TODAY, WE ARE LOOKING AT ONE OF THE GODLY husbands in the Bible. The name of this man is ELKANAH. We are looking at his exemplary love for his dear wife, Hannah.
Even though he was polygamous as most men of his day were, he was just and upright. Despite the fact that Hannah was not bearing children, that didn’t in any way diminish his love for her. Of course, while he was preparing to marry her, he expected her to conceive soon after marriage and to give birth, possibly, in the ninth month. But Elkanah was also a man of understanding. He knew that his wife, Hannah, came first and mattered first before the fruit of the womb! Her barrenness did not in anyway diminish or reduce his love for her and he must have told her this times without number. This is love.
Not only did he not mind about her childless state, he ensured that the void created by her barrenness was filled. How did he do it? He filled it with himself! He made himself more than ten sons to her! He confessed this in the last verse of our anchor scripture passage. If he didn’t do it, he wouldn’t have had the boldness to say it openly.
Now, what do young sons do for their mother? They serve her. They run errands for her. They help her with tasks like laundry, sweeping, firewood splitting, farmwork, etc. We can safely conclude that Elkanah spent much time with Hannah each day. During those times, he’d serve, help and assist her with several tasks so she didn’t feel sad and lonely. He personally felt her pain of being unable to conceive. And even though he had no power to give her children, he did his best to see that childlessness didn’t become a crushing burden to her.
He loved her deeply like Ruth loved Naomi and he served her selflessly like Ruth served Naomi. Hear what was said of Ruth by the women of Bethlehem after she gave birth to her son, Obed:
“FOR THY DAUGHTER IN LAW, WHICH LOVETH THEE, WHICH IS BETTER TO THEE THAN SEVEN SONS, HATH BORN HIM.”
(Ruth 4:15b)
The proof that Ruth loved her Mother-in-law Naomi was that she served her like seven sons. How much more then must have been the love of Elkanah who said that he was MORE THAN TEN SONS to Hannah? We can with great ease conclude that Elkanah was a Lover and a Lovebird indeed. He lavishly loved Hannah.
If a man in the Old Testament era understood Love and could be so thoughtful, so caring and so sacrificially devoted to his wife, then Christian husbands in this present era of Grace and the Anointing of the Holy Spirit can do so much more.
The command to husbands in the new testament era is to love their wives supremely and to the point of the dying for them, should it be necessary. Christ is set forth as the Example and Mentor for you to emulate in your relationship with your wife.
The great key to loving your wife supremely as Christ loved the Church is DECISION. Decide! Purpose! Make up your mind to love your wife supremely and be determined to continue in it and you’ll find yourself doing it and enjoying it. If Elkanah could, then you definitely can!
🍷🍗 TAKE-HOME LESSON: HUSBAND, PURPOSE IN YOUR HEART TO LOVE YOUR WIFE SUPREMELY AS CHRIST LOVES THE CHURCH.
💕❤️ TONIGHT’S ONE FLESH ASSIGNMENT IN THE BEDROOM
Reread today’s devotional piece.
🍏🍎 MARRIAGE REVOLUTION CONTINUES!!!🍎🍏