Intro and background to 1 Samuel: The record of the establishment of Israel’s monarchy in 1050 BC. Samuel led Israel as prophet, priest, and judge. Israel demanded a king, so Saul was placed on the throne. When Saul strayed away from God, David was anointed as king. David killed Goliath making David the eventual leader of Saul’s army. Saul becomes jealous of David and causes David to flee. 1 Samuel ends with Saul’s death.
Hannah’s Pain (1 Samuel 1:3-8)
She had great pain. A person’s worth in this Jewish culture, was their ability to have children.
Hannah’s Prayer (1 Samuel 1:9-11)
She was desperately dependent on God!
God’s Purpose (1 Samuel 1:15)
God’s purpose is that we glorify Him! It may not be His will for us to see physical healing on this side of eternity. What is more important than our physical healing is our satisfaction in God. We have to come to a place in our lives in which we say, ”Christ, if it’s your will to heal me, to God be the glory, if it’s not your will, your purpose and your glory have a greater reason than my pain.”
She had been pouring out her soul before the Lord. She was dependent on God. Paul was dependent on God.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 “7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
God has a purpose that we may never see this side of Heaven. May we trust Him! May we praise Him! May we shout with joy even in our pain Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Hebrews 10:32-34 “But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.”
God has a purpose even in our pain, for His glory!
Hannah’s Praise (1 Samuel 1:19)
When did she praise God? She worshipped even before Samuel. She worshipped God even before she was granted Samuel. May our pain lead us to the deepest longing to worship Christ! May the pain of life thrust us to longing for Christ that much greater. Job 1:21 “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
God’s Prophet (1 Samuel 1:20)
Samuel was the prophet who would advise Israel during the time of transition between the judges and the kings. The question we must ask ourselves, would God still be just even if He didn’t give Hannah a son?
