As I look at the scriptures I notice a similarity among the people of God. It makes me wonder about some of us.
Under the law that many use for clobber passages it also stated that if the childen of Israel walked blameless in the law they would neither be barren nor unfruitful.
Hannah and Elizabeth both walked blameless in the statutes of God. Both were wives of priests.
Both were barren.
I wonder how many people looked at them and thought "what is their hidden sin?"
"Surely they must have sinned to be barren."
Can you imagine how these women felt knowing their lives were a manifestation of the appearance of sin according to the very word of God?
In like manner we are the betrothed of a very holy High Priest after the order of Melchezidec.
Like Hannah, many of us have an advesary that vexes us.
For some it's a straight Christian or church. For others it may be that sermon that rings in our memory long after the speaker is gone. Maybe yet for others it is that self-condemnation that came from preachers that may or may not have meant well. It could be that well meaning brother or sister in the Lord that honestly loves the Lord, the word, and our soul enough to say something that hurts. And; of course maybe it's the effects of hatred spewed by the judgemental and arogant.
Regardless though; Hannah and Elizabeth did finally conceive and bear. And their child was no average kid.
Samuel was the one to anoint king David which is a type and shadow of the one that has the right to anoint whomsoever he will at the direction of God. Like Moses he was a prophet and a type and shadow of a far greater prophet. The one that would be like unto Moses and lead us from our sins in Egypt to the promised land on the other side, so to speak.
John the baptist was the one we know that prepared the way of the Lord and bore record that Christ is the Son of God. When he baptised our Lord the Lord said that it was to fulfill all righteousness.
These women may have appeared as sinners but what special children they had at the appointed time.
In like manner we appear as sinners to many. Should they judge by the outward appearance they are judging a shell that will die and go back to dust. That is the temporal side that may appear sinful.
We as Christians should look for the unseen, or eternal things though. The fruits of the spirit. That love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness and faith. Those are the eternal things of true life in our precious Lord.
If we have Christ in our hearts by faith we are not barren regardless of how we appear on the outside. It just isn't our appointed time to show.
Many will probably continue to judge blindly and be as one that vexes us but isn't it good to know that there have been holy women of old that have born reproach and shame as an example of longsuffering and the everlasting mercy of our Lord on all who will love him?
Isn't it comforting in those times of self-condemnation that our Lord can direct us to the scriptures where we can see others that may have walked in our shoes, so to speak?
And who knows; maybe just as the Lord could have used those women to manifest the hateful, judgemental and arogant hearts of those who vexed them; he can use us as well.
The word of God says that pride goeth before a fall and a haughty spirit before destruction.
If some of those who persecute us woke up with our desires they wouldn't be so quick to throw stones. But thank God we have grace and mercy in Jesus our Lord. Regardless of what man thinks.
I guess I would rather appear barren and sinful for a season and have Jesus than to look holy on the outside and be but a whited sepulchre.
May God bless you.
Tiffany

Good thoughts, Tiff. Thanks for sharing!