SERMON OUTLINE
A divided home (vs 1-8).
A devout prayer (vs 9-18).
A distinguished son (vs 19-28).
SERMONBODY:
Ill:
• David Cameron's new Cabinet were all dining together in a very posh London restaurant,
• The waiter asked the P.M. what he wanted to eat,
• David Cameron replied; “I’ll have the roast beef please”
• The waiter then asked, “And what about the vegetables?”
• Without looking up the P.M. replied, “They will have the same!”
We all moan about our leaders – but good leadership is essential in all areas of life:
• We need good leadership in our homes,
• We need good leadership in our Churches,
• We need good leadership in our nation!
The Hebrew people (the Israelites, the Jews) experienced four types of leadership in the Old Testament:
• FIRST: From approximately 2000 to 1500 BC - Israel was led by ‘patriarchs’;
• Although technically Israel was not a nation at this point.
• What would become the nation was led by patriarchs; that is heads of families,
• i.e. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph.
• SECOND: From approximately 1500 to 1000 BC - Israel was led by ‘prophets’
• i.e. Moses to Samuel.
• THIRD: From approximately 1000 to 500 BC - Israel was led by ‘princes’ (or kings)
• i.e. Saul through Zedekiah.
• FOURTH: From 500 years leading up to the time of Christ - Israel was led by ‘priests’
• i.e. Joshua through to Annas and Caiaphas.
Samuel the Bible book that you are beginning to studying:
• Describes that second phase of leadership:
• From prophets to princes (or kings).
• The nation was moving from a theocracy to a monarchy.
• A theocracy (God through his prophets and a series of Judges);
• To a monarchy (“People asked for a human king”)
The story of this first book is built around two main characters;
• Samuel who is the last Judge and he is born in chapter 1.
• The beginning of the book.
• And Saul who became the first king and who died in chapter 31.
• The last chapter of the book.
• Now if these are the two main characters;
• There are two more key characters in their shadows.
• In the shadow of Samuel we will find a declining Eli.
• In the shadow of Saul an inclining David.
• (The Jews still speak of King David’s reign as the golden era of peace and prosperity).
Note:
• Yet the book starts off Israel at a low point spiritually:
• We see a deterioration and decay in the nation;
Quote chapter 3 verse 1b:
“…In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.”
• In other words you could come to worship God;
• But it was very unusual to hear God speak!
• You might hear the voice of the priest;
• You might hear the hustle and the bustle of activity;
• But it was very rare to encounter God!
• That sadly means that most the people who went up to worship came home disappointed!
• They left as empty and godless as when they had arrived.
Yet the book starts off Israel at a low point spiritually, we see deterioration and decay in the nation;
• i.e. The priesthood was corrupt (1 Samuel 2: 12-17 & 22-26),
• i.e. The Ark of the Covenant was not at the tabernacle (1 Samuel 4:3 – 7:2),
• i.e. Idolatry was practiced (1 Samuel 7:3-4),
• i.e. The judges were dishonest (1 Samuel 8:2-3).
• So the book starts off with Israel at a low point spiritually;
• It was a period of deterioration and decay.
• Yet in time;
• Through the godly influence & leadership of Samuel the prophet and David the king;
• These conditions would be reversed.
• At the end of second Samuel we read that (2 Samuel 24:25).
• The anger of the Lord was withdrawn from Israel.
Ill:
• Dr. John Geddie was a Scots-Canadian missionary;
• Who was known as "the father of Presbyterian missions in the South Seas”;
• In 1848 he pioneered missionary work in the New Hebrides islands, Aneityum (Anatom);
• And worked there for God for 24 years.
• On the tablet erected to his memory these words are inscribed:
• ‘When he landed, in 1848, there were no Christians.
• When he left, in 1872, there were no heathen’.
Wow! That is what you call having an influence on people:
• Samuel & David would lead and influence their nations;
• And through their godly influence & leadership;
• The nation’s spiritual decline would be reversed.
Note:
• In the Old Testament, when God has a special purpose for a man;
• There is often something special about his birth.
• i.e. Samuel, Isaac & Jacob are Old Testament examples of that;
• i.e. John the Baptist and even Jesus are New Testament examples of that;
• When there is a problem in Israel's history,
• God began to solve the problem by sending a baby.
• Babies are God's announcement that He knows the need,
• That he cares about His people, and is at work on their behalf.
• The arrival of a baby ushers in new life and a new beginning;
• Babies are signposts to the future,
• And their conception and birth is a miracle that only God can do!
Note:
• To make the event of new life being born to bring hope and change;
• God sometimes selects barren women to be the mothers,
• It’s as if he drawing attention to the event;
• That this child will not be ordinary!
• So God sometimes selects barren women to be the mothers of these great individuals:
• i.e. God allowed Isaac to be born the infertile wife called Sarah,
• i.e. God allowed Jacob and Esau to be born the sterile wife called Rebekah,
• i.e. God allowed And Joseph to be born the childless wife called Rachel
ill:
• An American tourist visited a tiny English village;
• He saw an old gentleman sitting on a bench, sat next to him and they started talking.
• The tourist said; “Tell me, have any great men been born in this village?”
• Without looking up the old man replied, “No….just babies!”
• The greatest men – whoever they are - were all once babies.
• The godliest of men – whoever they are - were all once toddlers.
• In the Old Testament, when God has a special purpose for a man;
• There is often something special about his birth.
• And we see that illustrated in 1 Samuel chapter 1.
(Let’s divide chapter 1 under 3 headings):
A divided home (vs 1-8).
“1There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah…. 2He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.”
• Elkanah was from the Hebrew tribe of Levi,
• The Levites were different to the other 11 tribes.
• i.e. They were not allowed to be landowners,
• i.e. The Tribe of Levi (only them) served as priests for the Israelite nation;
• The Levites were scattered throughout the land,
• But when needed they would go to Shiloh to minister & serve at the tabernacle.
• Shiloh is about 20 miles north of Jerusalem towards Samaria.
• This is where Joshua had set up the tabernacle (Joshua 18:1);
• This is where the tabernacle symbolised God’s presence.
• Elkanah appears to be a good and godly man,
• Except… that he had two wives.
Ill:
• A Mormon Polygamist once argued with American author & humourist Mark Twain:
• Over the issue of having more than one wife.
• Mormon Polygamist said "Nowhere in the bible does it say a man can't have two wives."
• Mark Twain: "Sure it does."
• Mormon Polygamist: "Where?"
• Mark Twain: "Didn’t Jesus say, 'You cannot serve two masters.'"
Elkanah had two wives:
• Apparently Hannah was his first wife, and she was the wife he truly loved (vs 5):
• But she was infertile, and so unable to have children.
• So Elkanah did what was common in his culture and at this time.
• He married a second wife called Peninnah.
• For him it was problem solved;
• Peninnah could produce the sons that he wanted,
• Peninnah could produce his future heirs and sons;
Now because the centre of worship at this time was at Shiloh:
• As instructed by Moses (Exodus 23:14-19):
• Each year Elkanah took his family up to Shiloh to worship,
• As instructed by Moses (Deuteronomy 12:1- 7):
• Together as a family they ate a meal as a part of their worship
Now this yearly visit to the tabernacle should have been a joyful event for Hannah:
• But verses 6-7 tell us that each year Peninnah the second wife;
• Used it as an opportunity to annoy her rival Hannah and make fun of her barrenness.
• Because Elkanah was able to have children by Peninnah,
• Peninnah & Hannah knew that the problem lay
• And Peninnah was not slow in reminding Hannah of her failure, her let-down as a wife!
Ill:
The Hebrew people throughout the Bible piously looked upon children as;
• "An heritage from the Lord" (Psalm 127:3),
• They saw children as a source of strength and a sign of God’s blessing.
• "Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them" (Psalm 127:5);
• "Your children, like olive-shoots, around your table…
• Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord" (Psalm 128:3-4)
So they very naturally looked upon the opposite state of childlessness as a grave misfortune:
• To them it was a clear indication that you were not blessed of God:
• Because you did not have the tangible blessing of a child.
• Even at the time of Jesus this attitude was predominant and widespread:
• Quote: William Barclay:
• “The Jewish Rabbis said that seven types of people were ex-communicated from God;
• And the list began;
• A Jew who has no wife;
• Or a Jew who has a wife and who has no child”
• In fact childlessness was a valid ground for divorce.
• So well as being a personal heart-ache to those individuals who could not have children;
• It was both a significant social & spiritual stigma.
Note:
• The name "Hannah" means "a woman of grace,"
• Grace means ‘unmerited, undeserved, favour or kindness’.
• And Hannah demonstrated, she displays that undeserved kindness;
• In the way she dealt with her barrenness and Peninnah's attitude and cruel words.
A devout prayer (vs 9-18).
• Verse 10:
• “In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly”
• During one of the festive meals at Shiloh,
• Hannah stood up. She didn’t have any appetite for food.
• She had something else on her mind.
Notice: Hannah's prayer had four characteristics:
(A). IT WAS SHARPLY FOCUSED.
Ill:
Her prayer was more like a sniper-shot than a shotgun-blast.
• Hannah's prayer was direct - She prayed to God to give her a son.
• She left God in no doubt of what she wanted. A son - Any son would do!
• She did not pray for a beautiful son, or an intelligent son, or one that was perfectly formed.
• She left God in no doubt of what she wanted. A son - Any son would do!
(B). IT WAS FROM THE HEART.
• Verse 11: She said in all honesty:
• “If you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me”.
• Hannah told God how she felt.
• She expressed her heartache, her misery and her situation.
• Quote: Leonard Ravenhill (
• “God doesn’t answer prayer, he answers desperate prayer!”
Ill:
• Frank Whicher - would pray in our mid-week prayer meeting for his children,
• He prayed and soon the words stopped and the tears flow.
• If you go to Duncan Road Church you will meet Jenny;
• She is the visible answer to the many prayers of Frank.
• Hannah poured out her heart to God;
• This time she knew God had heard her prayer.
• We read (vs 18) that:
• “She went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.”
(C). IT APPEALED TO GOD'S GRACE.
• Hannah did not grumble, moan and complain to God.
• She didn't say to God,
• "It's not fair! I am a good wife.
• Why have you given that Penninah children and not me? I deserve a baby too."
• The grace of God is reflected in the name Hannah gave her baby son
• She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him." (vs 20)
• All Hannah did was ask - the grace of God did the rest.
(D). IT WAS A SACRIFICIAL PRAYER.
• Hannah’s prayer was sacrificial, it was costly;
• Because in verse 11 because she vowed to give her son back to the Lord.
• She set him aside to be a Nazirite (i.e. Numbers chapter 6);
• She set him aside to serve the Lord all his life.
Question: Was Hannah "bargaining" with the Lord? Trying to pull off a deal?
Answer: I don't think so.
• Bearing a son would have removed her disgrace & perhaps ended her rival's persecution,
• But giving up the son was another matter.
• Perhaps it would have been easier for her to go on living in barrenness;
• Than to have a child for three years and have to give him up forever.
A distinguished son (vs 19-28).
Quote: Josh Billings
“Consider the postage stamp, my son.
Its usefulness consists in sticking to one thing till it gets there. “
• Like a postage stamp Hannah’s prayers always contained one plea;
• “Lord, please give me a son”.
• And in these verses we see that son, the visual answer to Hannah’s many prayers.
She conceived, and when her child was born it was a son and she named him Samuel.
• The name Samuel is made up of three Hebrew words:
• ‘Sa-al’ meaning "asked," and ‘Sama’ means "heard,"
• And ‘El’ is one of the names for God, so Samuel means "heard of God" or "asked of God."
• Samuel was born in answer to the many prayers of his mother;
• And all his life, Samuel was both an answer to prayer and a great man of prayer.
• And as promised when Samuel is about two to three years old;
• He is presented to Eli the priest to serve in the temple.
• Hannah then prays again, this time a prayer of dedication.;
• The prayer reflects her confidence and joy in God.
Samuel had a big advantage in his life that I for one did not have:
• He had a praying family!
• A mother who prayed for him each day.
ill:
• Ruth Donaghy of this fellowship child-minds;
• She looks after children between the end of school until parents finish work & can collect them.
• She was talking to some of the children she looks after about prayer;
• One of the girls said; “We don’t know how to pray!”
• Ruth explained praying is just talking to God;
• She then said, “Don’t you know anyone who prays?”
• One of the girls replied;
• “Only Gordon Curley – he prays when he comes into our school to do an assembly!”
• How sad these kids have no-one who prays for them!
• In my family my kids have never had a day when someone has not prayed for them!
Samuel had at least one person who prayed for him regularly:
• This chapter teaches us a simple truth;
• They show us the effect that a godly mother had on this one child.
Quote: BILLY GRAHAM who said:
“Children will invariably talk, eat, walk, think, respond, and act like their parents.
Give them a target to shoot at. Give them a goal to work toward. Give them a pattern that they can see clearly, and you give them something that gold and silver cannot buy”.
• Timothy’s mother and grandmother had given him something that gold and silver cannot buy.
• A sincere faith, that brought him into contact with the living Christ.
