THURSDAY September 6, 2018
Sacrificial Worship
This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.
1 Samuel 1:3
Elkanah was a man dedicated to tradition and to the Law. He went every year to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord. At this time, Shiloh was the place of worship. When the children of Israel came into the Promised Land, God had them assemble the tabernacle in Shiloh: Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there… (Joshua 18:1).
This was before the permanent Temple of the Lord was built by Solomon in Jerusalem. Shiloh was about 15 miles north of where Elkanah lived. Hannah’s husband was a faithful man. He was spiritually leading his home by going up to Shiloh to worship the Lord, but Hannah was still struggling with not having a child.
Even though Hannah was well taken care of physically and financially, she remained unhappy. Hannah knew, by not having a child, she was looked at negatively by others, and she remained in bitterness of soul.
Interestingly, this is the first time in the Bible that we read about the name, the Lord of Hosts, which means, “the Lord of the armies,” or “Lord of all creation.” Incredibly, this tremendous name of God is mentioned 281 times throughout the whole Bible, especially in the Minor Prophets.
Hannah needed to look to the Lord of Hosts, “the Lord of all creation,” to help her. Do you make every effort to go to church to seek the Lord of Hosts in the battles you face in life?
Those whom God leads, he leads to his holy hill, and to his tabernacles; those therefore who pretend to be led by the Spirit and yet turn their backs upon instituted ordinances,
certainly deceive themselves.
~Matthew Henry~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!
