1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We're glad to 2 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:17,080 Speaker 1: have you listening with us. Today's topic is about the 3 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 1: Burial before the Breakthrough. 4 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 2: Well return with the devotional after a brief message from 5 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 2: our sponsors. A Burial before the Breakthrough, written and read 6 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 2: by Hannah Benson. 7 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: And Hannah prayed and said, my heart exalts in the Lord. 8 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: My horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides 9 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: my enemies because I rejoice in your salvation. There is 10 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: none holy like the Lord, for there is none besides you. 11 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: There is no rock like our God. Talk no more 12 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth. 13 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: For the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by 14 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: him actions are weighed. The bows of the Mighty are broken, 15 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: but the feeble bind on strength. Those who were full 16 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 1: have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were 17 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 1: hungry have ceased to hunger. The baron has borne seven, 18 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: but she who has many children is forlorn. For Samuel 19 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: two one through five, ESB. I've often wondered why I 20 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 1: love Hannah's story. Perhaps it's because we share the same name, 21 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: or because the deep ache burning within her is something 22 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: we can all relate to Even if we cannot relate 23 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 1: to the infertility of her womb, surely we can relate 24 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: to the infertility of her heart. Hannah deeply desired a child, 25 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: but for years she wrestled with barrenness. In those days, 26 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 1: it was a cultural norm. A woman's worth was measured 27 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: by her children. Don't get me wrong, Behold, children are 28 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: a heritage for the Lord, the fruit of the world, 29 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: a reward some one twenty seven to three ESB. All 30 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: children are precious gifts from God above and meant to 31 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 1: be treasured, cherished, and loved. For Hannah, not only did 32 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: she desire to be a mother, but infertility was a 33 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: societal weight. Because she couldn't bear a child, her husband's 34 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 1: line would die with her. Consequently, Elcano was bound by 35 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: duty to take a second wife, Panina, turning Hannah's grief 36 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: into very public shame. Imagine the immense sadness that increased 37 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: with each day as Hannah was reminded of what she 38 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: didn't have. While once she may have been reminded anytime 39 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: she visited an ever growing family, now patter of little 40 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: feet haunted her in her home. Her husband was a 41 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: proud father, but not to her child, can we imagine 42 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 1: to make matters worse, She received no sympathy from Panina, 43 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: her husband's second wife, used to provoke her greediously to 44 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:16,639 Speaker 1: irritate her because the Lord had closed her womb for 45 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 1: Samuel one six ESB. Undoubtedly Hannah would have asked God why. 46 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:27,119 Speaker 1: She may have wondered if God had a plan, why 47 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 1: wouldn't he bless her with a child. We know al 48 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: Kada loved Hannah very much. When he and his household 49 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: went up to worship the Lord and to offer sacrifices, 50 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: he gave portions to Panina and all her sons and daughters. 51 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: But as is written in First Samuel won five ESB. 52 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he 53 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: loved her. Though the Lord had closed her womb. Although 54 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: Panina had his children, Hannah had his heart. As hard 55 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: as it can be to understand, sometimes God wasn't cruel 56 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: in closing her womb. He sees what we can't when 57 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: we're in the middle of the fight, and later we 58 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: see it wasn't for Hannah's harm, but that God was 59 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: weaving a beautiful story far beyond what she could even imagine. 60 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 1: What inspires me is that Hannah chose to go to 61 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 1: the temple year by year to worship God. Anyway, though 62 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: it would have been easier to stay home and avoid 63 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,679 Speaker 1: Panina's constant taunts, she let the hole in her heart 64 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: drive her into the arms of God and O'Connor, her husband, 65 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 1: said to her, Hannah, why do you weep? And why 66 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 1: do you not eat? And why is your heart sad Am? 67 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: I not more to you than ten sons Verse Samuel one, 68 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:52,679 Speaker 1: eight ESB. Hannah's heart was broken. Yes, she loved her husband, 69 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: but the ache in her heart was so great that 70 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 1: not even he could fell it. We often believed that 71 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 1: receiving the thing we long four will satisfy us, But 72 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: only God can satisfy the true hunger of our souls. 73 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: If we look to anything but Him, we shall be 74 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: sorely disappointed. It doesn't mean God doesn't desire to give 75 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: us good gifts. He does. But she wants to be 76 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: the greatest desire of our hearts, who we long form 77 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: more than anything else. I don't know exactly what drove 78 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 1: Hannah to her knees. Perhaps she was simply tired of 79 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: Panina's taunting. Perhaps she realized there was nothing she could 80 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,599 Speaker 1: do to change her circumstances, and so she needed the 81 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:39,279 Speaker 1: Lord to change her heart. First. Samuel one ten through 82 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 1: eleven esp says she was deeply distressed and prayed to 83 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 1: the Lord, and wept bitterly. And she vowed of thou, 84 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: and said, O, Lord of Hosts, if you will indeed 85 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: look on the affliction of your servant and remember me, 86 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: and not forget your servant, but will give to your 87 00:05:57,600 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: servant a son, that I will give him to the 88 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: Lord all the days of his life, and no razor 89 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: shall touch his head. Eli the priest saw Hannah, and 90 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: God she was drunk. When she explained that she was 91 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: crying out before the Lord. He told to her to 92 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: go in peace. And the God of Israel, grant your 93 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: petition that you have made to him. First Samuel one 94 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: seventeen ESV. Hannah's heart changed the moment she wanted God's 95 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 1: will more than her own. How many of us clinged 96 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: to a desire so tightly that we refuse to yield it, 97 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: eventually losing sight of why we even wanted it. Even 98 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:41,359 Speaker 1: good desires can become idols when we want our will 99 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:47,159 Speaker 1: more than God's. Intersecting faith in life in Hannah's story. 100 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: God chose to change her circumstances after he changed her heart. 101 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: But one of the greatest miracles in her story wasn't 102 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 1: just the arrival of Samuel, although that was a huge 103 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: blessing and an answered prayer, but the peace in her 104 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 1: heart that came before the answered prayer. When God blessed 105 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: Hannah was her first child, and yes, she went on 106 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 1: to have five more children. She kept her word, brought 107 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: him to the temple after he was weaned, and gave 108 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: him to Eli to serve the Lord all his days. 109 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 1: She surrendered the very things she'd once wept for. How 110 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 1: hard must that have been to give her only son 111 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: back to God. Yet God gave her strength, and her 112 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 1: satisfaction was now truly found in God alone. God doesn't 113 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 1: always change our circumstances, but he will change our hearts 114 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: if we ask. Hannah is an inspiration to me as 115 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: I ask myself, Have I relinquished control? Have I surrendered? 116 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 1: Have I allowed my own will to be buried? So 117 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 1: God's will may be done? Whether the Lord chooses to 118 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 1: answer the prayers the way I want her or not. Well, 119 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:04,559 Speaker 1: I trust that He is still working everything for my good. 120 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: I pray you will be inspired today. God sees you. 121 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: He knows the prayers you pray and the desires on 122 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: your heart. Do you trust Him with what matters most 123 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 1: to you? Thanks for listening to today's devotional. If you 124 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: liked what you heard today, we want to make sure 125 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: you know about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. 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