Context for Hannah’s walk with God. 1 Samuel 1:1-11

• Elkanah, Hannah’s husband, was a Levite living in the territory of Ephraim. (1)

• This annual trip was likely for the Feast of Tabernacles.
  • Celebrates the Fall harvest.
  • Remembers God’s provision and protection during the 40 years of the Exodus.

• Common to marry a second wife if the first one does not produce a son. This was not a teaching from the Lord.
  • Polygamy does not go well and clearly creates rivalry. (6b)
  • While in the OT it is not given direct allowance, but was given many restrictions.
  • The NT is more explicit as to God’s intent for one man and one woman to be married for a lifetime, and the elder/overseer/pastor is to be the best example to that end.

• “The Lord closed her womb.” (6a)
  • Examples of this are shown throughout Scripture—sometimes as punishment and sometimes to show His glory—Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth, and even a virgin.
  • Before being too troubled by this we need to get through this message to Hannah’s prayer.

• The enemy likes to poke at our points of discontentment to get us irritated and distracted with the wrong things. (7)
  • Hannah stays focused on what the primary issue is for her. (8)

• Her desperation leads to a significant vow—to set . (11)
  • “God, if you…then I will…”
  • Have you ever been so desperate with God that you offered a vow? Example: Tory Lindland out of fear to live, my own vow was made out of fear to commit.
  • Nazarite vow: to be set aside as holy, letting the hair grow, abstaining from alcohol. Can be for a lifetime (Samuel) or for season (Paul).
  • Be careful in making a vow. Matthew 5:32-34

Hannah did not give up praying to the Lord for a son.  1 Samuel 1:12-20

• She is weeping, downhearted, and physically affected in her prayers that Eli the priest presumes she is drunk. (12)
  • Eli lacked discernment in this matter, and many others.
  • He started with judgment rather than discernment.

• The power of three words changed everything for Hannah: “Go in peace…”
  • She is told by Eli to “Go in peace…” it was to suggest what you have prayed for will be done. (17)
  • This word from Eli had a profound effect upon Hannah—her face was changed—no longer weeping, no longer disheartened, and no longer was her body language communicating distress. (18)
  • She left in peace!

• She gets her son and names him Samuel “Because I asked the Lord for him.” (20)
  • She acknowledges that Samuel was a gift from God.

She made right on her vow.  1 Samuel 1:21-28

• Likely 3-5 years since she left in peace.

• She gave back to God what she was given. (27-28)
  • Too often we hold onto what we have been given.
  • We fail to acknowledge the gift.
  • Revelation 4:9-11 speaks of us laying the crowns we were given back at the feet of the one to whom credit is due.

Revelation 4:9-11 “Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

¹¹ “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”

Enduring the struggle reveals the truth of God’s sovereignty.  1 Samuel 2:1-10

1. All glory goes to God for the good things we have received. (1)

2. God is like no other in holiness and as a rock of truth. (2)

3. God sees our actions whether they were for good or bad. (3)

4. God controls the narrative of life on earth. (4-8)

5. We don’t prevail by our own strength, but by God’s strength alone. (9b-10)

Pray

Read:

Philippians 4:5b-7 “…The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”