We are Speaking of Love Part III Hannah and Peninnah

Do you have any Peninnahs' in your life?

Let's look at the facts that are presented to us in 1 Samuel Chapter 1 Hannah had some difficulties with Peninnah.....first of all let's look at what the problem may be for Hannah.  Just imagine that we still lived in the time period when men had more than one wife, that would be a real problem for my Timmy...and the problem would be me....I know I wouldn't share my Timmy very well!

He's mine, I will share him with God and the children and the grandchildren...but that is it...no other women! So Hannah had to deal with this other women, who had children, the one thing that Hannah longed for...but God had closed up Hannah's womb...but remember, what God closes, he can also open...Oh, Thank you Jesus!   

So for years Hannah, Peninnah and her wee ones along with Elkanah went to Shiloh to the temple to worship and bring offerings to the Lord...and year after year...Hannah was pestered by Peninnah.  Could you imagine, she not only had to share her husband, but she had to share with a woman who had children! That would be a lot for any woman to deal with!

When they were at Shiloh they would take a meal together. And that meal was from the Peace offering, no one eat anything from the Sin Offering, but meals were taken from the Peace Offering, and when these portions were given by Elkanah as the head of his household, he gave portions to Peninnah and her children, but to Hannah he gave a "goodly" portion.  Some versions say that Hannah received a double portion.  And this was because Elkanah truly loved Hannah.  Well you would think that this would make Hannah happy, but remember what Hannah is dealing with.  I myself have borne three children, so for me to understand what Hannah was going thru, I can't honestly say that I can understand this.  I am only aware of the joy I experienced each and every time I was pregnant and I know I wouldn't have wanted to miss out on this blessing.  So the closest I could come to this is that Hannah must have been so terribly sad that it probably made her physically ill. 

Every year when they would go to Shiloh, to make there offerings, Hannah would pray and ask the Lord for the petitions of her heart. And every year went by, and no pregnancy...until finally  Hannah was so distraught and she cried out not only to the Lord, but to the Lord of the Mighty Armies, and she did this because of what she had to deal with in Peninnah,  Hannah needed protection, remember her home was not a sanctuary.  Hannah had no escape from her sadness  even though she had this amazing love of Elkinah, that probably added to the situation (Peninnah probably didn't care much for the fact that Elkanah loved Hannah so much). So Hannah prayed the Lord of the Mighty Armies, and she vowed that if God would give to her a child that she would return the child to him for a full life of service to God.  And we all know the story, but do you understand the love that this woman had, not only for her God, but for her husband and child...This is really hard to comprehend.  Such a great love. 

So since we are talking about Love, we need to understand this great emotion.  When we are young, I don't believe that there is to much of an understanding of the "selfless" quality that needs to be part and parcel with love.  In order to love completely we need to take ourselves out of the equation, and this is very difficult to do for most people.  Love comes from giving of ourselves, if we say we love someone, but do not give of ourselves in such a way that it cost us something, then our love is not of any great value.  

Let me give you an example, if I say I love, and I come across someone who is in need of some kind of physical labor to help them and I do not do anything to help...do I really love?  But if I do take the time necessary to help this person and give of my time and energy, does this then show that I love.  Yes it does, but remember, do not do these things for show, because then you are doing what you are doing for glory sake and not for loves sake.

Love does not seek glory, true love is humble.

Well I suppose this writing is for the people I sometimes come into contact and for the love I have for my husband and children. Something to consider, Hannah didn't have to deal with Peninnah, and God didn't deal with Peninnah, no one had to.  Because God ultimately opened Hannah's womb and allowed her to have a child. So if you have any Peninnah's in your life, God knows what he is doing and you need not worry about it...our job is to be the hands and feet of God, we are to Love, and to Love in the purest sense of the word...what that looks like, I am still working on...but for right now I will continue as best I can to love and to be love for those people with whom I am in contact, or who are a part of my life.

So blessings to all of you and have a wonderful day and look for ways to bless others.