Simple Faith and the Cry for Revival
February 26, 2025
Dr. Bradford Reaves
Crossway Christian Fellowship
1 Samuel 1
Introduction: The Birth of a Prophet – Hannah’s Faith and the Cry for Revival
Every great move of God in history has begun with a crisis. Whether it was the captivity in Egypt before the Exodus, the spiritual decline before the Reformation, or the darkness before the Great Awakenings, God often allows desperate circumstances to precede divine intervention. The book of 1 Samuel opens in such a time—Israel is in spiritual crisis. The people have become complacent, the priesthood is corrupt, and the nation lacks direction. But God is about to change everything. And He starts, not with a king or a warrior, but with the brokenhearted cry of a barren woman.
I. The Spiritual Barrenness of Israel (1 Samuel 1:1-8)
As the book opens, we meet Elkanah, a devout man from the tribe of Levi who has two wives—Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah has children, but Hannah does not. In the ancient world, barrenness was considered a sign of divine disfavor. Yet, in Scripture, barrenness often precedes a miraculous work of God. Think of Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel—each of whom bore children who would become central figures in God's redemptive plan.
Hannah’s barrenness is more than personal; it reflects the spiritual state of Israel. The nation, once chosen to bear the light of God, has become spiritually barren. The time of the Judges has left the people leaderless, and "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). Even the priesthood is corrupt—Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are abusive and unfit to lead (1 Samuel 2:12-17).
In many ways, this mirrors the modern American Church. We see a decline in moral conviction, a complacency with sin, and a lack of hunger for revival. The spirit of Laodicea—lukewarm, self-sufficient, and blind to its own need (Revelation 3:14-22)—has settled over much of Christendom. Just as Israel needed a spiritual awakening, so does the Church today.
II. Hannah’s Desperate Prayer (1 Samuel 1:9-18)
One of the most striking aspects of this chapter is Hannah’s response to her pain. Instead of growing bitter or resigning herself to her circumstances, she turns to God in desperate prayer. She enters the tabernacle, pours out her soul, and makes a vow: “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me… then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life” (1 Samuel 1:11).
Notice two key elements of her prayer:
1. She prays with intensity. The Hebrew phrase in verse 10 suggests deep, agonizing prayer. True revival always begins with desperation.
2. She surrenders completely. Hannah doesn’t just ask for a son—she dedicates him to God. She understands that her blessing is not just for her benefit but for God’s purposes.
Eli, the high priest, sees her and initially misjudges her, assuming she is drunk. This moment is telling: the spiritual leadership in Israel is so out of touch that they mistake fervent prayer for drunkenness. This reflects the dullness of many churches today. When true hunger for God arises, it is often misunderstood or dismissed.
Hannah corrects Eli, and he blesses her. But what changes her heart is not Eli’s words—it’s her faith. Verse 18 says that after praying, "her face was no longer sad." She left her burden at the feet of God and trusted Him to act.
III. Samuel: God’s Answer to a Nation in Crisis (1 Samuel 1:19-28)
God answers Hannah’s prayer, and she gives birth to a son, Samuel, whose name means "God has heard." True to her vow, she brings him to the tabernacle once he is weaned and dedicates him to the Lord.
Samuel’s birth marks the beginning of a new era for Israel. He will be the last judge, the first prophet in centuries, and the one who anoints both Saul and David. His arrival signals that God is not finished with Israel—He is preparing a leader who will call the nation back to Himself.
Hannah’s story teaches us that God often begins revival with the prayers of the broken. When the world sees barrenness, God sees an opportunity to birth something new.
Application to the Modern Church
1. Spiritual barrenness precedes revival. Before God moves, He allows us to feel our need for Him. Just as Hannah’s pain led her to prayer, the challenges facing the Church today should drive us to seek God’s presence.
2. Revival begins with desperate, surrendered prayer. The American Church does not need more programs, entertainment, or strategies—it needs men and women who will weep before the Lord and cry out for His presence.
3. God is raising up a remnant. Like Samuel, God is preparing a new generation of bold, Spirit-led leaders who will not bow to compromise but will call the Church back to holiness and truth.
Reflection and Discussion Questions:
1. How does Hannah’s barrenness parallel the spiritual state of Israel?
2. What does her response teach us about how to handle difficult seasons in life?
3. How does the complacency of Eli reflect leadership issues in the modern Church?
4. In what ways do you see the Laodicean spirit affecting believers today?
5. What is one step you can take to cultivate a deeper hunger for God in your life?
Conclusion
The book of 1 Samuel begins with barrenness but ends with a prophet. The prayers of one desperate woman changed the course of history. May we, like Hannah, turn our desperation into prayer, our pain into surrender, and our barrenness into a place where God births something new.
Closing Prayer:
Lord, awaken Your Church. Remove our complacency and stir up a hunger for Your presence. Raise up a generation like Samuel who will hear Your voice and boldly proclaim Your truth. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Outline
Historical Context: Israel’s Darkest Hour
Political & Spiritual Climate:
• The time of the Judges was marked by moral decay, spiritual apathy, and national instability (Judges 21:25 – “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”).
• Israel had no righteous leadership—the priesthood was corrupt, and the people were spiritually blind.
• Eli, the high priest, represents a passive, complacent leadership that tolerated sin.
The State of the People:
• Israel had become spiritually barren, much like Hannah.
• The Philistines were a constant threat, symbolizing oppression under godless rule.
Parallels to the American Church Today: The Laodicean Spirit (Revelation 3:14-22)
• Many churches today are lukewarm, comfortable, and spiritually barren.
• There is little hunger for revival—just as Israel had lost its desperation for God’s presence.
• Leadership in many places has compromised with culture, tolerating sin rather than standing for truth.
• Like Israel, America faces external threats, but the real enemy is within—the apathy of God’s people.
Exposition & Theological Themes
1. Hannah’s Barrenness (1:1-8) – The Pain Before the Breakthrough
• Hannah’s barrenness represents not just a personal struggle but Israel’s spiritual condition—fruitless, empty, and longing for something more.
• Elkanah’s second wife, Peninnah, mocks her, but God uses brokenness to birth something greater.
• Key Truth: Before God brings revival, He creates desperation.
Reflection: Where do we see spiritual barrenness today? How can personal struggles drive us toward deeper dependence on God?
2. Hannah’s Prayer (1:9-18) – Desperate Faith Moves Heaven
• Unlike the complacent priests, Hannah sought God with all her heart.
• She didn’t ask for a child just for herself—she offered him to the Lord, showing total surrender.
• Key Truth: God responds to the cry of the desperate, not the comfortable.
Reflection: Is the Church praying with desperation, or are we too comfortable with mediocrity?
3. Samuel’s Birth & Dedication (1:19-28) – A New Beginning for Israel
• God answered Hannah’s prayer, and Samuel became the turning point for Israel.
• Samuel represents God’s answer to a corrupt generation—a leader who hears His voice.
• Key Truth: God raises leaders from the broken, not the powerful.
Reflection: How does Samuel’s calling contrast with the leadership crisis in the modern Church?
Prophetic & Modern Parallels
• Just as Samuel’s birth signaled a shift, we are in a time where God is raising bold, uncompromising leaders to call His people back to holiness.
• Hannah’s travail in prayer reflects the remnant Church today—those who refuse to settle for lukewarm Christianity.
• The American Church, like Israel, must move from barrenness to breakthrough through repentance and fervent prayer.
Discussion & Application Questions
1. How does Hannah’s story encourage believers who feel spiritually barren?
2. What does her desperate prayer teach us about revival in our own time?
3. How can we contrast Hannah’s faith with the passivity of Eli and today’s Church leadership?
4. What “Samuel” is God birthing today in response to our cries for revival?
