How to be a 10 Mother’s Day May 12, 201 Dr. Mike Fogerson
Introduction
The story of Israel in the Bible is a living demonstration of the fact that the Lord does win the battle.
A As we enter 1 Samuel, Israel is a Spiritual and Political mess.
1 Israel wasn’t an united people as they were under Joshua.
a Israel was a loose confederation of tribes with God appointed judges ruling in widely separated areas.
aa There was no standing army nor were there permanent military leaders.
bb Different tribes volunteered to defend the land when they were summoned to battle.
b 6 In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 17:6 (NASB)
2 The people asked God for a King and her gave them Saul (from the tribe of Benjamin) who turned out to be a epic failure.
a If judges is a book of “no kings,” them 1 Samuel is the book of “man’s king.”
b In II Samuel, we see David, “God’s King.”
aa It was from David’s family that Jesus, “the son of David,” was born.
bb The books of Samuel, Kings, Chronicles record many sins, failures on the part of God’s people. But it also reminds us that God is on the throne.
cc And when God is not allowed to rule, He overrules.
c His purpose will be accomplished whether we’re obedient or not.
B 1 Samuel is a book of transition: Samuel was a bridge builder.
1 15 Now Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.16 He used to go annually on circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places.17 Then his return was to Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel; and he built there an altar to the Lord. 1 Sam 7:15-17 (NASB)
He was the last of the judges and the first in a new line of prophets after Moses.
6 Then Samuel said to the people, "It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt.7 "So now, take your stand, that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did for you and your fathers. 1 Sam 12:6-7 (NASB)
a He established a school for prophets and anointed two kings - Saul who was an epic failure and David who was just epic.
b At a time in Israel when everything seemed to be shaking, ages colliding, Samuel gave Spiritual leadership to help move the nation forward.
aa National unification
bb Spiritual rededication
2 Samuel, “the bridge builder,” came onto the scene not in grand, illustrious fashion, but from a honest ferverent prayer of a godly woman & man.
C 1 Now there was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim from the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.2 He had two wives: the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 Now this man would go up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the Lord there.4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters;5 but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb.6 Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.7 It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat.8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?" 9 Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.10 She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 1 Sam 1:1-10 (NASB)
I Expect conflict on your way to being a “10.”
A Hannah was most likely Elkanah’s first wife who proved to be infertile so he took a second wife named Paninnah.
15 "If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved , and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved , Deut 21:15 (NASB)
1 Infertility is a heartache/disappointment today, yet in the ancient world it was an embarrassment.
a Children contributed to the families wealth with their labor.
aa They were your social security.
bb Ensured the future of the family by inheriting it’s wealth.
b Peninnah, the second wife, gave Elkanah the children had Hannah couldn’t.
2 Peninnah was a “mean girl” to Hannah.
a Peninnah couldn’t just be happy with her blessing: She had to torment Hannah’s infertility/barrenness.
b Cried, wept, refused to eat.
c Elkanah loved Hannah with all his heart.
aa When she hurt, so did he. (V.8) They were one flesh!
bb Baby, you can’t stay hurt, depressed.
cc He loved her even though she was barren. (ANE though she was flawed, no perfect)
dd Just as Jesus loves His church. (flaws, failures) He still loves her!
3 Hannah had every reason to be bitter.
a 1. Barren, 2. Peninnah was a constant burr under her saddle, 3. Elkanah was unable to comfort her... 4. And later the High Priest would mistake her motives.
b There was conflict every direction Hannah looked, but she still made it to “10”
B If you face conflict on every front in your life you may be moments away from being a “10"
1 “Mean Girls” have been passed down through the generations.
a Time Magazine published a survey of 3,000 women & found:
aa 90% said they had a solid girlfriend in their lives. (Good)
bb 84% said they had suffered real genuine wounding by another woman.
cc 88% said there was an undercurrent of meanness & negativity plaguing the gender.
b Girls can be very mean to each other (hair, weight, clothes, ect.)
aa These girls get educated by seeing/hearing their moms & mom’s friends gossiping, judging other women, being two-faced... the daughters watch & learn & become modern day Peninnahs.
2 We should deal with our conflict oriented people like Hannah dealt with Peninnah. (Hannah means “woman of grace” & that’s how she handled her mean girl)
a 10 "Those who contend with the Lord will be shattered; Against them He will thunder in the heavens, The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; And He will give strength to His king, And will exalt the horn of His anointed." 1 Sam 2:10 (NASB)
Probably included Peninnah!
aa She prayed in the Spirit of Deut. & David.
35 'Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.' Deut 32:35 (NASB)
29 "May it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father's house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who takes hold of a distaff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread." 2 Sam 3:29 (NASB)
bb Allow God to avenge the wrong committed against her.
b She was criticized unfairly by Eli.
12 Now it came about, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth.13 As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.14 Then Eli said to her, "How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you."15 But Hannah replied, "No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord.16 "Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation ."17 Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him." 1 Sam 1:12-17 (NASB)
aa She could have said something about Eli’s drunkard sons.
bb Instead, she put a double lock over her mouth & refused to speak in anger!
cc She speaks with respect: “No my lord.” (Eli is wrong but he’s still in authority!) She Explains what has been misunderstood
dd When we’ve been unjustly charged, give a true account of what has been misunderstood to the accuser.
c Eli responds as a loving father.
aa He didn’t get upset that his mistake had been rectified!
bb Notice: His correction turns into encouragement!
(He blesses her & joins her/agrees with her prayers.)
cc When we are wrong, admit it & get on board!
3 When we are on our way to being “10s” expect conflict to be a part of the journey.
T.S. Hannah refused to let her wounded emotions, hurt feelings, circumstances, keep her bitter or from prayer.
II Essential is prayer on your way to being a “10"
A This whole passage occurs with the Tabernacle in the background. (Shiloh)
1 Elkanah had brought his family to the Tabernacle to offer sacrifice, worship, prayer. (Prob. Feast of Pentecost or Feast of Tabernacles.)
a Peninnah had just been to “church” & came right home & started in on Hannah! (Vs. 7)
aa You can go to every church service in town but it won’t do you a bit of good if your not wanting or unwilling to have your heart changed.
bb Apparently going to church didn’t stop Peninnah from being mean... stop trouble in the home!
b Hannah was hurting, but she didn’t cause trouble in her home, marriage... she took it to the Lord in prayer. (Vs. 10)
2 Hannah prayed outside of the Tabernacle gate (as was the custom) when Eli saw her mouth move without words! (In prayer its better to have a heart without words than words without heart.)
a She was broken, but not beaten.
b She poured out her heart to the Lord of Hosts. (Vs. 15)
aa In prayer, a godly woman’s faith & devotion, rose above the sins of a nation.
bb When she got up, she was still barren, Peninnah was still a mean ol’ heifer, but prayer made things better in her heart. (Vs. 18)
B Going to church didn’t solve the problems in Hannah’s home.
1 If worshiping the Lord doesn’t stop conflicts in your home, don’t let conflicts in your home stop you from worshiping the Lord.
a The devil gets in every one of our cars, homes, as we’re getting ready for church.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. Job 1:6 (NASB)
b Ol’ slewfoot will cause problems, scheduling conflicts, & conflicts in your home if you let him... anything to keep you from the house of the Lord.
c Never let the devil keep you from the House of Worship.
aa Your kids are watching, listening & they’ll not do what you say - they’ll do what you do.
bb IL. One day after a child dedication service a young family was driving home from church with little Johnny, the older brother to the baby that was dedicated. Mom asked 3xs what’s wrong. Finally the boy replied, “Pastor said he wanted us to be brought up in a Christian home... and I want to stay with you guys!”
2 More problems call for more prayer if you’re going to be a “10"
a God knows our needs before we ever get around to asking Him to meet them!
aa Because He knows, we can come to Him with confidence.
bb We don’t have to pick the right words, right timing.
cc IL. When I ask Ms. Pam for something I rehearse what I’m about to ask. (How to say it, what words, when to ask.)
b With God, if we have faith that He knows our needs it excludes premeditation!
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. James 5:16 (NASB)
c You must pray if your going to be a “10"
Conclusion
A
B 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.1 Sam 1:19 (KJV)
1 God never forgot her, God’s memory is consistent with His promises & His will to take action.
a Oh, Hannah, I remember her. She’s a “10"
b God is faithful to us!
2 Pray with confidence that God is the “Lord of Hosts” even in the middle of your chaos, pain, problems!
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