I
Samuel i:1 The first word that caught my attention was “Belial.”*
Reference told me that it meant “worthless.” But it has come to be used
as a name for Satan, as in II Cor. 6:15 – “And what concord hath Christ with
Belial?” This is a phrase quoted twice in Science and Health (S&H), pages 216:26 and 539:26. So now, I must look them up. The inference is
that Christ and Belial are absolute opposites which can never exist together
any more than can light and darkness.
The
other S&H reference is on page 171, line 23 - “No more sympathy
exists between the flesh and Spirit than between Belial and Christ.”
(Then
I re-read Julie’s proposition to, in reading of this book, note prayers
undertaken by individuals whose stories are recorded. I note here that
according to Jewish tradition the book was written, at least in part, by
Samuel.)
Hannah
was so sad at not having conceived a child. No doubt she had appealed to
the Lord on many occasions, but this time she added a vow that if she were to
be given a man child he would be given to the Lord all the days of his
life. Did that make the difference?
Hannah
knew her worth – she was no “daughter of Belial.” Is there an inference
here that she knew she was a child of God, perhaps classified as “a daughter of
Christ”?
Anyway,
she got it right. She was given a son, Samuel. She weaned him at
the regular age for the time, of 2-3 years.
I
have a margin note in my old Bible that Elkanah had his hand in the
prayers. Note the “they” in verse 19.
Joyce Voysey
*16Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial:
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