I Samuel 1 - Hannah's Faithfulness

Samuel 1 Hannah's Faithfulness to God 1 Samuel 1:1-2 Now there was a certain man I. Hannah's Background of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of A. Her Husband Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Elkanah – means “God has created” Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the 1. His Location son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 And he had two 2. Ephraimite wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the 3. His Wives – Two name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had B. Peninnah “Ruby”– Bore Children children, but Hannah had no children. C. Hannah “Grace” – Had Not Bore Children 1 Samuel 1:3-5 This man went up from his city II. The Habitual Worship yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of A. Went Up – to Shiloh (about 20 mi north of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni Jerusalem) and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were B. Purpose there. 4 And whenever the time came for 1. Worship – lit. “To Bow Down” Elkanah to make an offering, he would give Yearly – Probably the Feast of portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons Tabernacles (Sept./Oct.) and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give 2. Sacrifice – lit. “To Slaughter” a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although Probably a Peace Offering, since they the LORD had closed her womb. ate a potion of the offering. C. Eli and Two Sons Were Priests Eli - “God is Exalted” Sons had Egyptian names D. Elkanah Would Give Portions to His Family 1. Peninnah 2. All her sons and Daughters 3. Double Portion a. He Loved Hannah b. God Had Closed Her Womb 1 Samuel 1:6-8 And her rival also provoked her III. Hannah's Trying Situation severely, to make her miserable, because the A. Peninnah provoked Hannah LORD had closed her womb. 7 So it was, year Provoke - “To thunder against” by year, when she went up to the house of the 1. Severely LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she 2. To Make Her Miserable wept and did not eat. 8 Then Elkanah her 3. Because She Had No Children husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you 4. When They Went to Worship weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your B. Hannah's Response heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten 1. She Wept sons?" 2. She Did Not Eat C. Elkanah's Answer 1. He Asked Why 2. He Asked Why Her Heart Was Grieved 3. He Affirmed His Commitment to Her 1 Samuel 1:9-11 So Hannah arose after they IV. Hannah's First Prayer had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now A. The Timing – After the Sacrifices Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the B. Where – By the Door of the Tabernacle 10 doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. And C. How she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the 1. In Bitterness of Soul LORD and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made 2. Weeping in Anguish a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will D. What indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant 1. If God... and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head." a. Look on Her Affliction b. Remember Her c. Not Forget Her d. Give Her a Male Child 2. Then... a. She Will Give Him to The Lord b. For His Whole Life c. He Will Be a Nazarite Numbers 6:2-8 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When either a man or woman consecrates an offering to take the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, 3 'he shall separate himself from wine and similar drink; he shall drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from similar drink; neither shall he drink any grape juice, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins. 4 'All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, from seed to skin. 5 'All the days of the vow of his separation no razor shall come upon his head; until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the LORD, he shall be holy. Then he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. 6 'All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body. 7 'He shall not make himself unclean even for his father or his mother, for his brother or his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head. 8 'All the days of his separation he shall be holy to the LORD. 1 Samuel 1:12-14 And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!" V. Eli's Misconception A. Eli Saw Her Praying 1. Her Mouth Was Moving 2. She Did Not Speak B. Eli Though She Was Drunk Public prayer, at this time, was usually audible, so Hannah's behavior would seem strange to the priest. 1 Samuel 1:15-18 And Hannah answered and VI. Hannah' Explanation said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful A. Her Spirit Was Sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating B. She Had Not Drunk Any Alcohol drink, but have poured out my soul before the C. She Was Pouring Out Her Soul 16 LORD. "Do not consider your maidservant a Wicked Woman – lit. “Daughter of Belial wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my (Worthlessness)” complaint and grief I have spoken until now." 17 D. She Spoke Out of the Abundance of... Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and 1. Her Complaint the God of Israel grant your petition which you 2. Her Grief have asked of Him." 18 And she said, "Let your E. Eli's Response maidservant find favor in your sight." So the 1. Go in Peace woman went her way and ate, and her face was 2. May God Grant Her Request no longer sad. F. Hannah's Further Actions 1. Parting Response – as addressing the High Priest. 2. She Left 3. She Ate 4. She No Longer Was Sad 1 Samuel 1:19-20 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the VII. God's Answer A. The Family Rose and Worshiped B. The Family Returned Home C. Hannah Conceived LORD remembered her. 20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the LORD." D. Hannah Bore a Son E. She Gave Him a Significant Name 1. Samuel - “The Lord Hears” 2. Because She Asked For Him and God Heard and Responded 1 Samuel 1:21-23 Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the LORD and remain there forever." 23 And Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the LORD establish His word." So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him. VIII. Samuel's Preparation A. The Family Continued Their Worship Routine B. Hannah Did Not Go With Them 1. She Was to Wean the Child 2. After That She would Go Up a. To Appear Before the Lord b. To Give Samuel to the Lord C. Elkanah Consents (Numbers 30:6-15) 1 Samuel 1:24-28 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, "O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. 27 "For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 "Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD." So they worshiped the LORD there. IX. Hannah's Faithfulness A. When – After Samuel Was Weaned B. Where – She Went Up to Shiloh C. What – To Sacrifice 1. Objects of Sacrifice Bull, Flour, Wine Numbers 30:6-7 " If indeed she takes a husband, while bound by her vows or by a rash utterance from her lips by which she bound herself, 7 "and her husband hears it, and makes no response to her on the day that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her agreements by which she bound herself shall stand. Numbers 15:8-10 'And when you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering, or as a sacrifice to fulfill a vow, or as a peace offering to the LORD, 9 'then shall be offered with the young bull a grain offering of threetenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a HIN of oil; 10 'and you shall bring as the drink offering half a hin of wine as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD. 2. Gave Samuel D. Hannah Identifies Herself 1. The Woman Who Prayed 2. God Answered Her Prayer 3. She Is Giving Him to the Lord E. The Family Worshiped There Takeaways: • Hannah prayed in belief – and God heard her prayer. We need to pray believing that God can do what we ask. • Hannah was faithful to do what she promised to do. We need to do what we say we are going to do (even when it may be hard to do). • Sometimes we may suffer at the hand of others. It does not mean that God does not understand or that He doesn't have a plan. We need to trust Him and be faithful to Him.