Bottom line up front (BLUF): Wise Fear (Part 2)

Introduction: I was reading the first two chapters of 1 Samuel. They narrate the story of corruption among religious leadership. The text says, “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD” (1 Samuel 2:12, ESV). Worthless men. That is strong language. Those people are contrasted with Hannah. Listen to part of Hannah’s prayer. In it, you will see her character: “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed” (1 Samuel 2:2-3, ESV). That is strong language, too. In it, we are to discover the contrasts between Eli’s worthless sons, corrupted priests in the time of the judges, and Hannah and her son. They did not love the people they were to serve; they loved themselves.

But Hannah was different, you see. She did actually love the Lord. She prayed in faith to the Lord. She had accurate theology, too. That is, she knew and lived in such a way that made her theology visible. God finally rewarded Hannah’s prayer for a son. She did indeed bear Samuel, and Samuel would become a true servant of the Lord: “And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and none of his words fell to the ground” (1 Samuel 3:19, ESV).

Encouragement/takeaway: I always wanted another son, and I longed to name him Samuel. Why? Because in so many ways, Samuel was the result of simple obedience by his mom, Hannah, and by Samuel himself as he grew. But that obedience, and this is what is so encouraging, was rewarded by the Lord who sees all, going back to 1 Samuel 2:2-3). God was watching, as it were. God saw; God heard; and God acted—all in his sovereign time. Wise fear is fear that trusts the Lord, even and especially when it seems times are spiritually dark.