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.