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.
What faith!
C. The Prayer (1:10b)
10B and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
Have you ever poured your heart out to God?
Note that prior to this she could not eat.
After this she eats and worships!
D. The Pledge (1:11)
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts [Lord of the Sun, Moon, Stars, or of Armies], 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.
1. The IF
If you will look
If you will remember me
If you do not forget
If you will give
2. The THEN
I will give him to the Lord
He will take the Nazarite vow!
Never elsewhere done by proxy.
Three fold vow
1) No products from Grapes
ILLUS: What is the big deal with grapes? Nothing. It is just that those who are serious about serving God are willing to sacrifice some things! She will give him up, he will give up rights.
2) No dead body contact
3) No razor upon the head.
E. The Patience
1. The Accusation (1:12-14)
12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. 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.14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
Hannah prayed to the Lord
Hannah prayed silently
Hannah prayed from the Heart
NOTE: It seemed that everyone in her life railed on her -- Peninnah, Elkanah, Eli.
OBSERVE: Evidently, debauchery at the temple was so common that drunkenness was the first thing that Eli thought of.
OBSERVE: Eli says this to the wrong person at the wrong time. He should have said it to his sons 20 years earlier.
2. The Answer (1:15-16)
NOTE: The patience of this woman in the midst of false accusals!
Had she exploded, she could have lost everything!
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. 16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
F. The Promise (1:17-18)
17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
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.
After a little talk with Jesus, things are right, and she can eat!
IV. Her Son (1:19-20)
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.
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.
V. Her Sacrifice (Or surrender) (1:21-28)
21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
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.
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.
• Many babies died in those days.
• Elkanah prays that the baby will live to allow the vow to be fulfilled.
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.
25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
THEY - Elkanah would have to have agreed to the vows in that paternal society.
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.
SHE - It is fitting that the one whose heart conceived this is the one who makes the presentation.
27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
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.
ILLUS: Missionaries David Edens and Ed Frampton. What a sacrifice.
NOTE: Worship is seldom real unless accompanied by sacrifice!
Worship naturally breaks out in song. (2:1-11)
CONCLUSION:
So this lady had great faith. So what?
1. The son she bore changed the spiritual climate of Israel.
2. As a result, God could now bless the political and military climate of Israel.
3. Her son becomes the last of the judges and the first of the prophets.
4. He is the KING MAKER, anointing Saul and David.
ILLUS: When the Olympic Games were in Atlanta, Georgia, the whole world knew the name and fame of young Kerri Strug. Kerri became the key to the American women=s gymnastic team receiving the gold medal. If she could ace her turn to perform the vault, her team would win the gold medal; if not, they would have to settle for something less. Her first vault was not good, and it resulted in a sprained ankle. Only an excellent second vault could win the gold. As Kerri limped back to the starting line, the world wondered if she would even try, and if so, could she do it? We all know that Kerri did try, and that she performed an excellent vault at the expense of further injury to herself. The result was a gold medal, and much, much more. Kerri=s picture adorned the front page of nearly every newspaper in the world. She was an instant heroine, not only because her vault won her team the gold medal, but because she performed in the midst of great adversity. Had it not been for her previous injury, her performance would already have been forgotten. Because of it, Kerri Strug will long be remembered for her courage and skill at a crucial and difficult time. Hannah=s story is very much like Kerri Strug=s. (From the Biblical Studies Foundation)
Who would have thought that out of a tiny, insignificant village, in a tiny insignificant region, in one family and with one pitiful barren woman, God could save Israel!
But you see, here is one lady that knew that there is a God!
And she poured her heart out to that God!
And God opened Heaven for her!
Her name means grace. Only grace could help her to endure.
Samuel means Aheard of the Lord.@ She give credit to Him.
ILLUS: A mouse rode the back of an elephant across a bridge. The bridge bowed and swayed. After the crossing, the mouse looked down and said, "Boy, we sure rocked that bridge didn't we?" I wonder, is there any one here that will join forces with God and rock your world!
• There=s an epilog on this story.
• God gives her three sons and two daughters.
• You cannot out-give God!
• Hannah was childless, yet she trusted God.
• So was Abraham and Sarah, Zacharias and Elisabeth.
• Yet from these wombs, when these acted in faith, God sent Israel=s greatest leaders!
