THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH [1SAMUEL 1:8-18]
The Very. Rev. Michael Mukhwana
Good morning Saints. I trust you have had a great week, where you have kept in touch with your LORD during this prayer Month at the Cathedral. For those hurting for whatever reason, I pray that the Holy Spirit will minister healing where it hurts most, and that you will cultivate the discipline of encouraging yourself in the LORD, as you get rooted in Him.
Today’s theme is based on two scriptures, from both the OT, and the NT. The OT one is Habakkuk 2:4b, and the NT text is Romans 1:17. Despite the fact that the theme relates to these two texts, our main text will be 1Samuel 1:8-18, which is the amazing story of a woman who had extraordinary faith, and who at the start of this story, is apparently barren. Her story is a great testimony of
a woman who understood spiritual warfare, and defied the odds by exercising her faith in the LORD, and gave birth to one of the most influential prophets in Biblical times. In 1Sam 1:11, Hannah makes a vow as she petitions the LORD.
Vows were considered much more sacred in the Biblical era than today. But in a real sense, Hannah was offering what God had already commanded. In the Law He declared that all firstborns belonged to Him – firstborns of families, herds, and flocks. A first born child was redeemed by a gift given at the Tabernacle (Ex.13:10-16). In this way, Israel was to remember that their freedom from Egypt was achieved by the death of all firstborn males not protected by the Passover rituals (Ex.12:1-13). What is so touching in, here is that Hannah was releasing faith, by committing herself to follow the command to offer her firstborn back to God by allowing him to serve in the Tabernacle, although she was barren!
1 Sam 1:14 is a caution to us, to the effect that Church Ministers, like all fallen humans, can say some very hurtful things. Sometimes they say painful things that are correct – the command to repent can produce great sorrow, but a good Preacher will tell you the truth about your sin. But at other times, Ministers can say really hurting things, such as this charge of drunkenness made by Eli
toward Hannah. Hannah had every reason to take offense, but instead, she corrected him. And Eli, being suitably reproved, pronounces God’s blessing upon her. When she conceived, she did not hold Eli’s previous sin against him, but entrusted the raising of her son to him, a case of simply trusting! May God give you the Saints, the grace to trust fallible ministers to care for you and your family.
After Eli pronounced God’s blessing, Hannah received it as a confirmation, and simply rejoiced in the LORD. Though the reality of infertility weighed upon her, Eli’s words caused Hannah to submit her feelings to her faith. Her depression began to lift, and she returned to her normal eating habits. So as you root your life in what God says in His Word and as you walk in the Spirit, you can
experience hope in the midst of (and even freedom from!) debilitating emotions.
May this testimony serve to build your faith, that you may be counted as one of those who walk by faith and not by sight. Every blessing!
The Very Rev. Canon Michael Mukhwana
PROVOST