Every mother that is here today is special. Every mother that couldn’t be here today is special. We have some brand new mothers, and we have some veterans! But all of them have the privilege of being called ‘Mom’. My mom gave me a poem several years before she passed away entitled "The World’s Meanest Mother".
By now, I hope you have caught on. Sometimes it isn’t until we have grown up that we really appreciate our mothers. And even more so when they are gone. Perhaps you are thinking, ‘my mother isn’t like that’. That may be true, but this morning I want to challenge mothers, fathers, and children alike with an account in Scripture of a magnificent mother. Her name was Hannah.
I. Notice Her Sorrow. (1-8)
A. Because of the times.
1. During the period of the Judges, foreigners had overrun the land and were oppressing the people.
2. The nation of Israel had rejected God’s rule over them.
3. There was no central government to maintain law and order.
4. At the close of the Book of Judges, God’s Word says, "...every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
5. It was a difficult time for all to live, but especially difficult for those who sought to serve God faithfully.
6. The nation was at an all time low both morally and spiritually.
B. Because of her family.
1. Elkanah was her husband.
a. He is the spiritual leader of the home.
b. He was faithful to worship at the tabernacle in Shiloh. v3
c. He loved Hannah, his wife. v5
d. In all of this Elkanah becomes an example to be followed by husbands everywhere.
e. You might wonder why Hannah would be sorrowful with a husband like Elkanah.
f. I know of many women who would love to have a husband who was faithful in his service to God and who loved his wife.
2. BUT! Elkanah had a problem.
a. He had been influenced by the world in which he lived.
b. He had overstepped God’s plan for marriage and had taken a second wife.
c. God did tolerate that practice in the Old Testament, but it was never intended.
d. The more of the world we allow into our homes; the more we suffer for it spiritually!
3. Elkanah’s problem effected the relationship he had with Hannah.
a. Although Elkanah was a spiritual leader...
b. Although he loved Hannah very much ...
c. Hannah was sorrowful over the fact that he had taken another wife.
C. Because of her childlessness. v2
1. Bearing children was of the utmost importance to a marriage relationship and to the fulfillment of a woman under the O.T. culture.
2. However, ‘the Lord had shut up her womb’ and she had no children.
a. When they went up to Shiloh to worship God there were certain sacrifices offered and a portion of them were returned to the offerer and together the family would enjoy a sacrificial feast. See v3-5.
b. Elkanah wants to assure Hannah that he loved her even though she had bore him no children. So he gave her a ‘worthy portion’ or a double portion. Now, Penninah was jealous over this special treatment and she began to taunt Hannah over her childlessness.
3. Penninah became her adversary and provoked her greatly. v6-7
4. Elkanah could not understand her sorrow and grief he thought that his love and concern for her would be enough. v8
D. Consider this godly woman.
1. She could have dropped into a fit of depression like had never been seen before.
2. She could have given up on trying to live a godly life; blaming God for her trouble.
3. She lived in extremely wicked days, her husband had married another woman who was not an easy person to get along with, and she was unable to do the one thing she needed in order to fulfill her life!
4. Hannah becomes an excellent example to all women who would live godly lives today!
a. Her world was a wicked place to live
b. Her husband had allowed worldly influence to invade their life.
c. She carried a tremendously heavy burden and her husband didn’t understand.
d. And yet with all of this against her; she still remained faithful to God!
II. Notice Her Supplication. (9-18)
A. Her correct response to her problems. v9-10
1. She did not go back to her mother and seek solace and comfort...
2. She did not seek legal counsel to try to get out of her situation.
3. She never sought out a psychiatrist for extensive therapy.
4. She went to the only One who could possibly help her.
B. Her sincere prayer. v11-18
1. She was not asking for a son in order to gain her husbands favor; she already had that.
2. She was not asking for a son to flaunt before Penninah.
3. She wasn’t asking for a son in order to have a great posterity; as was the normal reason for desiring a son.
4. NOTE: v11 "...give thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life..."
a. The reason she wants a son is so she might in turn give him back to the Lord for life-long service.
b. She offered her son to the Lord as a Nazarite (one who was set apart to serve the Lord in a specific way for a stated period of time).
c. Hannah was not offering her son to God for a period of time, but for all the days of his life.
d. She wants to give to God the most precious gift she can thin of: a Son!
e. Here is a great example for Christian parents; to dedicate their children to the Lord.
1) that means we have some very important tasks before us as parents:
2) we must set godly examples for them
3) we must pray for them
4) we must teach them the things of God
5) we must train them in such a manner that their thoughts will turn to serving God with their lives
6) it amounts to more self- dedication than the dedication of children
C. Her prayer was answered. v19
1. She saw the answer to her prayer when she prayed properly and with the right motive.
2. Hannah had prayed often, but not until now did she receive the answer.
3. Jas. 4:3, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."
4. Hannah asked properly and ‘the Lord remembered her’.
III. Notice Her Surrender. (20-28)
A. Her son is born. v20-23
1. She named him Samuel: meaning God has heard.
2. She was determined to follow through with her promise to God. v22
3. Again she gives an excellent example for us that we might follow through with our commitments. cf. Eccl. 5:4-5
4. Hebrew women nursed their children until they were about three years old.
B. Her son is surrendered. v24-28
1. Now it was time for Samuel to begin his service for God.
2. Only a mother could possibly realize how great a sacrifice that Hannah was making.
3. But Hannah believed God and trusted Him to take care of her son.
4. She ‘lent’ him to the Lord means that she totally gave him over to the Lord.
C. Her faith is rewarded.
1. Many Christian parents are willing to say that they dedicate their children...
2. But when it comes time to say good-bye they balk!
3. Often they find themselves trying to discourage them from full-time service.
4. God’s rewards far outweigh the sacrifices!
5. NOTE: 1 Sa. 2:21
6. Samuel became one of the greatest men of God found within the pages of the O.T.
The lesson of 1 Samuel 1 is ‘give your children to God’, but before we can do that we must first give ourselves to God. Before we can dedicate our children we must first dedicate ourselves to God’s service. Hannah gave her son, but we must not forget that God gave His Son that we might have everlasting life.
1) Mothers and Fathers, do you know Christ today?
2) Christian parents, are you living godly lives for your children to follow?
3) Do you pray for their spiritual well-being?
4) Are you teaching them the Word of God?
5) Are you committed to training your children for life-long service to God?
You can start right now!