We had better get into this week's study and discussion.

Here is the link to the study material for this week:

http://www.ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/07c/less08.html

I like the Memory Text which says:

From "The Week at a Glance" in the Sabbath Afternoon section:

Let us see if we can determine what we can learn through their example as we go through this week's study.

A few questions come to me from Sunday's section:

1 - 1 Samuel 1:2 says that Elkanah had two wives. Adam Clarke in his Bible Commentary said that the custom of those times permitted polygamy. Did God permit polygamy then? Does God permit polygamy today?

2 - 1 Samuel 1:11 says that Hannah "vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine 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." Read also Numbers 30:1-15 about vows. How serious is a vow to the Lord back then, and is it still as serious today?

Here is some insight into what God thoughts were on this. Ellen says:
"Elkanah's love for his chosen companion was deep and unchanging; yet a cloud shadowed their domestic happiness. The home was not made joyful by the voice of childhood. At length the strong desire to perpetuate his name led the husband, as it had led many others, to adopt a course which God did not sanction--that of introducing into the family a second wife, to be subordinate to the first. This act was prompted by a lack of faith in God, and was attended with evil results. The peace of the hitherto united and harmonious family was broken. Upon Hannah the blow fell with crushing weight. All happiness seemed forever swept away from her life. She bore her trials uncomplainingly, yet her grief was none the less keen and bitter." {ST, October 27, 1881 par. 2}

Do you think that Elkanah, a Levite, was known as Ephraimite because of where he dwelled?

Just as Jethro though a descendent of Midian was some times referred to as a Kenite as he dwelled in the land of the Kenites? Just as we have people of various national or racial descent but are known as where they dwell or citizen, e.g. American, Canadian, or even the state, Californian, New Yorker?

"Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite." 1 Samuel 1:1 NKJV

"The father of Samuel was Elkanah, a Levite, who dwelt at Ramah, in Mount Ephraim. He was a person of wealth and influence, a kind husband, and a man who feared and reverenced God."—Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times® (Oct. 27, 1881), vol. 7

"Elkanah faithfully observed the ordinances of God. The worship at Shiloh was still maintained, yet it had become irregular, and in some respects incomplete. Hence, Elkanah had no regular employment at the tabernacle, to whose service, being a Levite, he was to be especially devoted. Notwithstanding this, his zeal in the service of God was unfaltering. With his family he went up to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice at the appointed gatherings." {ST, October 27, 1881 par. 4}

"Although his services were not required at the sanctuary, yet, like many another Levite during the period of the judges (Judges 17:8, 9), Elkanah went up as a common Israelite with his own sacrifices to encourage his neighbors and set them a good example. Though he lived in the midst of an evil environment, his spirituality was evidently at a high level. Even though Hophni and Phinehas were corrupt, Elkanah was faithful in his worship and in the offering of his sacrifices."—The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 2, p. 455.

Samuel offered sacrifice's, the work of a priest, a Levite.

"It was not customary for the Levites to enter upon their peculiar services until they were twenty-five years of age, but Samuel had been an exception to this rule. Every year saw more important trusts committed to him; and while he was yet a child, a linen ephod was placed upon him as a token of his consecration to the work of the sanctuary. Young as he was when brought to minister in the tabernacle, Samuel had even then duties to perform in the service of God, according to his capacity. These were at first very humble, and not always pleasant; but they were performed to the best of his ability, and with a willing heart. His religion was carried into every duty of life. He regarded himself as God's servant, and his work as God's work. His efforts were accepted, because they were prompted by love to God and a sincere desire to do His will. It was thus that Samuel became a (p. 574) co-worker with the Lord of heaven and earth. And God fitted him to accomplish a great work for Israel." {PP 573.3} 1 Sam 2:18, 1 Sam 3:1, 1 Sam 7: 8-12

It is interesting that Samuel made his home in Ramah, where his parents dwelt.

1 Sam 7: "15 Samuel continued as judge over Israel all the days of his life. 16 From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. 17 But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also judged Israel. And he built an altar there to the LORD."

The case of Ananias, and Sapphira in Acts 5 gives an example of how serious God considers a vow to him. Ellen comments on this in Counsels on Stewardship and gives some text from Scripture on how serious God considers a vow to him.

"A vow made to God, the giver of all favors, is of still greater importance; then why should we seek to be released from our vows to God? Will man consider his promise less binding because made to God? Because his vow will not be put to trial in courts of justice, is it less valid? Will a man who professes to be saved by the blood of the infinite sacrifice of Jesus Christ, "rob God"? Are not his vows and his actions weighed in the balances of justice in the heavenly courts?"

"Each of us has a case pending in the court of heaven. Shall our course of conduct balance the evidence against us? The case of Ananias and Sapphira was of the most aggravated character. In keeping back part of the price, they lied to the Holy Ghost. Guilt likewise rests upon every individual in proportion to like offenses."

"When the hearts of men are softened by the presence of the Spirit of God, they are more susceptible to the impressions of the Holy Spirit, and resolves are made to deny self and to sacrifice for the cause of God. It is when divine light shines into the chambers of the mind with unusual clearness and power, that the feelings of the natural man are overcome, that selfishness loses its power upon the heart, and that desires are awakened to imitate the Pattern, Jesus Christ, in practicing self-denial and benevolence. The disposition of the naturally selfish man then becomes kind and pitiful toward lost sinners, and he makes a solemn pledge to God, as did Abraham and Jacob. Heavenly angels are present on such occasions. The love of God and love for souls triumph over selfishness and love of the world. Especially is this the case when the speaker, in the Spirit and power of God, presents the plan of redemption, laid by the Majesty of heaven in the sacrifice of the cross. By the following scriptures we may see how God regards the subject of vows:" Counsels on Stewardship (1940), page 315-317

"And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded. If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth." Numbers 30:1, 2.

"Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error; wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?" Ecclesiastes 5:6.

"I will go into Thy house with burnt offerings; I will pay Thee my vows, which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble." Psalm 66:13, 14.

It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry." Proverbs 20:25.

"When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it; for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth." Deuteronomy 23:21-23.

"Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God; let all that be round about Him bring presents unto Him that ought to be feared." Psalm 76:11.

"But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord. But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing; for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and My name is dreadful among the heathen." Malachi 1:12-14.

"When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldst not vow, than that thou shouldst vow and not pay." Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5.

Monday's section speaks of the faithfulness of Elkanah as a faithful follower of the Lord, but then speaks of his deviation from God's ideal in marriage of one man and one wife.

As my earlier questions weren't really answered yet, I ask them once again in a different way:

If God permitted polygamy back then, does He still permit it today?

I think He permits it today as much as He permitted it then. He is just as pleased with it today as He was with it then.

I wouldn't say God permitted it, but that He tolerated it, since His people was slow of heart to understand the far-reaching claims of God's law. Because the practice was legal and acceptable in their society, it doesn't mean God approved it.
Polygamy is still a challenge to the church in African countries. If a polygamous man in a society where polygamy is legal is converted to the church, what should the attitude of the church be in relation to him and his wives?

Crater,

You always seem to dig deep in your study of God's word. Through your remarks my attention is called to points that I would certainly otherwise have overlooked.
I liked the points you presented. It just wasn't clear to me, since you used the word "priest" in the sentence quoted, if your opinion is that Samuel offered sacrifices as a priest (as opposed to bringing them to be offered, as his father Elkanah did), since this wouldn't be correct for him to do.

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I researched a little more about this and saw that you were correct, Crater. Samuel indeed offered sacrifices and was a priest.

"Samuel was now invested by the God of Israel with the threefold office of judge, prophet and priest." {ST, June 22, 1882 par. 9}

I had thought Elkanah was just a levite, not a priest, but I see I was mistaken.