God Judges The Inside, Not The Outside Series

1 Samuel 16:1-13 – David is anointed August 10, 2008

For the rest of the summer, and possibly into September, I’m going to preach through some stories of King David.

But, I think that to get to David, you have to start back a little further.

Hannah and Samuel

1 Samuel 1:1-2 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

That phrase says a lot – Hannah had none. Infertility is a heartbreaker in our society, it was a heartbreaker and a great Shame for Hannah. What made it worse was that Hannah was Elkanah’s favorite, so Peninnah felt insecure and needed to put Hannah down for her lack of children.

When ever they would go to worship, Hannah would pray that God would give her a son.

Once… In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, "LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."

As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, "How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine."

"Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief."

Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."

So God gives Hannah a son, and she names him Samuel, which means “God heard my prayer.”

And she sings a song:

"My heart rejoices in the LORD;

in the LORD my horn [a] is lifted high.

My mouth boasts over my enemies,

for I delight in your deliverance.

2 "There is no one holy like the LORD;

there is no one besides you;

there is no Rock like our God.

3 "Do not keep talking so proudly

or let your mouth speak such arrogance,

for the LORD is a God who knows,

and by him deeds are weighed.

4 "The bows of the warriors are broken,

but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,

but those who were hungry are hungry no more.

She who was barren has borne seven children,

but she who has had many sons pines away.

6 "The LORD brings death and makes alive;

he brings down to the grave and raises up.

7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth;

he humbles and he exalts.

8 He raises the poor from the dust

and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

he seats them with princes

and has them inherit a throne of honor.

"For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s;

on them he has set the world.

9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,

but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.

"It is not by strength that one prevails;

10 those who oppose the LORD will be broken.

The Most High will thunder from heaven;

the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

"He will give strength to his king

and exalt the horn of his anointed."

Hannah’s Song becomes a theme throughout Samuel’s books.

Hannah is true to her word, and when Samuel is weaned, she takes him to the House of God at Shiloh to serve the High Priest Eli. Samuel becomes a prophet, and the last Judge of Israel.

From the time of the Exodus to Samuel, Israel had no king but God, and God’s representatives, starting with Moses were Judges.

In Samuel 8, Israel asks for a king: they say, “"We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."

Samuel is greatly saddened by their request, but God consoles him by saying that it is not Samuel they have rejected but God himself.

Samuel warns the people to be careful of what they ask for, because they might just get it: