Hannah's Prayer

Title: “Hannah’s Prayer” Scripture: I Sam. 1:10-20

Type: Expository Series Where: GNBC 9-5-21

Intro: There are several women whose faith is honored in the Bible. We would do well to remember the lives they lived, the prayers they prayed, and the faith they exhibited. The same God that these women called on and trusted is the same God who promises to be faithful to us today. Hagar’s prayer for water reveals that God will provide for our needs (Gen. 16). Miriam’s prayer of praise reminds us that every triumph is the Lord’s (Ex. 15). Deborah’s prayer for God’s glory demonstrates how He is at work in both the great and small things (Ju.5) Esther’s prayer shows us how to have others pray for us (Esther 4). Mary’s prayer demonstrates that focusing on God’s character gives us hope and joy (Lk.1). And finally, the woman whose circumstances we will examine today: Hannah, whose prayer for a child shows us we can pray for our heart’s desires to the Lord (I Sam. 1).

Prop: Examining I Sam 1 to learn 4 Valuable Lessons from Hannah’s Prayer.

BG: 1. Story takes place during the period of Israel’s history characterized by “Judges”. No king.

2. Hannah will become the mother of Samuel, who will become the spiritual leader of the nation and anoint the first king over Israel, Saul. Samuel’s conception, however, was not easy. In fact, required intervention from the Lord. Hannah, a godly woman, took her petition to the Lord in prayer.

3.

Prop: Let’s examine I Sam 1 to learn 4 Valuable Lessons from Hannah’s Prayer.

I. Hannah Knew Where to Take Her Problem – to God in Prayer. I Sam. 1:10

A. Hannah had a problem which Only God Could Solve.

1. The story of Hannah is one of the better known stories of a faith filled woman in the Bible. Year after year Hannah and her husband, Elkanah and his other wife, Peninnah, would come to offer sacrifices at the Tent of Meeting which was in Shiloh at that time. The TOM was the precursor to the Temple and it was in Shiloh from the time of Joshua until the time of Samuel.

2. Now Hannah had a desperate problem and we see it recorded in the last portion of v.2. “Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.” At the time of I&II Sam, barrenness was seen as a curse by God. A curse that brought deep shame upon a family, and primarily the wife, because children were considered as God’s blessing. Infertility, on the other hand, was deemed to be from God’s disfavor and the resultant barren womb was an incredibly difficult burden to bear under any circumstance. More so when other wife is mocking you.

B. We Need to Learn the Lesson of Hannah and take our Problems to the One Who can Solve Any Problem.

1. Over the years I have known many godly couples who have, like Hannah, had to walk the difficult path of infertility. The Church has not always done a good job in supporting and encouraging these individuals and it is important that we are sensitive to their plight. Need to be careful not to offer trite advice or glib comments.

2. We need to be encouraged to take our burdens and griefs to the Lord in prayer.

a. Illust: Bob (Saxon) is a man many of us are well acquainted with. The last 25 yrs. has not been easy for Bob and family. Over 20 yrs ago given a grim prognosis of 6 mo due to advanced cancer. By God’s grace overcame. About 15 yrs ago, their son was involved in a tragic, single car accident. He was Pre-Med at UI. Now he is quadriplegic, requiring constant medical care. Caring for their son they lost their business due to mounting medical bills. Early onset dementia began to rob Bob’s faculties. His wife was diagnosed with cancer. Recently Bob has had a stroke. Burdens are overwhelming. Yet, Bob is a man of prayer and praise.

b. Hannah had a desperate situation. Although had a husband who tried to do the right thing and loved her unconditionally. He never negatively compared his wife. However, he couldn’t solve her problem. He had no power over the child she desperately wanted to have. You see, this story teaches us that it wasn’t up to either Hannah nor Elkana to solve their desperate situation. It’s easy to fall into the twin traps of “I need to fix this” or “”God must hate me because of this…” Let me encourage you to rather, like Hannah, take your problem to the Lord in prayer.

C. Applic: Do you have an apparently unsolvable problem? Take it to the Lord in prayer.

II. In Her Brokenness and Pain, Hannah Trusted God’s Ability to Work on Her Behalf. V.11