Mother’s Day has a very special place in the hearts of the majority of people in America.
Hallmark estimates that 150 million Mother’s Day cards will be sent this year (but only 95 million Father’s Day cards), making Mother’s Day the third largest greeting card holiday of the year.
U.S. Americans spend an average of $105 on Mother’s Day gifts, $90 on Father’s Day gifts.
The phone rings more often on Mother’s day than Father’s day.
The busiest day of the year at car washes? The Saturday before Mother’s Day. What mom thinks still matters.
1 Samuel 1:9-1:27
May 10, 2002 CNN reporter Annelena Lobb, Does Mom need a raise? Mother’s love is priceless, but the work she does costs plenty. If you outlined a job description and set a salary for the countless tasks, services and errands the average mom does for her family, you’d be talking big bucks.
(Illust)Mom and Dad were listening to the news on the radio when Mom said, "I’m tired, and it’s getting late. I think I’ll go to bed." She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day’s lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning. She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the game pieces left on the table and put the telephone book back into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.
She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a textbook out from hiding under the chair.
She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse.
Mom then washed her face, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails.
Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed." I’m on my way," she said. She put some water into the dog’s dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.
In the bedroom, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.
About that time, Dad turned off the radio and announced to no one in particular. "I’m going to bed." And he did...without another thought.
1Sa 1:9 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.
1Sa 1:10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
1Sa 1:11 And she 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.
1Sa 1:12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
1Sa 1:13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
1Sa 1:14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
1Sa 1:15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
1Sa 1:16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
1Sa 1:17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
1Sa 1:18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
1Sa 1:19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
1Sa 1:20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
1Sa 1:21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
1Sa 1:22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
1Sa 1:23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
1Sa 1:24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
1Sa 1:25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
1Sa 1:26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
1Sa 1:27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
This is the account of when Samuel the prophet was born. His father’s name was Elkanah, a Levite, and of the family of the Kohathites (the most honourable house of that tribe) as appears in 1 Chronicles. 6:33, 34.
Hannah, from the Hebrew word meaning grace, or favor, was the preferred wife of Elkanah, a Levite from Ramah in Ephraim. Hannah was a faithful woman who prayed to God for a child, and promised that if He granted her request, she would give him to The Lord as a life-long Nazirite. Her prayer was answered, and her son is known to Bible History as Samuel.
Her prayer was for children was Sorrowful, and in silence, it was constant, it was with Power and was preparation for her sons future, and Her praise was to God
I. Her prayer was for children.
(1 Samuel 1: 10, 12,13,20, 27)
a. 1Sa 1:10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
b. 12 she continued praying before the LORD
c. 20 Because I have asked him of the LORD
d. 27 For this child I prayed
e. Hannah was diligent about praying to God for children.
f. A recent poll by Wahara.com finds 79% of mothers list personal, emotional and physical challenges as their hardest. Women know children are time consuming and demanding, but what these women are finding is that children are ALL consuming and ALL demanding. 38% reported sleep deprivation, 36% wrestle with finding time for themselves, and 24% struggle with self esteem issues.
g. Hannah’s desire was so strong for a child, I imagine if there would have been a survey back then, her desire would have been much stronger for a child. A childless mother in this time was looked down upon strongly.
II. Her prayer was Sorrowful.
1 Sam 1:10
And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
a. She was praying with all her soul, mind, and spirit. This wasn’t just a little prayer, she put herself into praying for children.
Brian Bill - In 1 Samuel 1, we’re introduced to a man named Elkanah. Verse 2 tells us that “He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Penninah. Penninah had children, but Hannah had none.” The wife’s chief role in those days was to provide children. As stated before A barren womb was considered a curse and Hannah would have been looked down upon. She was spiritually disturbed, socially disgraced, and emotionally depressed.
b. 1Sa 1:8 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?
c. 1Sa 1:9 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.
d. MHC - Elkanah had gently reproved Hannah for her inordinate grief, and here we find the good effect of the reproof. It shook Hannah enough to get her to eat v. 9. She did not harden herself in sorrow, nor grow sullen when she was reproved for it; but, when she perceived her husband uneasy that she did not come and eat with them, she cheered up her own spirits as well as she could, and came to table.
e. Her sorrow was deep but she joined in with the family at the table.
f. Her desire was to be a blessing to her husband with bearing children.
III. Her prayer was in silence. 1 Sam 1:12-13
a. 1Sa 1:6 And her adversary [Penninah] also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
b. ACC - Provoked her sore – Penninah Was constantly striving to irritate and vex her, to make her fret-to make her discontented with her lot, because the Lord had denied her children.
c. Taking care of one wife can be challenging at times, here is a great example of why God ruled, Man of one wife.
d. Penninah was an agitator.
12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
e. MHC - Hereby she testified her belief of God’s knowledge of the heart and its desires.
13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
i. ACC - though she spake not with an audible voice, yet her lips formed themselves according to the pronunciation of the words which her heart uttered.
IV. Her prayer was constant.
1 Thess 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
‘Mom you need to be sure you’re consistent in your prayer ’
1 Sam 1:19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
a. One Writer says, speaking of the prayer in vs. 12 “This wasn’t just a quick popcorn prayer. This was a repeated request, bathed in tears. Notice also that she prayed this prayer in her heart, not audibly like most Hebrews prayed. She prayed secretly, not wanting to draw any attention to herself.”
V. Her prayer was with Power
her prayer brought result.
1 Sam 1:20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, because I have asked him of the LORD.
a. Col 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
b. She kept her promise.
c. She vowed a Vow
11 And she 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.
She Kept her Word
MHC - He would be by birth a Levite, and so devoted to the service of God, but he should be by her vow a Nazarite, and his very childhood should be sacred.
She was determined to dedicate Samuel to God is He would bless her. It was likely Elkanah her husband knew about this dedication to God.
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
VI. Her preparation was for his future
a. Chuck Swindoll said of the family, “Whatever else may be said about the home, it is the bottom line of life, the anvil upon which attitudes and convictions are hammered out. It is the place where life’s bills come due, the single most influential force in our earthly existence.”...
b. Mom, you are a big part of steering the family and preparing them for the future.
c. 2:19Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
Hannah took the coat with her on their year visit to the tabernacle, wanting Samuel to wear it for the service of God.
1 Sam 1:23 and Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
FBN - A wise woman will, if consistent, nurse and train her own children. Even if it keep her for a time from public worship, and occasion many privations and cares, yet, in the health, character, and conduct of her well-trained children, she may expect, with the blessing of God, whose wise and good arrangement she has in this respect followed, a gracious and abundant reward.
Mom – don’t let Satan defeat you for a possible struggle in your devotions when you have young children.
VII. Her praise was to God
A. She praised God for her answering of Prayer
1 Sam 1:27 She gave God the credit for the answer to her prayer.
27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him
Hannah was a woman who in that day her womb was barren, this was looked on as a curse. Hannah continued to prevail in prayer and without telling anyone, knowing God knows the heart, kept silent. Eli the priest thinking she was drunk, and Her husband knowing something was wrong begged her to eat and explaining his affection to her. Hannah never quit praying and when God answered her prayer she offered Samuel back to God. Mom, are you willing to give your children back to God. Maybe it will be them serving across the seas, in another state, a doctor, a teacher, a minister, or maybe in your backyard. The main thing is to give Your Children Back To God!
M-O-T-H-E-R
"M" is for the million things she gave me,
"O" means only that she’s growing old,
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,
"H" is for her heart of purest gold;
"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
"R" means right, and right she’ll always be,
Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER,"
A word that means the world to me.
~By Howard Johnson~
