REMEMBER ME, I AM BARREN:

I Samuel 1:11 – “And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid, and REMEMBER ME, and not forget Your handmaid, but will give unto Your handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head".
 
Hannah was one of the greatest women of Faith and Intercession in the Bible.  Her life is an inspiration to all Believers as it regards not giving up.  Hannah was the wife of Elkanah, who was a Levite of the order of the Kohathites, who were responsible for the vessels of the Sanctuary (Num. 3:27-31).    

Though a Levite, Elkanah was not untouched by the sin and corruption of his day, as the Bible says that he had two wives, the other being Peninnah. Polygamy was a failure in Israel that seemed to be tolerated by God during the Old Covenant, but it was never God’s Perfect Will.

Verse 2 of Chapter 1, says, “. . . Hannah had no children,” and Verse 6, says, “. . . the LORD shut up her womb.”  In Israel of that day, for a married woman to not be able to bear children was a disgrace with some even believing that the woman was cursed by God.  That’s why the Bible tells us in I Samuel 16:7, “. . . for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”  Simply put, we should not jump to conclusions based only on what we think we see or know.

WHY DID THE LORD SHUT UP HER WOMB? The Lord is Omniscient (all-knowing), Omnipotent (all-powerful), and Omnipresent (everywhere).  This tells us that the Lord is in charge and in control of everything.  So, in effect, everything that happens to a Believer is either caused by the Lord or allowed by the Lord.  The Lord doesn’t cause one to sin, but if one desires to do wrong, God will let them.  They will suffer the consequences, but God created man with a free will.    

A great work was about to be done in Israel with Samuel becoming the first man to stand in the Office of Prophet, and later David being anointed to be king.  So, at times, the Lord allows severe things to happen to the individual, in this case, Hannah, to test one’s Faith.  Great Faith must be tested greatly. The Lord allows tests to teach us total dependence upon the Lord. No effort of the flesh must ever succeed, that which God wants done must be done by Him and Him Alone. God tests us in order for us to do right.  So that which the Lord did as it regards Hannah’s womb was a test, a test she passed.

The Bible says, “Peninnah had children.”  Not only did she have children, but the Bible also says that Peninnah continually provoked Hannah and mocked her barrenness.  Verse 6 says of Peninnah, “And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret. . . .”  She was used by Satan to attack this godly woman.  In effect, she became a type of Satan who is our adversary, who constantly accuses and slanders us.  Satan’s name in Hebrew means “adversary.”  The common name for Satan in the New Testament is “diabolos,” which means “Devil,” meaning “one who slanders or accuses.”    

One has to wonder if Peninnah had any idea that her shameful actions toward Hannah would be recorded by the Lord and placed in His Word with untold numbers of people reading about her hatefulness towards Hannah.    

As well, to hate and mistreat a Child of God is to sin against the Lord Himself.  To oppose God’s Man or Woman is to oppose God.    

 
Peninnah didn’t know or understand that the Lord was doing a work in her life; as well, we must be careful how we treat God’s Servants that are going through a trial.
 
“REMEMBER ME”
Verses 9 through 19 tell us of Hannah’s intercession before the Lord.  In spite of her barrenness, in spite of Peninnah her adversary, in spite of the long years, Hannah didn’t stop believing and didn’t stop praying.  Her cry to the Lord was “remember me” and that’s a plea the Lord will not turn a deaf ear to.  The dying thief on the Cross cried, “Jesus, remember me,” and the Lord did.  In Judges 16:28, Samson cried, “O Lord, GOD, remember me.”  Nehemiah cried in Chapter 13, Verse 14, “Remember me, O my God,” and in Verse 31, he cried, “Remember me, O my God, for good.”  David, in Psalms 25:7, would cry, “According to Your tender Mercy remember You me for Your goodness’ sake.”  Jeremiah in Jeremiah 15:15 said, “O LORD, You know:  remember me and visit me.”
    
Some of you reading this, Spiritually speaking, your womb is closed, you’re barren, the adversary is accusing you and mocking you; but I’m telling you, don’t stop, keep crying unto the Lord, “Remember me!”  The Lord hasn’t forgotten about you, He is preparing you for Miracles.
 
“THE LORD REMEMBERED HER”
I Samuel, Chapter 1, Verse 19 says, “And the LORD remembered her.”  Now notice her prayer for a son, but when the Lord answered her, He not only gave her a son but He gave her the first man to stand in the Office of the Prophet.  Elizabeth was barren, but the Lord remembered her and gave her the greatest Prophet to ever live.
    
“Remember me,” what a plea, and what a Miracle of God.