#DailyDevotion Some People Actually Want Children
July 17th
Read 1 Sam 1:1–20
1Sa 1:4-6 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters… (6) And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb…11 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.”..20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the LORD.”
It is so sad and strange today the job that the “earthers” have done to women and men that they scorn the blessing of children. Sure, some come around to finding one or two a blessing and joy, on their own terms and time but then they are purely for the satisfaction of the doting parents. In our time though, many of these same people are found barren and spend thousands of dollars trying to have children later when they have spent so much time and effort earlier to not have children. There are those poor unfortunate souls who have always set themselves before the Lord and were willing to have children as the Lord willed but of no fault of their own they were barren. The Lord had sealed up their womb like this Hannah. Now this account is not a lesson on how to get pregnant. What is it about? Jesus.
A virgin is just as barren and humbled as a barren woman. Hannah had no child and was the object of scorn. She prayed to the Lord and made a vow that if the Lord would give her a son, that son would be dedicated to the Lord and be a Nazarite. The Lord heard her cry and gave her a son. She named him Samuel which means, “I have asked for him from the Lord.” Samuel indeed would be dedicated to the Lord and be a great prophet among the people of Israel. Indeed, he would anoint to different royal dynasties during his lifetime.
There was another woman without child, a Virgin name Mary. Though espoused she had not yet consummated her marriage and she was given a child in her virginity. It would be the Lord himself who was conceived in her womb. He too would be dedicated to the Lord. He too would be a Nazarite. Jesus was his name because the Lord would save his people from their sins through him. He was a prophet and more than a prophet. He would also be a king and more than a king. He was a priest and more than a priest. Jesus is The Prophet, The Priest and The King to end all prophets, priests and kings. He is the King of the Universe and the High Priest before the Father of Lights and the Very Word of the Father. Jesus the One dedicated to the Lord of Hosts is in fact the Lord of Hosts. He is also dedicated to the Lord’s service by coming to serve you. His mother while despised as a virgin would be the most blessed among all women. She gave birth to the one who came and was dedicated to saving you. He was not born into this world for her own pleasure but for God’s and for your pleasure.
Lord Jesus Christ, look upon all women desiring children the blessing of childbirth and be with all mothers that their children would be blessing unto them and them unto their children. May they all be raised up in the faith of your salvation to which you were dedicated to from conception by the holy angel and may we always remember the blessing for us by your conception and birth. Amen.