unfamiliar feeling was clearly unpleasant, the smooth surface replaced with rough edges and the nipple easily collapsed without an air pocket.  In literally a day the reliance upon the "binky" had been broken--first with my wife's wisdom and then with my son's agreement.  Because it was my son's choice, all was accomplished without a power struggle.

Reminiscing about this situation led me to consider how God at times does a similar thing with His beloved children like my wife did with our son.  When we are born again by faith in Jesus, we often retain habits, tendencies and even addictions that can be harmful and destructive.  We likely will continue to pick some additional ones up during our pilgrimage through this life.  These may be sins in themselves but could also be ways of thinking about others, how we cope with stress, tendencies to vanity, flirt, rude humour, embrace excess, shows we watch or games we play.  God does what my wife could not do with my son:  she physically changed the pacifier to lead him to reject it, yet God is able to change us spiritually from within.  The LORD transforms our outlook upon the thing we love and enjoy so we realise how sinful and destructive it is, and with the freedom provided us in Christ are enabled to deny ourselves and do what pleases God instead.  Jesus breaks our chains, and by the power of the Holy Spirit we can choose to walk in victory over what previously held us captive.

The process of us learning how to keep our vessels in purity, setting our minds on things above and turning our eyes to Jesus to consider Him is a lifelong journey.  Ridding a child of a pacifier is a way easier task than learning not to look with lust, avoiding covetousness and learning contentment in every situation of life.  The power of God to redeem and sanctify us makes it possible for the person most set in their ways to be changed to live God's way, for we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us.  In some regards the example of my son rejecting all his pacifiers in a day and never using them again puts me to shame, for I have at times been like the fool who returns to his folly as a dog returns to its vomit or a pig to wallowing in the mud--and didn't even realise it.  The LORD is faithful to seek out His sheep that wander or fall, and all heaven rejoices when one of us sinners repents.  If there is a power struggle, it is evidence we have yet to surrender our will to the LORD.

Praise the LORD He transforms us to agree with Him, to repent and return to Him as at the first!  It is good to realise our distaste and rejection of what we previously enjoyed and looked forward to is a gift from God, and it is by His power alone we can continue to walk in newness of life.  Our old life, habits and ways losing appeal is evidence we have been and are being changed to be more like Jesus.  There are very few adults who still use a pacifier in public, yet other immature habits and tendencies are retained by all of us we are wise to be rid of so we can walk righteously.  Our new life is not defined by what we no longer do, but by who Jesus Christ is and all He has created us to be.  How good it is to willingly yield to the wisdom of God to do His will, for the future of those people is peace.