Children From God

Background to passage: The year was probably between 1100 BC and 1080 BC. The period of the Judges had been long and tumultuous. Samuel was to be the last of the judges and a huge transition into the kingdom years. The book of 1 Samuel begins with the birth of Samuel.

51 years ago, the Supreme Court invented a right, legislated from the bench, and ruled in Roe vs. Wade that women had a constitutional right to abortion based on privacy. As you have heard, that ruling has ushered over 63,000,000 lives into the immediate presence of Jesus without taking a breath. The reversal of this ruling a year and a half ago in the Dobbs decision has saved countless lives, but has not fixed the problem, in some cases made the situation worse. Politically, legislatively, regionally, medically, the battle has morphed, and their are still many women and children at risk.

When facing our cultural issues, we must look to the scriptures. We must attempt to glean from it the teaching and principles related to a Christian worldview through which to filter our understanding. Abortion is no different. So I am going to use this text today, which is representative of scripture’s teaching on life, specifically regarding God as the ONLY giver and taker of life. Scripture teaches it is in his image that we are made, and that brings the sanctity to human life. We must submit ourselves to the bible regardless of our personal feelings.

I am also going to try to give a few helpful and practical ways to engage and discuss this issue with others, because as the good doctor said, the church cannot be silent on this issue, and not just from the pulpits.

1 Samuel 1:1–20 ESV

There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.

He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord.

On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.

But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.

And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.

So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.

And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.

She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.

And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.

Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.

And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.”

But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.

Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.”

Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”

And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.