Pt. Dave Kenney
1 Samuel 1:1-20
1. The Big Picture
Israel has Judges
God sends "judges" (leaders) in answer to prayers of Israel during crisis, brought about by apostasy and invasion of enemies.
Israel has Kings
in Deuteronomy 17:14-20, God told Israel what kind of kings they should choose and what the kings should do, but they don't obey God. Most of their kings failed God and Israel.
Samuel is THE transition.
The story here, is about God and God's plan. Has nothing to do with us. Our part is just to obey.
2. Hannah's story and her role in God's plan.
a. Hannah's Problem (1 Samuel 1:1-8)
Don't misunderstand about this story. The passage says that God has closed her womb. That does not mean every woman who has not conceived has had her "womb closed" by God. In this case, God has delayed giving her a child to fulfill His purpose -timing issue, of placing the child Samuel in the place of worship.
She is in need - life is difficult for her, husband took another wife. Polygamy is not a common thing in Israel. Only for the people with substance : kings, leader of a group, etc.
She is bitter - she has the right to be bitter, got a rival who keeps on provoking her.
She is depressed - doesn't even recognize all other things that God has blessed her.
Her husband is no help - dough! typical male respond.
b. Hannah's Prayer (1 Sam 1:9-19a)
She took her problem to God - v.11-14 People don't usually pray in silence or reading in silence. It was uncommon those days.
Prayer caused her to reorder her priorities - first, her focus was to have a son for HER. Now, the son she wants, is FOR God. A son to be used by God.
God used someone else to bring His answer - God used Eli, and Hannah directly understand that her prayers were already answered. Hannah is willing to be prayed by others, even Eli, who has a not so good background.
The importance of being prayed by just ANY KIND of people, coz God can just use ANYONE. It may be not because He wants to answer your prayers, it maybe only because He wants to used the other person. So it's not always about you!! Look @ a bigger picture..
c. Hannah' Praise (1 Sam 2:1-11)
First, she rejoiced in the personal deliverance from a life of misery which she had recently experienced (2:1)
Second, Hannah rejoiced in the person God - his holiness, his strength, and his knowledge (2:2-3)
Third, she rejoiced in the government of God (2:4-8). Hannah pointed out that often those who are rich, powerful and blessed are humbled. At the same time those who are poor, weak and dishonorable are suddenly exalted.
Fourth, Hannah rejoiced in her hope (2:9-10). The righteous are under the watch care of God; the wicked, however, are swallowed up in darkness when God withdraws the light of His grace.
At this point Hannah's poem becomes predictive. She announces that ultimately God would (1) judge the whole world, (2) give strength to his king, and (3) exalt the horn or power of his anointed. The context here of universal judgement suggests that the prophecy points to the Coming One, the Messiah.
Personal application. The most difficult situation can be transformed by bringing it to the Lord in prayer.
Hannah's Praise
1 Then Hannah prayed:
"My heart rejoices in the LORD!
The LORD has made me strong
Now I have an answer for my enemies;
I rejoice because you rescued me.
No one is holy like the Lord!
There is no one besides you,
there is no Rock like our God.
Stop acting so proud and haughty!
Don't speak with such arrogance!
For the LORD is a GOD who knows what you have done;
he will judge your actions.
The bow of the mighty is now broken,
and those who stumbled are now strong.
Those who were well fed are now starving,
and those who were starving are now full.
The childless woman now has seven children,
and the woman with many children wastes away.
The LORD gives both death and life;
he brings some down to the grave but raises others up.
The LORD makes some poor and others rich;
he brings some down and lifts others up.
He lifts the poor from the dust
and the needy from the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes,
placing them in seats of honor.
For all the earth in the LORD's
and he has set the world in order.
"He will protect his faithful ones,
but the wicked will disappear in darkness.
No one will succeed by strength alone.
Those who fight against the LORD will be shattered.
He thunders against them from heaven;
the LORD judges throughout the earth.
He gives power to his king;
he increases the strength of his anointed one."
Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the LORD by assisting Eli the priest. 1 Samuel 2:1-11 (NLT)
1 Samuel 1:1-20
1. The Big Picture
Israel has Judges
God sends "judges" (leaders) in answer to prayers of Israel during crisis, brought about by apostasy and invasion of enemies.
Israel has Kings
in Deuteronomy 17:14-20, God told Israel what kind of kings they should choose and what the kings should do, but they don't obey God. Most of their kings failed God and Israel.
Samuel is THE transition.
The story here, is about God and God's plan. Has nothing to do with us. Our part is just to obey.
2. Hannah's story and her role in God's plan.
a. Hannah's Problem (1 Samuel 1:1-8)
Don't misunderstand about this story. The passage says that God has closed her womb. That does not mean every woman who has not conceived has had her "womb closed" by God. In this case, God has delayed giving her a child to fulfill His purpose -timing issue, of placing the child Samuel in the place of worship.
She is in need - life is difficult for her, husband took another wife. Polygamy is not a common thing in Israel. Only for the people with substance : kings, leader of a group, etc.
She is bitter - she has the right to be bitter, got a rival who keeps on provoking her.
She is depressed - doesn't even recognize all other things that God has blessed her.
Her husband is no help - dough! typical male respond.
b. Hannah's Prayer (1 Sam 1:9-19a)
She took her problem to God - v.11-14 People don't usually pray in silence or reading in silence. It was uncommon those days.
Prayer caused her to reorder her priorities - first, her focus was to have a son for HER. Now, the son she wants, is FOR God. A son to be used by God.
God used someone else to bring His answer - God used Eli, and Hannah directly understand that her prayers were already answered. Hannah is willing to be prayed by others, even Eli, who has a not so good background.
The importance of being prayed by just ANY KIND of people, coz God can just use ANYONE. It may be not because He wants to answer your prayers, it maybe only because He wants to used the other person. So it's not always about you!! Look @ a bigger picture..
c. Hannah' Praise (1 Sam 2:1-11)
First, she rejoiced in the personal deliverance from a life of misery which she had recently experienced (2:1)
Second, Hannah rejoiced in the person God - his holiness, his strength, and his knowledge (2:2-3)
Third, she rejoiced in the government of God (2:4-8). Hannah pointed out that often those who are rich, powerful and blessed are humbled. At the same time those who are poor, weak and dishonorable are suddenly exalted.
Fourth, Hannah rejoiced in her hope (2:9-10). The righteous are under the watch care of God; the wicked, however, are swallowed up in darkness when God withdraws the light of His grace.
At this point Hannah's poem becomes predictive. She announces that ultimately God would (1) judge the whole world, (2) give strength to his king, and (3) exalt the horn or power of his anointed. The context here of universal judgement suggests that the prophecy points to the Coming One, the Messiah.
Personal application. The most difficult situation can be transformed by bringing it to the Lord in prayer.
Hannah's Praise
1 Then Hannah prayed:
"My heart rejoices in the LORD!
The LORD has made me strong
Now I have an answer for my enemies;
I rejoice because you rescued me.
No one is holy like the Lord!
There is no one besides you,
there is no Rock like our God.
Stop acting so proud and haughty!
Don't speak with such arrogance!
For the LORD is a GOD who knows what you have done;
he will judge your actions.
The bow of the mighty is now broken,
and those who stumbled are now strong.
Those who were well fed are now starving,
and those who were starving are now full.
The childless woman now has seven children,
and the woman with many children wastes away.
The LORD gives both death and life;
he brings some down to the grave but raises others up.
The LORD makes some poor and others rich;
he brings some down and lifts others up.
He lifts the poor from the dust
and the needy from the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes,
placing them in seats of honor.
For all the earth in the LORD's
and he has set the world in order.
"He will protect his faithful ones,
but the wicked will disappear in darkness.
No one will succeed by strength alone.
Those who fight against the LORD will be shattered.
He thunders against them from heaven;
the LORD judges throughout the earth.
He gives power to his king;
he increases the strength of his anointed one."
Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the LORD by assisting Eli the priest. 1 Samuel 2:1-11 (NLT)
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