Abounding Grace

Pastor Ed Taylor: I think it would be safe to say as you study through the scripture that the scriptures are filled not only with the people that God uses, but with the failures and the imperfections of the people that God uses. I believe he wanted us to understand that even in our own imperfections, a life surrendered to him, he will use us.

Guest (Male): Think a moment about a water-saturated sponge. If we push it down, water runs out onto the table. We immediately know what fills the interior pockets of the sponge. The same is true of us. We can tell what fills us on the inside by what comes out under pressure. Today on Abounding Grace, Pastor Ed Taylor takes us to 1 Samuel. This story we are about to look at reveals that God uses imperfect people and situations. If this is a difficult time for you, receive wonderful words of encouragement from 1 Samuel chapter one. Here is Pastor Ed to encourage us to trust in God through the ups and downs of life.

Pastor Ed Taylor: The book of 1 Samuel covers about 94 years of time from the birth of Samuel to the death of Saul. With the author being Samuel, we see a prophetically oriented history of Israel's first monarchy. 1 Samuel chapter one, verse one picks up the story of Israel that left off back in Judges. Samuel follows Samson, and he too had to deal with the Philistines that Samson didn't fully accomplish a permanent victory. We see the transition of leadership in Israel from judges to kings, from theocracy to monarchy in 1 Samuel. God will use the monarchy and the kingship, even using Saul to bring more stability to Israel because it is easier, as we see demonstrated, for Israel to follow an earthly king instead of God. Samuel was the kingmaker who anointed the first two rulers of the United Kingdom, Saul and David.

Both Samuel and David are types and pictures of Jesus Christ. A type in the Old Testament is an imperfect picture of many different things, but Samuel and David became these types and pictures of Jesus. Samuel is a picture of Christ as a prophet, a priest, and a judge as we see that lived out in Jesus. David is a very beautiful and powerful type of Christ. David is born in Bethlehem, works as a shepherd, and rules as the king of Israel. He is the anointed king who becomes the forerunner of the Messianic King. His typical Messianic Psalms are born of his years of rejection and danger, like Psalm 22. God enables David, a man after his own heart, to become Israel's greatest king. The New Testament specifically calls Christ the seed of David according to the flesh in Romans chapter one and the root and the offspring of David in Revelation chapter 22, verse 16.

Another thing to note in 1 Samuel is this is the first book of the Bible that uses the word Messiah. In chapter two, verse 10, it is translated in the Hebrew here. Hannah is such a powerful woman of God. She, in her prayer, prophesies Messiah where she says in verse 10, "The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; from heaven he will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed." With all of this in mind, let's pick up in verse one of chapter one. The book of 1 Samuel starts out with trouble and dilemma. Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

In verse two, here is the trouble. He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. We jump right in and are faced with controversy in the second verse. Things in this book are messed up from the beginning. Before we address the two wives issue, understand that the book opens up with a specific man living in a specific place, living in a specific time in Israel's history. He is living in a time when the Philistines are gaining momentum in power and military might and strength. The Philistines were an aggressive sea people whose mass invasion of the eastern Mediterranean coast made them Israel's principal enemy from the time of Samson until their devastating defeats at the hand of David around 980 BC. The best-known Philistine in the Bible is Goliath. We are introduced to this particular man, Elkanah. God unfolds his word in 1 Samuel as he usually does with a person, a man or a woman, or even a kid that he chooses to use. I am so glad that he uses us.

Elkanah, we learn, is a descendant of Zuph. His family line shows he was a Levite according to 1 Chronicles chapter six. He is called an Ephraimite here because his family lived in the Levitical city within the boundaries of Ephraim, not because he was of the tribe of Ephraim. Now verse two introduces to us a difficulty and a dilemma. It says in verse two that he had two wives. Peninnah, her name means coral or ruby, and Hannah, which means grace or gracious. Elkanah was a polygamist, or in this case a bigamist, but more than one wife is a polygamist. Bigamy and polygamy were culturally acceptable and widely practiced. That is what we read in verse two. We are reading the true story of a man and his two wives.

Because something is culturally acceptable and because something has been okayed by the law of the land does not mean that God approves of it. Let me repeat that, especially in our own state with the decisions of our own lawmakers. Because a government official or a group of government officials change a law and make something that was extremely dangerous now something that is legal doesn't remove the danger and doesn't make it right. It is simply a change in the laws of man. Because something is culturally acceptable, because the majority of people agree or the majority, which is 51 out of 100, decides it is good, in our culture that is what rules the day. It is unfortunate that in our culture, which is not much different from the culture of the day, that this is a norm.

I like to refer not only to the culture of our country but to the culture of our world system. This is a norm around the world. But because of the latest decisions in our own country, we have to understand that it is a very similar truth. The Bible speaks of Elkanah having two wives. I want you to be careful in the scriptures when you are reading to not put in the Bible what it doesn't say. This is a difficulty. If you listen to our radio broadcast on a regular basis, more than once or twice every couple of months, somebody is going to call and say, "I don't get this. I don't understand this. I was reading through the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, and I came across this passage where it says right here that Elkanah was a polygamist, and God used him, and he is worshipping, and God uses his wife, and I just don't get it. I mean, does God approve of polygamy?"

The answer is no. From the very beginning, God identified the definition of a marriage that he created. He created a relationship that he terms marriage. We refer to it as marriage today. From the very beginning, from the beginning of the order of God, marriage is clear: one man, one woman, one lifetime. We recognize that not everyone lives up to that ideal, and that is unfortunate, but it is true. God, by mentioning polygamy here, does not approve of it any more than you mentioning polygamy approves of it. You are just saying it like it is. You want to know about Elkanah's life? Well, let's see that God would even use a man like Elkanah. Does he approve of that? No. Does that become the norm now because of Elkanah? No. Among all the different passages of where marriage is defined as one man, one woman, one lifetime, there is Adam and Eve and all throughout scripture.

Other sexual behavior outside of marriage, between men with men and women with women, and women with men, and fornication, and adultery—all of the sexual sin—does that mean that now we can just make up new things because it is culturally acceptable? No. The Bible is just clear here that Elkanah's life was messed up. He was living according to the cultural norm. Do you know why? Because of Judges. Because of the leadership. When everybody does that which is right in their own eyes and lives apart from a standard that God has developed—not a pastor, not a priest, not a religion, not a church, just a simple understanding of the scriptures—you find that this is often the result. It is not uncommon for the enemies of the Bible to use this as an attack on the morality of God, to use it as an argument that if this is immoral, why does God condone it?

He doesn't. Even back in Deuteronomy chapter 17, there was a direct command to the kings as an example to the country. It says in Deuteronomy 17:17, "Neither shall he multiply wives for himself." Not only does God through creation and precept define marriage, he also defines what it is not. He defines it both in the positive and in the negative. There are many things in our culture that our culture accepts that are not God's heart or will for you. They are destructive and hurtful. God's will for marriage we have seen. The Bible records for us the facts. That is when you are reading the Bible and you come across this and ask, "What is verse two all about?" You have a God that won't hide the difficulties in the people that he uses. Here is the story of Samuel and David and Elkanah. This is what Hannah had to deal with. Hannah was married to a man that was married to another woman. She was barren, and this other woman gave her a hard time, but God is not condoning it.

The real answer to these types of questions is that it opens up for a dialogue. Even if we want to talk about the scriptures, I welcome the question. I love the question. I enjoy dialoguing over these things so that in the midst of the dialogue, I don't want to completely cut them off. I just want to explain to them this is what the Bible says and God is describing the difficulties. He doesn't hide them. I believe it is one of the beautiful evidences of the Bible, of the many manuscript evidences, the archaeological evidence, and the statistical probability of the prophetic within the Bible. There is a lot of evidence you can study that will affirm to you that the Bible you hold in your hand is a reliable, inspired word of God. But there is another evidence that you will see over and over again, and that is the Bible tells the truth.

Think of it for a second. If you were writing the Bible, would you expose every failure and every difficulty and every issue if you were writing the book about yourself? I think you would skip a few things, wouldn't you? You don't want to relive it. You don't want people asking you about it. It is like, "Well, what happened to that season in your life?" "Oh no, we don't talk about that season." "Well, why don't you talk about these things?" "Because I am the author of the book and I can write what I want." God is the author of the book. When he writes it and he writes your story, it is everything. It is all of it. So when he writes of Elkanah, you go, "How can God use Elkanah?" In his imperfection, God was able to overcome his imperfection and through that use Hannah to bring Samuel, to bring David, to bring Messiah.

I think it would be safe to say as you study through the scripture that the scriptures are filled not only with the people that God uses, but with the failures and the imperfections of the people that God uses. God wanted us to understand that even in our own imperfections, a life surrendered to him, he will use us. If you are concluding today, "Okay, wait a minute, Ed. If God is going to write the book and he is going to write my name in the book of life and he is going to write my story, I guess I'm going to go get me a couple of wives," the Bible doesn't teach that. The Bible doesn't condone that. If you were to make that choice, a couple of wives, a couple of husbands either way, you would be making a grave error and sin against God. In order to live a life that pleases God, you need to live a life by the precepts of God, and he has defined that for us.

God is just sharing with us, "Look, Elkanah is here and he has got two wives." Notice verse three: This man went up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also, the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. We're going to learn about Hophni and Phinehas later, but if you like to write next to your Bible, these guys are rats. They don't belong in the ministry. Hophni and Phinehas are men that misrepresent God. They are taking advantage of the ministry. They are hurting the people of God. You will see with Hophni and Phinehas that they will not get away with it. They were given time and time and time to repent. they didn't, and they didn't get away with it. We'll learn more about them later.

Whenever the time came, verse four, for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah, his wife, and all her sons and daughters. Но to Hannah, he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb. And her rival—interesting how this is included. This was not a relationship that was peaceful and cool and we all get along. This was a rivalry with two wives. There was great tension and difficulty. So God wants us to recognize her rival also provoked her severely to make her miserable. This was a miserable existence. I believe it was miserable for both women and for Elkanah. It was not only miserable for Hannah and what she had to endure, but it was miserable for Peninnah because her whole life was set to destroy someone else's life. Poor Elkanah is dealing with the consequence of his sin. It was a miserable home because sin brings misery. Living in sin brings misery.

So her rival provokes her severely to make her miserable because the Lord had closed her womb. So it was year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat. Peninnah had children; Hannah did not. Through that became a place of provocation and misery every year, constantly, continually. She would not let up. Hannah was sad and sorrowful. Even though she received the double portion and perhaps it was Elkanah's way, instead of making things right, it was kind of Elkanah's way to try to appease the emptiness of his wife. She couldn't enjoy the double portion because her heart was set on having a child. This phrase in verse five is an interesting phrase and we need to pause here where it says, "But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb."

Guest (Male): Ed, as you were talking about barrenness and how difficult that is for many women, I couldn't help but think someone listening is experiencing that right now. Would you pray for them as we close?

Pastor Ed Taylor: Barrenness is a very, very hard thing to endure for the mom and the dad, and I am so sorry. It is often misunderstood. I guess that is the best way to put it. We just don't understand it. Because people don't understand it, they may say things that hurt or they may think things or do things, and I am sorry. Barrenness is pretty common in the Bible, but also the faithfulness of God is common. He knows what he is doing in this season of barrenness even if this is God's lot in life for you. I think of my own mom. My own mom was barren. My mom and dad were unable to conceive a child their entire marriage. What it led them to do is to adopt. I was adopted into a family because of barrenness.

I am forever grateful for the pain that my mom endured and my dad endured that moved them to adopt me. I met another woman recently that because of the condition of her life, she is looking to be trained in the foster care system. There are other ways that that love can come through you and from you within our culture today that will honor the Lord and bless your heart, even as you're praying and seeking God about opening your womb, which is something you can do absolutely 100%.

Father, I do pray for the ladies listening right now that are wrestling with barrenness, that are wrestling with the reality of not being able to conceive a child at this moment. Would you encourage them, please? Would you fill them afresh with your Holy Spirit? Would you help them to grow in faith and trust in you? May you comfort them, Lord, and their husbands, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Guest (Male): Amen. Today we listened to a message called God Uses Imperfect People and Situations. Maybe it is just what you needed to hear. You can hear it again online at aboundinggraceradio.com and share the link with someone you know. Today we'd like to tell you about The Jesus Person Promise Book, offered by David Wilkerson. With well over a million copies in print, this book is a wonderful tool for everyday use. It brings the truth of God's word into virtually every spiritual and personal problem encountered today. You'll read over 800 promises from the Bible arranged topically, making it easy to use when you're in need of encouragement. We'll gladly send you a copy for a gift of $25 or more to Abounding Grace. Call toll-free at 877-30-GRACE. That's 877-304-7223, or order it online at calvaryco.store. Please remember this ministry is made possible through the support of our listeners, and we're grateful for whatever the Lord leads you to do. It would be great to hear from you during these summer months. Call toll-free 877-30-GRACE. Donations can also be made online at aboundinggraceradio.com. This has been Abounding Grace with Pastor Ed, and we'll look for you tomorrow as we open the word together in search of God's abounding grace. Abounding Grace is brought to you by Calvary Church Colorado here in Aurora.