Pt. 10a, The Biblical Story - A Distraught Wife, Rebellious Sons, and a Rogue Ark

 
A Distraught Wife, Rebellious Sons, 
and a Rogue Ark
Pt. 10a, The Biblical Story, Hannah, Eli’s Sons & The Ark of the Covenant

By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© March 16, 2014
www.pastorkennedy.com

Ordinarily we would be continuing in the tenth segment of The Biblical Story series, which reviews the life of Samuel and Saul, but that segment will be continued at a later date.  Today we will be discussing several issues, which could be relevant to us today, even though the topics may seem to be totally divergent to our current cultural norms.  Issues rising from these ancient Biblical stories and topics are still fresh and very relative to our daily life.

Hannah, a Distraught Wife in a Polygamous Marriage

Hannah was plagued with issues surrounding polygamy.  God used this to press her to Himself – but we will address this later.

An “official” Rabbit Trail…from the original topic!
We will diverge from reviewing the story of Hannah for a moment to address the topic of monogamy.  This is the time to “fill in some blanks” not often talked about in church, which we can put in the back of our minds and draw on them when needed.  If no one ever addresses these topics, and we do not have the opportunity to think Biblically about them – we may not even know they are spoken of in the Bible, so we are going to take the time now.

•	Monogamy (“marriage to one person”)

o	Monogamy:  The Creation Model

Genesis 2:24 
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 

o	Monogamy:  The New Testament Model

  Jesus confirmed His Father’s original intent for monogamy in marriage given us in Genesis “One man – One woman”.  (See also Mark 10:7; 1 Cor. 6:16)

This confirmation of Biblical marriage was given in the context when Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees, about “any cause” divorce.

Matthew 19:3–6 
3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” 4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” 

  Paul also confirmed God’s original intent of the divine mystery of Monogamous Marriage

Ephesians 5:28–33 
28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (see also 1 Cor. 6:15-16)

  Paul gives further instructions to Timothy and the newly established church regarding the marriage circumstances in those who should be chosen for leadership.

1 Timothy 3:2 
2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach…

1 Timothy 3:12 
12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 

1 Timothy 5:9 
9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, 

Titus 1:5–7 
Qualifications for Elders 
5 …Appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain….

It is clear that Paul did not support polygamy when it came to church leadership...nor in his definition of the mystery of marriage in Eph. 5:28-33 (previously noted).  Monogamy is the New Testament concept of Biblical marriage.

o	Polygamy
  An Old Testament setting:
•	Cultural dominance, 
•	A show of Wealth, 
•	Pleasure 
•	Security 
•	Work and 
•	Population factors.

This was not modeled after the original intent God had for the humankind family, but most likely because of desire and survival (if you had large families you were able to survive in hostile tribal/feudal environments, have more interaction and respect with the people groups and more children to work in and harvest crops in your fields).

•	Many Old Testament patriarchs had multiple wives.  When relationships were revealed and written in Scripture, they recorded jealously, favoritism, in-fighting and tough family situations (i.e. Sarah and Hagar, Leah and Rachael; Hannah and Peninnah, etc.).

NOTE:  Certain sects of the Mormons (and Muslims) are the only ones who seem to actively promote polygamy today. 
Though mainstream Mormonism today is not polygamous (because polygamy is against the law in the Unites States), the basis of the original Mormon doctrine supports polygamy, that is the reason the sects of Mormonism holding more strictly to their fundamental doctrine, are polygamous.

 
Mormon Theology:

o	Preexistence of Spirits
Mormon theology explains the non-Biblical doctrine that all human beings lived prior to this life in what is called the “preexistence” – a time when they believe all mankind were spirit children of heavenly parents prior to an earthly existence.  (And that these spirit-children are waiting for an earthly body…this human body will be given to them when Mormon parents have physical children.  The more wives, the more  “spirit babies” have bodies and the greater the population of the “planet” the Mormon man will have on his planet when he dies (and of which he becomes the creator god).
o	Celestial Marriage – for time and eternity 
(Below is Christ’s answer rejecting this errant doctrine)

Matthew 22:29–30 
29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 

o	Eternal Families
o	The Law of Eternal Progression
Reaching perfection (to become a “god”) at some particular point in time…if you follow the Mormon “laws” enough and do enough good works, etc., you may reach the highest of Three kingdoms – degrees of glory, and become a god to create and populate your own world. 
Mormon “theology” fundamentally supports polygamy and is not even remotely close to Biblical Theology.
The spirit of Mormonism is not the Spirit of the God of the Bible.

Hannah – again!
Let’s go back to Hannah and the polygamist marriage in which she suffered.

1 Samuel 1:2–7, 10 
2 He (Elkanah) 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. 
3 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. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 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. 

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

1.  A Distraught Wife:  Hannah’s Troubles

  Hannah was encased in a snare of abuse from the other “wife” in a polygamous marriage.

  Hannah’s home was not happy; her spirit was crushed.  Elkanah dearly loved Hannah, but since he was most likely gone most of the time, Elkanah’s love for Hannah only fueled Peninnah’s cruel jealousy, hatred and vindictiveness.
 
  The mean words, the caustic looks, the insinuations, the snide remarks of the children, abuse, etc., constantly reminded Hannah of her inability and the hatred toward her of everyone else (but Elkanah) in the family.  This is how Peninnah wickedly kept Hannah in turmoil and subservient to her all day long while Elkanah was out of the house.  She constantly used the leverage that Hannah did not meet the standard of a “real woman and wife”, since Hannah could not give children to her husband.

You may not be in the vortex of a polygamous marriage, but you or someone you love may be in the bull’s eye of abuse.

Insinuations, power plays, gossip, lying, angry outbursts, cruel words…they may all be “under cover” or they may be very visible – and they are there and you comprehend them and are deeply hurt by them.

How we might respond to abusive circumstances and contemptible adversity

1.	  Cry Out to God.  We can cry out to God.

2.	  Blow up!  We might angrily blow up!  We can react to the same extent (or sometimes worse) to the same degree we feel we have been treated.  

If we do “blow up in anger”, what often happens?
Our adversary claims “victory” (and will most likely lie to cover their trail) and force us to apologize – because we are seeking to act godly and they may not even care!

3.	  Shut Down. Drop Out.  We might crawl into a mental hole and shut down emotionally, become bitter, begin abusing a substance, and drop out of life.

4.	  Seek counsel. We can seek wise advice and spiritual advice from a pastor, Christian counselor and/or physician.

5.	  Put on the Armor of God and Resist the Devil.  James 4:7-10 Draw near to God and resist the devil.  Remember that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces in high places (Eph. 6:12). 

6.	  Seek Alternative solutions. We may be able to find alternative solutions.  
Hannah did not have any alternative solutions other than prayer to God.

7.	  Immerse Yourself in God’s Word.  We can find our comfort and resource in God’s Word, 

8.	  Read good books.  We can read helpful books on related subjects.

9.	  Listen to good music.  We can listen to positive and uplifting spiritual music.

10.  Good Physical Nourishment.  We can’t forget to nourish our bodies with good food and reasonable exercise.

11.  Sleep.  We can work on developing a routine of a positive night’s rest.

12.  Healthy Interaction. We can have healthy (not gossip) interaction with friends about our difficulties.

13.  Continue to Cry Out to God.  We can continue to cry out to God.

What do we learn from abusive circumstances and contemptible adversity?

  Our walk with God is Refined by the circumstances.
  Our relationship with God is Renewed by His Spirit and His Word.
  Our relationship with God and with others, over time, is gently Restored.

How did Hannah handle this kind of abuse?

1.	  Hannah prayed.  She desperately prayed.
2.	  Hannah promised to God.
3.	  Hannah fulfilled her promise.

1 Samuel 1:9–20 
9 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. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 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.” 
12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 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. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 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. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 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. 
19 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. 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.” 

2.  Rebellious Sons

1 Samuel 2:12, 17, 22
Eli’s Worthless Sons 
12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord. 

17 Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt. 

22 Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 

  Sin seeps in through the porous DNA of our depraved nature and corrupts the most unsuspecting soul while the spirit forces of the Evil One tightens the tourniquet ever so gently, to sever our relationship with God.  Our carnal nature is temporarily appeased by our acquiescence to sin, and the world around cheers us loudly for our new found “freedom”.

o	 One “slip” across the lines of what we know not to be right before God, without repentance, brings a sigh of relief that we may not have been “discovered”.  
o	 Continuing to cross the lines without repentance causes callousness toward God and a deadness of spirit, with a growing certainty in our carnal heart that “God doesn’t matter, or “God doesn’t exist”. 

o	 God then begins to give one up to his or her own desires, to greater depravity and an alienated relationship with God – waiting for God’s hand of judgment.

o	 God will judge…now or later.

1 Timothy 5:24–25 
24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden. 

  Spiritual Heritage and Position without spiritual transformation does not mean we have New Birth “salvation”.  Our family background will not keep us from accountability before God (knowing to do right and not doing it demands accountability) (James 4:17).

“I am a priest, from a long line of (religious workers); therefore, I am special and can do whatever I want to do.” – This doesn’t work.

Luke 3:8  John the Baptist said…
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 

  Biblical Knowledge and Information without spiritual transformation does not mean one has New Birth “salvation”.  Mere information does not keep us from more severe accountability before God (John 3:3-7 – “you must be Born Again”).

“I am a teacher (or student of the Scripture), and I understand the Bible; therefore, I am special and can do whatever I want to do.”  
- This doesn’t work either.

James 2:19 
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 

James 3:1 
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 

  Familiarity with Biblical Truth can breed contempt.

  A Father’s Accountability:  Eli, the father, was accountable before God, to reprove his sons – and even discipline them by removing them from service in God’s Temple.  God reprimanded Eli two times and yet he did not act with responsible accountability.  God would severely judge his family.

o	 God brought a prophet to confront Eli about his son’s godless behavior (1 Sam. 2:27-36).
o	 God spoke to Samuel to reprove Eli for not dealing with his son’s godless behavior (1 Sam. 3).

God Takes Care of Himself
When the Israelites lost the first battle with the Philistines with 4,000 of their soldiers dead, they were humiliated and called for the Ark of the Covenant to be brought into their war camp so that God would “be on their side” and they could win the battle.

Unfortunately they were missing a critical point.  God doesn’t win battles for people who distain His Name.

3.  A Rogue Ark

Just because a person keeps a relic of religion around, (or a Bible on the coffee table) in case God is needed, he or she has no assurance of God’s Presence and Blessing for our life.

1 Samuel 4:1–4 
The Philistines Capture the Ark 
4 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. 
Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. 3 And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 

1 Samuel 4:10–11 
10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. 11 And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. 

God will let His people be defeated and His Own Temple destroyed before compromising His Integrity with His Name being distained by His own people.

1 Samuel 2:17, 29–30, 34 
Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt. 
29 Why then do you scorn my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded for my dwelling, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?’ 30 Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ but now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 

34 And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day. 

“From evil people come evil deeds.” (1 Sam. 24:13)

God’s Covenant Ark in Enemy Territory 
The Philistines bring the captured Ark to Ashdod and place it in the temple of their god.  The next morning their god had fallen down in front of the Ark.  They reset their god.  The following morning it had fallen down again, only this time its head and palms of hands were broken off on the threshold.  Only the idol’s torso remained intact (1 Sam. 5).

God then ravaged and struck those in Ashdod and it territory with tumors.

The Philistines moved the Ark to Gath.

1 Samuel 5:8–9 
8 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there. 9 But after they had brought it around, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them. 

The Philistines moved God’s Ark to Ekron…but the same thing happened and the Ekronites rebelled at having the Ark in their city.

1 Samuel 5:11 
11 They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there. 

God takes care of Himself no matter where He chooses His Spirit to reside, but it is a shame when His own people reject Him for their own deceitful ways.

After the Ark was with the Philistines and they had been plagued for seven months, they devised a plan to see if the God of the Israelites was plaguing them because of the Ark, or if they were getting sick because of coincidence…

1 Samuel 6:1–16 
The Ark Returned to Israel 
6 The ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us with what we shall send it to its place.” 3 They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means return him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand does not turn away from you.” 4 And they said, “What is the guilt offering that we shall return to him?” They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. 5 So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will lighten his hand from off you and your gods and your land. 6 Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After he had dealt severely with them, did they not send the people away, and they departed? 7 Now then, take and prepare a new cart and two milk cows on which there has never come a yoke, and yoke the cows to the cart, but take their calves home, away from them. 8 And take the ark of the Lord and place it on the cart and put in a box at its side the figures of gold, which you are returning to him as a guilt offering. Then send it off and let it go its way 9 and watch. If it goes up on the way to its own land, to Beth-shemesh, then it is he who has done us this great harm, but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us; it happened to us by coincidence.” 
10 The men did so, and took two milk cows and yoked them to the cart and shut up their calves at home. 11 And they put the ark of the Lord on the cart and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors. 12 And the cows went straight in the direction of Beth-shemesh along one highway, lowing as they went. They turned neither to the right nor to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh. 13 Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it. 14 The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there. And they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. 15 And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the box that was beside it, in which were the golden figures, and set them upon the great stone. And the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices on that day to the Lord. 16 And when the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned that day to Ekron. 

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the Lord.
Proverbs 21:30

Conclusion

The Distraught Wife:  Crying Out to God.
God allows His children to be tried and tested.  Hannah suffered under the cruel words and jealousy of Peninnah, and God did not give her children.  God gave her victory through her adversity.  God knew what was happening and brought Samuel into the world to be His chosen Prophet for Israel at just the right time.  Hannah was truly blessed with her Prophet son, and with five other children, through God’s blessing.

The Rebellious Sons:  Sin seeps in.
When a heart is rebellious it doesn’t matter what religious teaching or position one holds…sin seeps in more profoundly.  It permeates us through the porous DNA of our depraved nature and corrupts the most unsuspecting soul while the spirit forces of the Evil One tightens the tourniquet ever so gently, to sever our relationship with God.  Our carnal nature is temporarily appeased by our acquiescence to sin, and the world around cheers us loudly for our new found “freedom”.

When we satisfy our corrupt selves, immerse ourselves more completely in pleasure of the world around us, and are further bound by the enemy, the natural outcome is rebellion against God.  The only result coming from such rebellion is discipline and/or destruction – and that is what happened to Eli’s two sons…and Eli.

The Rogue Ark
God can take care of Himself and He does not bless those who call themselves by His Name, but reveal their true identity by what they perversely do.  “From evil people come evil deeds.” God has no obligation to people who act religious and live otherwise.  He has no tie to religious artifacts that bear His Name, unless He chooses to reveal His Presence and glorify His Name in doing so.

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the Lord.
Proverbs 21:30
http://www.pastorkennedy.comshapeimage_1_link_0