The Prayer of a Righteous Woman Availeth Much

[Note: because of the questions and discussion on the former post, I thought that this article might serve to help in the area of prayer, providence and miracles ~rlp].

She was a godly woman as far as the scriptures say, and she was married to a godly man. But like her forebear, Sarai, she went for many years without bearing any children for her beloved Elkanah.

Some have recently called upon the story of Hannah as evidence or proof that God works supernatural deeds today. Never mind the fact that the events of 1 Samuel 1 occurred during the days that God admittedly worked through supernatural acts, are the events recorded about the conception and birth of Samuel examples of God's supernatural intervention in human affairs? Regarding most of the events detailed the answer to this question is no.

The story of Hannah should encourage every faithful child of God to fervently pray for God's blessings, but it does not teach that God always answers prayers supernaturally. In fact it teaches the opposite view: God's answers to prayers are usually (today always) answered by His working through the natural laws He ordained at the beginning of time.

Samuel records the events that led up to his birth in the first chapter of 1 Samuel. Hannah was one of Elkanah's two wives. The other wife, Peninnah, had no difficulty bearing children for her husband, but despite Elkanah's greater love for Hannah, she bore him none.

Samuel writes that "the Lord had shut up her womb" (1 Sam. 1:5). We do not know if this means that the Lord specifically caused Hannah to be barren, or (more likely) if it simply means that God allowed her to be so (cf. Job 2:3). Whatever the proper interpretation, however, there is no reason to assume that God employed supernatural power to cause her to be without child. The scriptures often describe things done by the Lord that must be accomplished through natural means (Acts 16:14).

During one of her annual pilgrimages to Shiloh to worship with her husband, Hannah bowed herself in fervent prayer to God that He might grant her request for a son. Eli, the high priest and judge over Israel at the time, at first thought she was drunken and rebuked her, but when he learned her true state of mind, he proclaimed, "Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of Him" (v. 17).

This grant gave Hannah peace after many long years of concern, so she was no longer sad. Though it would still be a little while before Samuel was conceived, and even longer before she had any physical evidence of that conception, she believed the words of Eli, and was comforted (v. 18).

Next we read that "Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her" (v. 19). Then, just as Eli said, "when the time was come about after Hannah conceived," Samuel was born to the faithful woman who prayed a fervent prayer.

Now, just what events in this story give evidence of God working supernaturally? Must God work a miracle to answer her prayer?

As mentioned above there is no reason to believe that it was supernatural that Hannah's womb was closed for so many years. Many women have gone without the ability to have children, and there are commonly recognized natural reasons for such to occur.

Was Hannah's prayer endued with supernatural power? Surely not! The prayer she offered differed little from prayers we might hear ordinarily every day.

How about Samuel's conception; was it supernatural? Not according to the text—it occurred in the ordinary way when Elkanah and Hannah shared the marriage bed. But someone might say that in Hannah's case it must have been supernatural, because she had gone so long without the ability before. There are thousands of documented cases, however, where this occurs naturally today. There is no reason to assume a supernatural event, and since the presumption is always in favor of natural law, we should not assume anything other than that.

Was there anything supernatural about Samuel's gestation? Again the answer is no. Samuel was born "when the time was come about" just as every other healthy human child is born.

The only supernatural act that occurred in this story in as far as the record is concerned is the pronouncement of Eli that Hannah's prayer had been granted even before Samuel was conceived. How was it that Eli could know this? Only by the supernatural (miraculous) power of God that worked within him.

All of the other events occurred in complete conformity with nature's laws.
What does this mean fohe knowledge that God can and does work within the laws of nature to answer our prayers. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man [… or woman] availeth much" (Jas. 5:16).

~ Gil Yoder http://www.letusreason.com/

Anvil Sparks

THE ANVIL AND THE HAMMERS

Last eve I paused beside the blacksmith's door,
And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime.
Then looking in, I saw on the floor,
Old hammers worn out with beating years of time.

"How many anvils have you had," said I,
"To wear and batter all these hammers so?"
"Just one," said he, and then with twinkling eye,
"The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."

"And so" I thought, "The anvil of God's word
for ages skeptic blows have beat upon;
Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
The anvil is unharmed, the hammers gone."

John Clifford

A FEW ANVIL SPARKS

"It is hard to find a Scriptural way to do an unscriptural thing."

"Some one said to a church, 'Nothing is so small but that you can have trouble over it if you want to, and no trouble is so large but that it can be settled if you want to.'"

"If Absalom were living today, he would be in great demand, for he was a great mixer in the kingdom."

"In chruches, as in nations, peace at any price generally results in war at any cost."

Notes taken from Doctrinal Discourses by R.L. Whiteside

The Christian Mindset

The pristine book of Philippians is so much more than just an inspired thank-you note from the apostle to his brethren it is a treaties for troubled brethren on how to get along with one another in spite of the many difficulties that may lie in the way.

The Christian Mind is a...

• Focused Mind Undaunted by Unfavorable Events (1:21)
• Relinquished Mind Delighting in Esteeming Others (2:3-4)
• Spiritual Mind Properly Perceiving Earthly Things (3:19-20)
• Restrained Mind Appealing in Anxiety (4:6-7)
  
  

Thank God that He has provided us with all things that pertain to life and godliness that we might be able to shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (2 Pet. 1:3; Phi. 2:15-16).

~ rick

Study Habits Essentials

Having a senior in high school necessitates changing your reading taste. Recently, I was reading an article by Veronica Toney by this same title which appeared in the fall issue of College Outlook Magazine. These are three essentials that I use in my own personal Bible study. I also have a specific lesson in my teacher training course that involves the teacher's personal Bible study. You cannot teach what you do not know. You might be able to use these suggestions to help in your own successful study.

“The key to successful studying is consistency. Location, timing and frequency all promote learning...”

Habitat Habit
“Environment has a big impact on learning” Find you a place that is conducive to learning. In the middle of a busy restaurant is probably not the best place for serious study. “Studying at the same time everyday will help increase retention. Soon the brain will get the message that this time is learning time.” Humans are creatures of habit and habit when full grown becomes character.

Distraction Subtraction
“Distractions not only come from environment, but also from you. Wandering minds, boredom and homework overlook can all add hours to the study process.” Too many distractions are the very reason why the busy restaurant is not the best place for serious study. A quite place designed for study may be your best bet when it comes to study time. When you study, let people know that you do not what to be disturbed unless it is an emergency.

Boredom Forum
“The saying ‘two heads are better than one’ applies to studying. Studying in groups helps connect the dots. Putting multiple people’s notes together will give you a more compete reference guide.”

“The more you understand, the less you have to remember.” Craig A. McCraw

~ rick

Biblical Role Models

Here is a short list of men and women that God considered worthy to follow - but only as they followed the path of righteousness. Consider the words of the inspired apostle Paul "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1).

• Abigail, woman of tact & poise (1 Sam. 25)
• Abraham, the friend of God (Jas. 2:23)
• Barnabas, the great encourager (Acts 4:36)
• Caleb, mountain climber (Jos. 14:12)
• Deborah, the fearless patriot (Jdg. 4-5)
• Daniel, the lion tamer (Dan. 6:22)
• David, man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22)
• Dorcus, the Christian philanthropist (Acts 9:36-43)
• Elizabeth, the priestly mother (Luke 1:6)
• Enoch, who walked with God (Gen. 5:22)
• Epaphroditus, a man of reputation (Phi. 2:29)
• Esther, the providential princess (Esther 4:14)
• Ezekiel, a man with a strong forehead (Eze. 3:8)
• Haggai, the old man whose time was now (Hag. 1:4)
• Isaiah, the gospel statesman (Isa 53)
• Jeremiah, the languishing over sin (Lam. 1:16; 2:8)
• Jethro, the preeminent father-in-law (Exo. 18)
• Job, the patient patriarch (Jas. 5:11)
• John, the disciple whom Jesus loved (Jho. 21:20)
• Joseph, a lad of dreams (Gen. 37; 41)
• Joseph, a man who obeyed dreams (Mat. 1:24; 2:13-14, 19-21, 22)
• Joshua, a decisive conqueror (Jos. 24:15)
• Lois & Eunice, Christian professors (2 Tim. 1:5; ;3:14-15)
• Lydia, an hospitable business women (Acts 16:12-15, 40)
• Mary, the magnificent (Luke 1:28)
• Moses, the meek Num. 12:3)
• Nehemiah, the builder of God's wall (Neh. 6:15)
• Noah, true grit (2 Pet. 2:5)
• Paul, that passionate apostle (Phi. 3:6; Gal. 1:14)
• Peter, from shifting sand to solid rock (2 Pet. 1:10)
• Timothy, a likeminded young man (Phi. 2:20)

~ rick