Hannah: Faith That Saved A Nation Series

HANNAH: FAITH THAT SAVED A NATION

1 Samuel 1

Calvary Baptist Church

Mother's Day 2003

INTRODUCTION:

In our text today, we find the last two judges, one (Eli) a miserable failure, the other a success.

We also find the first two kings, one a miserable failure (Saul), the other a success.

The story of our text occurs at a time when Israel desperately needed help!

Every man was doing that which was right in his own eyes.

There was no king, and there was no prophet.

Eli, a man with a good heart but a sick spine, ministered in the temple.

His sons drank, stole, and lay with the women who had come to worship.

And they did this openly in the temple, yet Eli restrained them not!

Salvation arises from the least likely of places.

I. Her Spouse (1 Sam. 1:1-2)

1:1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim zophim [Ramah of Zuph], of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Je-ro-ham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: 2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Pe-nin-nah (pronounced, pe-nine-nah):

A. A Devout Worshiper

Of the priestly line (From Levi, through Kohath)

Worships the right God at the right place.

Men were to go three times per year.

He is said to go one.

But this is in a time when many went none!

B. A Doubting Worshiper

Many men are beaten with rods of their own creation!

Many look at this passage and think that God condones polygamy.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Many things are recorded in the Bible - I.e., Satan=s lies.

Yet they do not bear the endorsement of God.

Far from glorifying polygamy, this story clearly shows the folly of having two wives!

It would seem that Hannah is the first wife.

Upon her childlessness he takes Peninnah.

NOTE:

This story comes from a town and a region that cannot even be certainly located.

This came from a woman in deep misery.

She didn't even know if her own life was worth living, much less could she expect to impact the life of Israel!

II. Her Sorrow

A. She Was Childless

1. There Was Trouble in Her House (1:2b)

2B and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

It was nearly unbearable. DESCRIBE

And she could see no way out.

There are things we do not understand.

An alcoholic mother has a houseful of children.

While a saintly lady is barren.

We cannot answer these questions.

We can only play the hand that we have been given.

2. There Was Trouble in God=s House

a. The Sons of Eli (1:3)

3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

Dr. McGee reminds us that there are dangers in church! Not everyone is there to worship the Lord.

b. The Soothing of Elkanah (1:4)

We will see later that this did little good.

4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: 5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

B. She Was Chided

1. By Peniniah (1:6-7)

6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. 7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

2. By Elkanah (1:8)

8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

• There are times when words don't help.

• Sometimes they harm.

ILLUS: At a funeral, trite words can hurt. Give hugs, handshakes and sympathizing looks. And for God’s sake, be quiet!

III. Her Supplication

A. The Place (1:9)

9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.

Shiloh - the home of the Tabernacle at this time and the required place of worship.

B. The Problem (1:10)

10 And she was in bitterness of soul,

Many find themselves in bitterness of soul!

Few respond as Hannah.

Many run FROM God=s house, she runs to it.

Many curse God, she prays to Him.