A
Peninnah and Hannah represent two fundamentally different principles and two fundamentally different ministries (1:2, 4, 7); Hannah's ministry was just to bring in the King, not to have many children; Peninnah's ministry was to have many children, that is, a ministry with much result; Peninnah and her children represent the majority of God's people, but none of them has anything to do with turning the age to bring Christ back as the King of glory (Psa. 24:1-3, 7-10).
B
Hannah's way was not an easy way, and it was made even more difficult because of Peninnah's comparisons and tauntings; those who want to be Hannahs must prepare themselves for persecution, scorn, weeping, and fasting.
C
It is not merely a matter of how many we can save but a matter of God getting His company of overcomers; God wants to get a people who are able to pray and bring in the kingdom with Christ as the King and His overcomers as the co-kings.
D
Hannah's prayer was the means for the birth of Samuel; our prayers should result in the bringing forth of overcomers; we need to pray in oneness with the ascended Christ in His heavenly ministry in the stage of intensification for the producing of the overcomers—Rev. 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6; 2:7, 11, 17, 26-29; 3:5-6, 12-13, 21-22.
E
Hannah came to the point where she could not go on without a son; she came to a point where she had to have a son; the son in 1 Samuel 1 typifies the overcoming, corporate man-child in Revelation 12, the one who turns the age to bring in the King with His kingdom:
１
God's most important dispensational move is seen with the man-child in Revelation 12 composed of Christ as the leading Overcomer and us as the following overcomers; because God wants to end this age and bring in the age of the King with His kingdom, He needs the overcoming, corporate man-child as His dispensational instrument.
２
The rapture of the man-child brings an end to the church age and brings in the kingdom age; after this rapture there is a "loud voice in heaven, saying, Now has come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ"—v. 10.
Morning Nourishment
Rev. 12:5 And she brought forth a son, a man-child, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, Now has come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ, for the accuser of our brothers has been cast down, who accuses them before our God day and night.
Peninnah had children; Hannah had none…. These two women represent two fundamentally different principles; they represent two fundamentally different ministries. Hannah’s ministry was just to bring in the King, not to have many children. Peninnah’s ministry was to have many children, that is, a ministry with much result. Peninnah and her children are God’s people, but none of them has anything to do with God’s King. (CWWN, vol. 46, p. 1179)
Today’s Reading
Hannah wept, fasted, prayed, and cried unto the Lord for a son who would be absolutely given to the Lord for His service. This son was the one who brought in the King…. If you are still in the realm of the judges, you can be blessed and have results, but God’s eyes are not on you. If these were not the last days, we would hope that Peninnah might have many more children. But if I am right, these are the last days, and God’s eyes are on those who can be the means of bringing in the King. Let us ask ourselves, “What is our ministry? Have we any part in this special ministry, this Hannah ministry?” Some have no other thought but revival…. But there is the more important ministry of bringing in the King.Hannah’s way was not an easy way, and it was made even more difficult because of Peninnah’s comparisons and tauntings. Those who want to be Hannahs must prepare themselves for persecution, scorn, weeping, and fasting…. A price has to be paid because all such ministry comes through testing and suffering; it has to be wrought into us. Others can eat and drink and look at their children, but here was one who fasted and wept. It is not a matter of how many we can save but a matter of God getting His company of overcomers. God wants to get a people who will be able to pray and bring in the kingdom. Hannah’s prayer was the means for the birth of Samuel. Our prayers should result in the bringing forth of overcomers. What have we done in this respect?
From the birth of Samuel we see a line of prophets who could also be priests to bring in the King. Hannah bore a son—a prophet. God had done quite much with Hannah; He led her through all sorts of difficulties. As a result, He was able to find one who could put eating and drinking and all else aside. She came to the point where she could not go on without a son; she came to a point where she had to have a son. The son in 1 Samuel 1 is the man-child of Revelation 12, the one who brings in the King and the kingdom. (CWWN, vol. 46, pp. 1179-1180)
When God changes His attitude toward a certain matter, He makes a dispensational move. Every dispensational move brings in God’s new way. His most important dispensational move is in Revelation 12. He wants to end this age and bring in the age of the kingdom. His purpose is not general and ordinary. How can He bring this age to a close and bring in another? He must have His dispensational instrument. This is what God wants to do today. The rapture of the man-child brings an end to the church age and introduces the kingdom age. The man-child enables God to move. If there is not a man-child and a rapture, God cannot make a dispensational move. Today God is waiting for the man-child. Only the rapture can precipitate the events in Revelation 12:10. (CWWN, vol. 34, “The Glorious Church,” pp. 153, 156)
Further Reading: The Vision of the Universal Woman and the Man-child, chs. 3, 5, 7, 9; CWWL, 1991-1992, vol. 4, “The Overcomers,” chs. 1-2, 6