Hannah: Model Mother

HANNAH: MODEL MOTHER

1 Sam. 1&2

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. It was Mother's Day. Deborah had cooked a big meal and everyone had eaten to their hearts content.

2. She went to the sink and was beginning to wash a mountain of dishes, when her teenage daughter, Jenny, came in and said, "Mom, today's Mother's Day, you shouldn't be doing that! Get away from that sink!"

3. Deborah was shocked by Jenny’s kindness. She put down her dishrag and took off her rubber gloves. She was proud. Jenny must finally be growing up and accepting responsibility!

4. Her bubble was burst him when Jenny added, "Just do them tomorrow!"

HUMOR # 2

1. A boy asked the girl next door what he should give his mother for Mothers day.

2. The girl said, "Why don't you promise to keep your room clean? Or go to bed on time? Or answer when she calls you? Or brush your teeth after eating? Or quit fighting with your brother?"

3. The boy frowned and said, "No, I mean something practical!"

B. TEXT

1 There was a certain man…whose name was Elkanah…. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 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.” 17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” 20 In the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.” 24 After he was weaned, she … brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. 25 When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, 26 and she said to him…. “27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. 2:19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.” Then they would go home. 21 And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord. 3:19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.

C. THESIS

1. God was needing something to help His people – a Deliverer, a Judge. But something supernatural like that can only come by great prayer & sacrifice.

2. So God allowed a little bit of human tragedy – childlessness – to plant the seeds for revival. It’s hard for us to see how human tragedy can bring something good; but great good frequently proceeds from great tragedy.

3. Being a mother isn’t easy. One lady said, "If being a mother were easy, fathers would be doing it."

4. As we study this model-mother, Hannah, we’ll see 5 things about her that every mother can & should strive for.

I. A WOMAN OF PRAYER

A. WRESTLED WITH HER MOTIVES

1. Have you ever had an antagonist? Someone in school, at work, a neighbor -- that didn't like you? It's hard to imagine an antagonist worst worse than this.

2. The Chinese symbol for WAR portrays 2 women under the same roof!