Fireproof

Today, the movie Fireproof opens up in theaters around the area. I encourage everyone to make a special effort to go see the movie as a couple. 

Part of the movie is a book called the "Love Dare"- a forty day  "dare" to learn to love your spouse unconditionally. 

I bought the book today and encourage everyone to do the same. I am planning on beginning my journey Monday. I will have a "Love Dare" segment to begin the lesson each week for the forty days. 

Looking forward to seeing everyone next Sunday. Please make every effort to be there Sunday and support Tim.

TW

Sunday School Lesson 9.21.2008

Here is the lesson. Hope everyone has a good week.
Tim will be teaching next week. Make plans to be there and support him.

TW

Trusting in the Lord Alone
1 Samuel 4:1- 7:17

Introduction

Where do you put your trust?
Finances?
Retirements Plans?
Not a good idea after this week.
Our country and its military?
Your doctors?
Your medicines?
If you were to ask us, all of us would say God?
Where do most people put their trust?
Themselves!!!!
Hopefully we all know where we should put our trust.
Question is why don’t we?
Hasn’t He proven Himself trustworthy?


1 Sam 4:1
4:1 And Samuel's word came to all Israel.

Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. 2 The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. 3 When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."
4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 When the ark of the LORD's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. 6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?"
NIV

First study question- 
Why did they get the ark?
To help them against their enemy.
What were they hoping would happen?
Just like with Joshua, they were hoping the ark would destroy their enemies.
Was their plan successful?
No
Why or why not?
They were practicing idolatry. Placing their faith in the ark versus in God.
In fact, when they brought the ark, it made the Philistines fight harder and the loss was even greater.
Are we ever guilty of wanting God to get us out of a mess, but not interested in changing our lives
God is not a 911 service.
Symbols of God such as the cross or a church have no power in of themselves.

1 Sam 4:6-9

When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert. 9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!"
10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
NIV


1 Sam 4:19-22

19 His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. 20 As she was dying, the women attending her said, "Don't despair; you have given birth to a son." But she did not respond or pay any attention.

21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel"-because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."
NIV

Study Question –
What was significant about Eli’s grandson name?
Ichabod- means the glory has departed.
Has God’s glory left our country?
Has God’s glory left our church, our families, etc


1 Sam 5:1-5
5:1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 Then they carried the ark into Dagon's temple and set it beside Dagon. 3 When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4 But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. 5 That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon's temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.
6 The LORD's hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumors. 7 When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, "The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god." 8 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, "What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?"
NIV

Study Question
What happened to the ark with the Philistines?
God doesn’t need our help to defend His name


1 Sam 6:7-9

7 "Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. 8 Take the ark of the LORD and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, 9 but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the LORD has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us and that it happened to us by chance."
NIV

Study Question
What test did the Philistines come up with to see if the ark was the source of all their problems?
Once again, God doesn’t need our help to “rescue” Him.

1 Sam 6:10-12

10 So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves. 11 They placed the ark of the LORD on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors. 12 Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.
NIV


1 Sam 6:19-20

19 But God struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the LORD had dealt them, 20 and the men of Beth Shemesh asked, "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?"
NIV

Study Question
What happened to some of the Israelites who recovered the ark? They were killed for opening up to ark.
What can we learn about the holiness of God from these verses?
What about us? How casually do we take God?
One form of idolatry is to worship God for what we want Him to be instead of who He is.
He is a holy, all-powerful God who rules from heaven.

1 Sam 7:1-4
7:1 So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD. They took it to Abinadab's house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the LORD.
2 It was a long time, twenty years in all, that the ark remained at Kiriath Jearim, and all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD. 3 And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.
NIV

Study Question
What was Samuel’s instructions to the people who sought after God?
Notice his instructions were to the people who were searching after God.
Notice they were searching after God before the Philistines attacked.
The people were ready to hear what Samuel had to say.
They had tried other “gods” and they had failed.

First, they had to get rid of all the idols they had made and worshipped.
What idols do you have right now?
Are you ready to REALLY get rid of them?


Second, they had to dedicate themselves to the Lord.
They had to make a firm commitment of their hearts to follow and obey the Lord
Are we ready to make a serious commitment to follow and obey the Lord and HIM ONLY


Third, they were to worship God only.
When was the last time you worshipped God?
Why are you here today? What are your motives for being here?
Bring my kids to church
S0cial club?
Why are you at Fairview? Are you here for what the church can do for you OR it is because this is where God has called you to SERVE.

1 Sam 7:5-6

5 Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the LORD for you." 6 When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel was leader of Israel at Mizpah.
NIV

Study Question
What was significant about the people pouring water out before the Lord?
Several thoughts
Water was scare. It was a precious and limited commodity.
When the people poured it out, they were signifying their trust in the Lord my demonstrating their belief He would provide for them.
The Lord’s help was more important than life-giving water


Second thought.
Water that is poured out upon parched ground an never be retrieved, so the people vowed by this symbolic act that they would never “take back” the vows they had made before the Lord
Major point. The people were serious about the commitment they made.

1 Sam 7:7-9

7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 8 They said to Samuel, "Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines." 9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it up as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him.
10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Car.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us." 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again.
Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to her, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the power of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
NIV

Study Question
What was the difference this time when the Philistines approached? Who did they put their trust in?
Notice the first time they wanted the ark to go with them. God, I want you with me as I fight against the enemy
This time they let God do the fighting. God, I cannot win this battle unless you do it. See the difference?


What does the hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” have to do with these verses?
“Here I raise my Ebenezer” is in the second verse of the hymn
Ebenezer means a stone of help. It was a reminder to the Israelites to place their trust in the God of the ark, not in the ark of God.
Do we have any symbols to remind us where we are to place our trust?

Closing

Where do you put your trust?
Not just in crisis, but day by day
How serious are you about seeking the Lord
Lets be a people who trust God for everything and trust Him alone!

Study Questions for Sunday School Lesson This Week

Here are some questions for you to review as you prepare for Sunday School.

1 Samuel 4:1-11  The Philistines and the Israelites were at war. First battle 4000 Israelites were killed. The elders decided to get the ark of the covenant to take with them.

Q Why did they get the ark? What were they hoping would happen?

     Was their plan successful? Why or Why not?

1 Samuel 4:19-22 What was significant about Eli's grandson name?

5:1-12 What happened to the ark with the Philistines?

6:1-16 What test did the Philistines come up with to see if the ark was the source of all their problems

6:19 What happened to some of the Israelites who recovered the ark?

What can we learn about the holiness of God and how casually we take God sometimes?

7:1-4 What was Samuel's instructions to the people who sought after God?

7:5-6 What was significant about the people pouring water out before the Lord?

7:12 What does the hymn " Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" have to do with this verse.

Hope to see everyone in church Sunday

TW

Directory of Members

We are adding "mug shots" to the blog so that everyone can become more familiar with one another by connecting faces with names. If you see your picture without a name, let me know who you are so we can make that connection. If you will click on the pictures, it should take you to the online album I have them saved in. I will add your name to your picture as I get them in. These are just snapshots and in no way are meant to be masterpieces. Having said that, if you would like your image redone, I can take them after Sunday School any day I have my camera with me.

Chris Ellis

Sunday School Lesson 9.14.2008

Thanks for everyone who made comments during the lesson!


Serving the Lord Faithfully


1 Samuel 2-12 – 4:1

Introduction

How faithfully do you serve the Lord?
Can your faithfulness be confirmed by your
Calendar- church attendance, etc
Checkbook- where do you spend your money
Lifestyle
Passions-



Today we will contrast the lives of Eli and his two sons with Samuel


1 Sam 2:12

12 Eli's sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD. 13 Now it was the practice of the priests with the people that whenever anyone offered a sacrifice and while the meat was being boiled, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand. 14 He would plunge it into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot, and the priest would take for himself whatever the fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh.
15 But even before the fat was burned, the servant of the priest would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, "Give the priest some meat to roast; he won't accept boiled meat from you, but only raw."
16 If the man said to him, "Let the fat be burned up first, and then take whatever you want," the servant would then answer, "No, hand it over now; if you don't, I'll take it by force."
17 This sin of the young men was very great in the LORD's sight, for they were treating the LORD's offering with contempt.
NIV


What sins were Eli’s sons committing?
God had specified how the sacrifices were to be performed and what portion the priests were entitled to
Eli’s sons took the meat before the fat was burned off
Took meat even before it was cooked
Threatened to take it by force if the Israelites try to do it by God’s standards


How did God describe Eli’s sons

They were wicked men
NIV says they had no regard for the Lord
KJV says they knew not the Lord

1 Sam 2:18

18 But Samuel was ministering before the LORD-a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.
20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, "May the LORD give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the LORD." Then they would go home. 21 And the LORD was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.
NIV


Contrast Samuel with Eli’s sons
Samuel was ministering before the Lord
Boy was wearing a linen ephod. Why is that significant?
Worn by the priest- foreshadowing of Samuel’s future as a prophet-priest
Verse 21 says Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord

1 Sam 2:22-25

22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 23 So he said to them, "Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. 24 No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear spreading among the LORD's people. 25 If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?" His sons, however, did not listen to their father's rebuke, for it was the LORD's will to put them to death.
NIV


Eli heard about what his sons were doing
Not only were they disobeying God in regard to the sacrifices, they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Moses!
He confronted them about it.
The sons did not listen to their father rebuke.


Why do you think Eli’s sons did not listen to their fathers rebuke

It was the Lord’s will to put them to death!!!
What does that mean?
Eli made a somber statement when he said,
1 Sam 2:25
If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?
NIV


They saw their father as a hypocrite.
What about us?
Its easy to discipline our kids while they are young, but as they get older, they see us for what we are.
The old adage “do as a I say, not as I do” don’t work
Look at what the unnamed prophet says to Eli when he prophesizes their future judgment

1 Sam 2:28-29
29 Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?'
NIV


1 Sam 3:1
3:1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
NIV


Second time it is mentioned that Samuel ministered before the Lord
What does it mean when it says the word of the Lord was rare and there was not many visions?
Most likely due to the sins of Eli and his sons.
Why would God want to send a word to them( except one of judgment) when they don’t do what he has already said?

A lot of symbolism in these verses
Eli- vision weak- physically and spiritually
Lying in his usual place- away from God
Samuel was lying in the temple near the ark- close to God
Lamp of God had not yet gone out- what does that mean?

1 Sam 3:4-6
4 Then the LORD called Samuel.
Samuel answered, "Here I am." 5 And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.
6 Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
"My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."
NIV


God calls out to Samuel
Samuel does not recognize that it was God
Samuel answers as a servant does “Here I am”
Ready to serve anytime anywhere.
Ran to Eli


1 Sam 3:7-9

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
NIV


Why did Samuel not know that it was God that was calling him?
Samuel did not yet know the Lord and the word of the Lord had not been revealed to him
I believe part of the reason was that Eli had not been training Samuel in the ways of the Lord
What about us as parents?
Are we training our kids the word of the Lord
Are we teaching them how to listen for God’s voice

Eli finally figures out that it is the Lord who is calling Samuel.
Gives Samuel good advise on how to answer God if he calls again

1 Sam 3:10

10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
NIV


So for the 4th time God calls Samuel.
I am so glad God keeps calling us!
If we could only be a people who were listening and READY on the first call
Notice that Samuel leaves out a word in his reply to God. Why?
Because he didn’t have a personal relationship with him yet.



Notice some attributes about Samuel
He was young at the time of his call- most scholars think he was around 12 at the time- God sometimes calls children to the ministry at an early age. Critical to begin training our kids early!!!!
He was a servant. He served Eli faithfully even as a child.
He was attentive. He was listening for a voice even though he didn’t understand who it came from and what it was about.

1 Sam 3:11

11 And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family — from beginning to end.
13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, 'The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.'"
15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son."
Samuel answered, "Here I am."
17 "What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you." 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes."
NIV


God tells Samuel what is going to happen to Eli and his family.
Sometimes when God calls us to speak, it may not be a popular message.
A big message for a 12 yo
He was afraid to tell Eli. This was his adopted Dad.
God makes another bold statement- the guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.
What does that mean?

1 Sam 3:19-21

19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
1 Sam 4:1
4:1 And Samuel's word came to all Israel.
NIV


Look at the contrast between the beginning and end of the chapter
Starts with word of the Lord being rare
Ends with The Lord’s word being known all over the region.
Wonder why God’s word is not spreading through our city, state, country, world?
Could it be that his people are not faithfully serving him

Closing

How would describe your faithfulness?
Like Eli and his sons?
Going through the motions
Go to church for any advantages I can get from it?
Not worried about God or what He says?
Hear warning and ignore them because nothing bad has happened to you?
As a parent you are a hypocrite- quit to point out the faults of your children, but not of yourself


As a parent, can God say to you as he did to Eli- you honor your children more than me- you let your kids live anyway they want and don’t do anything about it

Let us strive to be like Samuel.
Serving God faithfully wherever he puts us.
Always listening for the voice of God
Always responding “Here I am”
Ready to hear what God has to say and then DO IT
Then let the Lord work through us so that His word can be proclaimed to everyone.

Revival- Sunday School Emphasis

Brother Mickey has asked all the Sunday School classes to make a special effort to attend the revival meetings. He has asked us to plan on sitting together one night (Monday or Tuesday) so that we can be recognized. I would like to do it on Monday night if possible. Please make every effort to be there Monday. We will sit in the "upper deck" on the left side (organ side).

Sunday School Lesson 9.7.2008

Declaring the Lord’s Grace

Introduction
Today we will start our study of 1 and 2 Samuel. I am looking forward to studying the lives of the prophet Samuel, Saul-the first king of the nation Israel, and King David.

today we begin with the story of the birth of Samuel. The story centers around the faith of Samuel’s mother, Hanna


1 Samuel 1

1:1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. 6 And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"

Notes

story begins by introducing the main players in this story
Elkanah- by what we know a good man -
Hannah- most likely his first wife- name means Gracious- she was barren
Peninnah- second wife- likely married after Hannah was found to be barren-
Eli- the priest

Why was Hannah barren?
because God had closed her womb. No mention that it was because of a spiritual deficit in her or her husband. In fact, the opposite is emphasized. both Hannah and Elkanah were faithful worshipers of the Lord. No mention it was because of marital problems. Bible said that Elkanah would give Hannah a double portion of the meat at the time of sacrifice BECAUSE HE LOVED HER

Point- many times things happen to us that we don’t understand. Sometimes it is the discipline of the Lord. But many times it is a test of our faith.

Point- God is sovereign- He has control over our lives. Many times we need to just acknowledge this and put our faith and trust in Him even when we don’t understand it


Being barren was devastating to Hannah
she loved her husband and wanted to give him children.
very important in that culture- chief purpose in life for a woman
since she couldn’t give Elkanah what he wanted, he married another woman- and had many children
there was a rivalry between the two women
Peninnah quickly reminded Hannah at any opportunity that she could give Elkanah something she couldn’t- children
Every year, it was worse
got to the point that every year when they went to Shiloh for worship, instead of a time of fellowship and worship, Hannah would not eat and just cry

What made it worse if that her husband didn’t get it. As usual, the man doesn’t understand the woman and what she is going through
Have you ever been like Hannah?
Having difficulty in your life that seems beyond your control?
No one understands what you are going through?
Being ridiculed by people close to you?
No one to talk to?

Lets see what Hannah does?



9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD's temple. 10 In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. 11 And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."


I have really struggled with these verses.
First lets look at some important principles about what Hannah does in response to her dilemma
she goes to the only one who can do anything about her situation
she goes to God in prayer and honestly tells Him how she feels
she is bitter,
heart broken
SHE WANTS A SON

Then she goes a step further- she makes a vow with God-
If you give me a son, then I will do three things
give him back to God
not just for a short time, but all the days of his life
he will be a Nazarite- no shaving, no ETOH, avoiding dead bodies-

We have to be very careful when we study these verses.
I don’t want to criticize Hannah for making this deal with God
this was not an uncommon practice back then to make “vows” with God
this was a very unselfish prayer. Basically gave the son back to God

BUT, I don’t think this should serve as a model for us when we are faced with difficult situations.
making deals with God are not usually wise
usually we are asking God for something WE want instead of praying for God’s will for this situation
David story of friend with mother dying and deal she makes
Left her devastated
If we make a deal with God, we better be ready to carry out what we promised- we tend to promise more that we are ready to deliver.
I think it becomes works-based grace. I did something to merit God’s blessing.
What happens the next time when I make a deal and it is not God’s will- did I not bargain enough- do I need to increase my deal.- very slippery slope






12 As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine."
15 "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief."
17 Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."
18 She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

Eli was watching Hannah pray to the Lord.
Since she was praying silently and only moving her lips, he thought she was drunk.

Eli made a several mistakes that we make all the time-
we judge people without taking the time to get all the information
we don’t look for ways to encourage others- easier just to criticize and rebuke and discourage others
spiritually insensitive to God’s presence

Hannah sets him straight
She humbly let him know she has not been drinking ( my lord, your servant)
Instead of pouring of wine, she had been pouring her soul out to God

It is not clear if Eli’s response was one of hope (I hope God does what you asks him) or one of confirmation (may God grant you your request)

It had a positive impact on Hannah. She ate something and “perked up”
she had a placed her confidence and trust in God
She came before the Lord bitter, mournful, but left full of peace and confidence

19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."
21 When the man Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, 22 Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always."
23 "Do what seems best to you," Elkanah her husband told her. "Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good his word." So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
24 After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. 25 When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, 26 and she said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there.


God blessed Hannah with a son- named him Samuel
When he was three years old- she brought him to Eli

how many of you mothers could give away your only son at 3 years old
To a man who has two crooked sons.

God was faithful to his end of the deal
So was Hannah and Elkanah
There is no hint of Hannah wanting to back out of her vow

In fact, look at v.1 of Chapter 2. Hannah prays and says

MY HEART REJOICES IN THE LORD

Closing

Many of us are going through difficult times or know of friends, family who are.

Most of the times, we don’t understand why God has allowed this to happen to us.

Remember several things

GOD LOVES YOU - he has forever proven that @ the cross
GOD is sovereign- He is in control of everything
We should go to God with our problems
Be honest with God-
I don’t recommend making deals with God.
I think Jesus is our example for this

Matt 26:36-42

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane , and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
NIV

He was in distress. soul overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death

Pleaded with his Father to take the cup away

But instead of making a deal, instead of getting what he wanted, he desperately wanted God’s will done in His life


Finally, when God graciously blesses us. Lets make sure to give him all the glory and declares the Lord’s grace to anyone who will listen

Lets be a people who spend all their time letting everyone know about God’s grace rather than a people who complain when things are not going our way.

First Post!!

Greetings. This is my first post on our new blog. Welcome to our visitors Gene and Connie Laminack. I will be interested in any feedback about my attempt to do the lesson on PowerPoint.  Please pray for me as I try to learn and be effective with this new teaching style. I will attempt to have some study questions ready to view by Sat this week.   Have a great week.

TW