I Samuel 2 - Hannah's Prayer and Eli's Unfaithfulness

Samuel 2 Hannah's Prayer and Eli's Unfaithfulness 1 Samuel 2:1-3 And Hannah prayed and I. Hannah's Prayer Reflects God's Character said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; My A. God Gives Joy horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my B. God Exalts enemies, Because I rejoice in Your My Horn – a symbol of strength – God has salvation. 2 "No one is holy like the LORD, exalted her by giving her strength. For there is none besides You, Nor is there C. God Gives Salvation any rock like our God. 3 "Talk no more so D. God Is Holy very proudly; Let no arrogance come from E. God Is Unique your mouth, For the LORD is the God of F. God Is Omniscient knowledge; And by Him actions are Application – Do not be proud or arrogant. weighed. G. God is the Judge 1 Samuel 2:4-10 "The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are girded with strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble. 6 "The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. 7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. 8 He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. "For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, And He has set the world upon them. 9 He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. "For by strength no man shall prevail. 10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed." II. Hannah's Prayer Reflects God's Actions A. God Is Able to Change People's Situation 1. From Strong to Weak, Weak to Strong 2. From Full to Hungry, Hungry to Full 3. From Fruitful to Barren, Barren to Fruitful 4. From Dead to Alive, Alive to Dead 5. From Rich to Poor, Poor to Rich B. God is Able to Exalt the Lowly 1. Raises the Poor from the Dust 2. Lifts Up the Low 3. Raises Up the Poor/Beggar 4. To Make them like Princes a. Inheriting Thrones b. God Owns and Created the World C. God Guards His People D. God Brings Judgment to the Wicked 1. No Man is Stronger than God 2. God's Adversaries Shall Be Broken 3. God Will Stand Against Them 4. God Will Judge the Whole Earth E. God Will Reward His People 1. He Will Give Strength to His King 2. He Will Exalt His Chosen Ones 1 Samuel 2:11 Then Elkanah went to his III. Samuel's Unique Situation house at Ramah. But the child ministered to A. Elkanah and Family Returned Home the LORD before Eli the priest. B. Samuel Stayed 1. To Minister to the Lord 2. Under Eli's Authority 1 Samuel 2:12-17 Now the sons of Eli IV. Eli's Sons Unfaithfulness in Ministry were corrupt; they did not know the LORD. A. They Were Corrupt 13 And the priests' custom with the people Corrupt – lit. “Sons of Belial,” worthless. was that when any man offered a sacrifice, B. When – Someone Came With a Sacrifice the priest's servant would come with a C. Who – The Priest's Servants (His Sons) three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while D. What – He Would Come With a Fleshhook the meat was boiling. 14 Then he would 1. While the Meat Was Boiling thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or 2. He Would Thrust It In pot; and the priest would take for himself all 3. Whatever Was Hooked They Would Take. that the fleshhook brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15 Also, before they burned the fat, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who sacrificed, "Give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw." 16 And if the man said to him, "They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires," he would then answer him, "No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force." 17 Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. E. They Did This With All Who Came F. They Would Take Meat Before The Fat Was Burned (Lev. 7:31) G. If There Was an Objection – They Would Threaten. H. An Evaluation of Their Sin: 1. Was Very Great Before the Lord 2. They Caused Men to Abhor the Offering of the Lord. Leviticus 3:3-5 'Then he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire to the LORD. The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, 4 'the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove; 5 'and Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is on the wood that is on the fire, as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD. Leviticus 7:30-32 'His own hands shall bring the offerings made by fire to the LORD. The fat with the breast he shall bring, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before the LORD. 31 'And the priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'. 32 'Also the right thigh you shall give to the priest as a heave offering from the sacrifices of your peace offerings. Leviticus 10:14-15 "The breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering you shall eat in a clean place, you, your sons, and your daughters with you; for they are your due and your sons' due, which are given from the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel. 15 "The thigh of the heave offering and the breast of the wave offering they shall bring with the offerings of fat made by fire, to offer as a wave offering before the LORD. And it shall be yours and your sons' with you, by a statute forever, as the LORD has commanded." Deuteronomy 18:3-4 " And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it is bull or sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach. 4 "The firstfruits of your grain and your new wine and your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, you shall give him. 1 Samuel 2:18-21 But Samuel ministered V. Hannah and Samuel are Blessed by God before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a A. Samuel Was Faithful in Ministering 19 linen ephod. Moreover his mother used to 1. Even As A Child make him a little robe, and bring it to him 2. He Wore a Linen Ephod – A symbol that he year by year when she came up with her was serving the Lord as an “apprentice” to husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 And the priest. Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and B. Samuel's Mother's Care say, "The LORD give you descendants from 1. She Made a Robe and Would Bring it To this woman for the loan that was given to Him. the LORD." Then they would go to their own 2. When She Came Up for the Sacrifice. home. 21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so C. Eli' Blessing that she conceived and bore three sons and 1. He Would Bless Elkanah and Hannah two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel 2. He Asked for Children for Them. grew before the LORD. D. God Gave Hannah Children E. Samuel Grew Before the Lord 1 Samuel 2:22-26 Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all VI. Eli's Warning to His Sons A. When – Eli Was Old Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 23 So he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. 24 "No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the LORD's people transgress. 25 "If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?" Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the LORD desired to kill them. 26 And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men. B. What – He Heard About His Son's Sin 1. The Fishhook Thing 2. Sexual Immorality C. What – He Confronted His Sons 1. He Called Out Their Sin 2. He Acknowledged The Severity 3. He Understood It Was Against God D. His Son's Did Not Listen 1. Because God Desired to Kill Them 2. This Is Because God Had Already Purposed to Judge Their Sin. E. Samuel Continued to Be Faithful 1. He Grew in Stature 2. He Grew in Favor with the Lord 3. He Grew in Favor with Men 1 Samuel 2:27-29 Then a man of God VII. God's Accusation Against Eli came to Eli and said to him, "Thus says the A. Who – A Man of God Came LORD: 'Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the B. What – A Message from God house of your father when they were in 1. Recounts God's Choosing of Aaron's House Egypt in Pharaoh's house? 28 'Did I not 2. God Chose Aaron as Priest choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to 3. God Chose Aaron to Offer the Offerings be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn C. Why – Eli's Transgressions incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? 1. He Dishonors the Sacrifices And did I not give to the house of your father 2. He Honor's His Sons More than God all the offerings of the children of Israel 3. He Seeks His Own Gain made by fire? 29 'Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?' 1 Samuel 2:30-36 "Therefore the LORD VIII. God's Judgment on Eli's House God of Israel says: 'I said indeed that your A. God's Desire to Bless Eli house and the house of your father would B. God's Requirement to Judge Eli walk before Me forever.' But now the LORD 1. He Honors Those who Honor Him' says: 'Far be it from Me; for those who 2. He Lightly Esteems Those Who Despise honor Me I will honor, and those who Him. despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 C. He Will Destroy Eli's House 'Behold, the days are coming that I will cut D. He Will Allow Enemies in His Dwelling Place off your arm and the arm of your father's E. Any Left Will Grieve Eli house, so that there will not be an old man F. Any Left Will Die Young in your house. 32 'And you will see an G. God Gives a Sign enemy in My dwelling place, despite all the 1. His Two Sons Will Die good which God does for Israel. And there 2. On the Same Day shall not be an old man in your house H. God Will Raise Up a Faithful Priest forever. 33 'But any of your men whom I do 1. He Will Do God's Will not cut off from My altar shall consume your 2. God Will Build Him a Sure House eyes and grieve your heart. And all the 3. He Will Walk Before God's Annointed descendants of your house shall die in the Forever flower of their age. 34 'Now this shall be a I. Eli's House Will Honor This Priest sign to you that will come upon your two 1. Will Bow Down Before Him sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day 2. Will Beg for Sustenance they shall die, both of them. 35 'Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever. 36 'And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and say, "Please, put me in one of the priestly positions, that I may eat a piece of bread." ' " 3. Will Beg for a Priestly Position Takeaways: • God deserves our praise and worship in every situation in our life, but certainly when we see His blessing, we should give Him the glory. • God honors our faithfulness. While we may not see physical blessing like Hannah did, certainly God will bless us when we serve Him. • Likewise, God judges those who are unfaithful to Him. While we will not loose our salvation, God may judge us with difficulty in life and certainly with loss of reward in heaven because of our sin. • Sin is serious. God hates sin. We need to see sin as God sees it and make our choices understanding how God sees our sin.