Hannah: Determined Devotion - 1 Samuel 1-2 - May 14, 2006

Sunday School Lesson – Hannah: Determined Devotion – May 14, 2006

This is lesson two (2) in our series, “Godly Women of Devotion.”

Our background scripture is 1 Samuel 1-2

Our focus scripture is 1 Samuel 1:1-2, 6-7, 10-13, 15-18, 20, 27-2:2 (I am using 1 Samuel 1:1-28; 2:1-2)

It is amazing to me what the LORD revealed about this scripture. My prayer is that the HOLY SPIRIT will enlighten each one of you as we explore the hand of GOD at work in the life of Hannah. HIS work in Hannah’s life can give us a glimpse into HIS work in our life or the lives of others. We do not discover GOD’S work through our intellect but GOD reveals HIS work to us.

Last week we studied Ruth and saw how the right choice in her life produced an eternal blessing through her ancestry, JESUS. In this week’s lesson we see that Hannah has a choice. She wants a child and she chooses to go to GOD in prayer and ask HIM for a son. She chooses to make a vow with GOD if HE will grant her a son she will give him back to GOD to serve HIM all of his life. GOD knows Hannah’s heart and knows she means what she says.

Many of us make promises to GOD under certain circumstances, only to forget about our promise when we get what we want.

I recall the story of a man flying on an airplane in a severe thunder storm. The man promised GOD if HE would get him safely back onto the ground, he would give HIM half of his wealth. A priest happened to overhear the man make the promise. When the plane landed safely and as they were getting off the plane, the priest came over to the man and told him that he hoped he would make good on his promise to GOD. Oh, the man replied, “I made GOD an even better deal. I told HIM if I ever got back onto another plane, I would give all my wealth to HIM.” We tend to deal with GOD. Hannah made good on her promise to GOD.

Let’s read 1 Samuel 1:1-6:

1 There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim (ray-muh-thay-im-ZOR-fim) in[1] Or from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim (EE-fra-ihm).[2] Jos 17:14–18 His name was Elkanah (el-KAY-nuh) son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives, the first named Hannah and the second Peninnah (pih-NIN-uh). Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless. 3 This man would go up from his town every year to worship and to sacrifice[3] Ex 23:14–17 to the Lord of • Hosts at Shiloh,[4] Jos 18:1 where Eli’s two sons, Hophni (HAHF-nigh) and Phinehas (FIN-ih-huhs), were the Lord’s priests. 4 Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he always gave portions of the meat[5] Dt 12:17–18 to his wife Peninnah and to each of her sons and daughters. 5 But he gave a double[6] Or gave only one; Hb obscure portion to Hannah, for he loved her even though the Lord had kept her from conceiving. 6 Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the Lord had kept Hannah from conceiving. 7 Whenever she went up to the Lord’s house, her rival taunted her in this way every year. Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 “Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why are you troubled? Am I not better to you than 10 sons?”

The LORD is going to let us see HIS hand at work in the life of Hannah. Hannah means “gracious” or “graciousness.” Hannah is a very determined woman.

The situation is Hannah is wife number one (1) of Elkanah (el-KAY-nuh) and they are childless.

Wife number two (2) is Peninnah (pih-NIN-uh) of Elkanah and she and Elkanah had children both sons and daughters.

Children were considered a blessing from GOD and for a woman to be childless was traumatic for her. On top of the stigma of not having a child, Hannah was ridiculed by wife number 2, Peninnah, for being childless. Since, Peninnah can have children by Elkanah, Hannah knows being childless rests with her. Talk about pressure, that is pressure! No wonder poor Hannah could not conceive.

Elkanah worships GOD and once a year took his entire family to worship GOD in Shiloh. This was the first permanent location of the Tabernacle where the Ark of the Covenant was kept.

Judge/Priest Eli was the Priest in charge at Shiloh along with his two (2) sons. Eli was a faithful man to GOD but he was a poor father. His two (2) sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were doing evil. The sons were sleeping with the women who came to the Tabernacle to worship. They also took the meat which was to be offered as a sacrifice to GOD, before it was dedicated. This situation with Eli and his two (2) sons is important and fits into GOD’S plan for Hannah.

Elkanah loved Hannah. After the sacrifice is made a portion of the meat is available for the worshipers to eat. Elkanah gave a portion of the meat to Peninnah and her children and a double portion of meat to Hannah. Can’t you hear Peninnah mouthing off, “Sure Elkanah give Hannah a double portion because she needs something to help her get pregnant!” Peninnah taunted Hannah to the point Hannah is in tears and cannot eat.

Elkanah tells Hannah he is better to her than ten (10) sons. The ideal Jewish family is either seven (7) or (10) sons. It would have been better if Elkanah had told Hannah that she was better to him than ten (10) sons.

Also, another possible point fueling Peninnah’s taunting of Hannah could be that Elkanah spent more alone time with Hannah in an effort to get her to conceive, than he did with Peninnah.

So we see the situation, it is not good and very frustrating to both women and especially to Hannah.

My original thought was that Hannah was so uptight she could not get pregnant. So I questioned if it was GOD not allowing her to conceive or her attitude. The LORD revealed it was HIM. Hannah being uptight may have been the way GOD used to keep Hannah from conceiving until everything was in place for Hannah to conceive. It was GOD that closed her womb until the exact time she was to conceive. We will explore this further later on.

Let’s read 1 Samuel 1:9-18:

9 Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh.[7] LXX adds and presented herself before the Lord Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s tabernacle. 10 Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears. 11 Making a vow, she pleaded, “Lord of Hosts, if You will take notice of Your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give Your servant a son,[8] Lit a seed of men I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”[9] Lit and no razor will go up on his head [10] Nm 6:5; Jdg 13:5; 16:7 12 While she was praying in the Lord’s presence, Eli watched her lips. 13 Hannah was speaking to herself,[11] Lit to her heart and although her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and scolded her, “How long are you going to be drunk? Get rid of your wine!” 15 “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven’t had any wine or beer; I’ve been pouring out my heart before the Lord. 16 Don’t think of me as a wicked woman;[12] 1 Sm 2:12 I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.” 17 Eli responded, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the petition you’ve requested from Him.” 18 “May your servant find favor with you,” she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer appeared downcast.[13] Lit and her face was not to her again

Elkanah and all his family are in Shiloh worshiping. Poor Hannah is distraught. She cannot eat and gets up from the table and goes to pray. The Priest Eli is sitting at the entrance to the Tabernacle. Hannah is pouring her heart out to the LORD in prayer.

Hannah is a faithful, Godly woman and she is the only woman mentioned in scripture to go to the Tabernacle to seek GOD. She is the only woman in the Old Testament whose prayer is recorded, to make a vow and use the covenant name of Yahweh as much. She uses a term in her prayer that has not been used in the Bible up to this time. She refers to the LORD as the “LORD of Hosts” which means Army or Almighty. She viewed GOD as being able to do anything and she was petitioning HIM for a miracle. She wants GOD to give her a son and if so, she will give that son back to HIM. Hannah has strong faith in GOD.

In Jewish tradition, the first born son is dedicated to GOD but the child remains at home. It was more of a formality. Hannah said if GOD would give her a son, she would allow her son to be raised by the Priests and be totally committed to GOD. She would see to it that he never cut his hair, which is part of the Nazirite vow.
Now we see the reason GOD closed the womb of Hannah. It was closed until she was willing to give the child to GOD. GOD had a plan to shape the future of the Nation of Israel through her child. Eli’s sons were evil and did not qualify to do GOD’S work. GOD had a plan to replace them with the child born to Hannah and Elkanah. GOD wanted Eli to raise the child and teach him.

As Hannah prayed Eli could not hear her words, which is important to remember but he can see her lips move. So Eli knows she is saying something.
Now flash back, Eli’s sons were known to consort with the women coming to the Tabernacle. Eli knew there was consumption of alcohol by his sons and the women visiting the Tabernacle. So Eli’s conclusion could have been, this woman has been mingling with my sons and is drunk. Eli tells her so. To the horror of Hannah, she says NO, you are mistaken. This accusation breaks Hannah’s heart. She knows what Eli is thinking and she sets him straight that she is not a wicked woman. Eli realizes Hannah is not drunk and has not done what he had originally thought. I think he is somewhat taken back by his presumption. Her remarks certainly got Eli’s attention. Remember Eli does not know what Hannah has prayed and asked of the LORD. I think Eli feels embarrassed that he wrongly accused Hannah and concludes she is a faithful woman. And whatever she has asked of the LORD was very important to her, so he joins with her, asking GOD to grant her request.

This confirmation by Eli is exactly what she needs to hear. Now, she does not know that Eli did not hear what she had asked of the LORD. Did she assume that Eli had heard and joined in with her to petition GOD to grant her a son? We do not know, but we do know when she left the Tabernacle her burden was lifted and she had a new, confident outlook on life. Hannah leaves making a statement to Eli, “May your servant find favor with you.” I think she is saying, in due time you will see that GOD will vindicate me by granting me a son. You will see me again when GOD answers my prayer, I bring my son back to you to fulfill the vow I made to GOD. Eli did not know what she had requested of GOD but in time he would know.
This is somewhat of a second chance for Eli to be the kind of father he should have been to his two (2) sons.

Let’s read 1 Samuel 1:19-28:

Samuel’s Birth and Dedication

19 The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow and to worship the Lord. Afterwards, they returned home to Ramah. Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.[14] 1 Sm 1:11; Gn 8:1; 30:22 20 After some time,[15] Lit In the turning of the days Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,[16] Possibly a wordplay for requested from God because [she said]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. , “I requested him from the Lord.” 21 When Elkanah and all his household went up to make the annual sacrifice and his vow offering to the Lord, 22 Hannah did not go and explained to her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll take him to appear in the Lord’s presence and to stay there permanently.” 23 Her husband Elkanah replied, “Do what you think is best,[17] Lit what is good in your eyes and stay here until you’ve weaned him. May the Lord confirm your[18] DSS, LXX, Syr; MT reads His word.”[19] Nm 30:13 So Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, as well as a three-year-old bull,[20] DSS, LXX, Syr; MT reads Shiloh with three bulls two and one-half gallons[21] Lit bull and an ephah of flour, and a jar of wine.[22] Nm 15:9–10 Though the boy was [still]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. young,[23] Lit And the youth was a youth she took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli. 26 “Please, my lord,” she said, “as sure as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. 27 I prayed for this boy, and since the Lord gave me what I asked Him for,[24] 1 Sm 1:17,20 28 I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.”[25] 1 Sm 1:11 Then he[26] DSS read she; some Hb mss, Syr, Vg read they bowed and worshiped the Lord there.[27] LXX reads Then she left him there before the Lord

Elkanah and Hannah return home and she conceives. A son is born and Hannah names him Samuel. When Hannah weans Samuel who could have been between 3 and 5 years old, she took Samuel back to Shiloh. Elkanah is in agreement with her. Hannah takes Samuel to Eli and reminds him “I am the woman who stood beside you praying.” I am the woman you thought was drunk, do you remember? When we put our foot in our mouth, we always remember. I think GOD used that incident with Eli as a marker in Eli’s life so he would recall that moment without hesitation. Eli must have thought to himself, “You bet I remember and I will never forget it as long as I live.” That is exactly what GOD wanted him to do, to remember. This child Hannah was bringing to him was an answer to prayer. GOD’S hand was upon this child from the very beginning. So Eli had better pay close attention. Hannah is saying to Eli, this boy is the answer to my prayer, which you confirmed with me. I promised GOD if HE would give me a son, I would give him back to HIM. Eli knew she had been very passionate in her prayer and knew that GOD had answered her prayer. Now he knew what she had asked of the LORD.

Let’s read 1 Samuel 2:1-2:

Hannah’s Triumphant Prayer

1 Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in the Lord; my • horn is lifted up by the Lord.[1] Ps 75:4–5,10; 92:10 My mouth boasts over my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. 2 There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one besides You! And there is no rock like our God.[2] 2 Sm 7:22; Ps 18:31

Compare the prayer of Hannah to the song of Mary, the mother of JESUS.

Luke 1:46-55:

46 And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of[21] Or soul magnifies the Lord,[22] 1 Sm 2:1–10 47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, 48 because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His • slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 because the Mighty One[23] Ps 89:8; Zph 3:17 has done great things for me, and His name is holy. 50 His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. 51 He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; 52 He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. 53 He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy,[24] Because He remembered His mercy; see Ps 98:3 55 just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants[25] Or offspring; lit seed forever.

Was Mary influenced by the prayer of Hannah, which was recorded about 1000 years earlier? Did the story of Hannah give Mary courage to be obedient to serve GOD, even as a pregnant young virgin? We do not know but both women were servants of the Most High, GOD Almighty, and the LORD of Hosts.

Hannah was vindicated by GOD and she rejoiced. GOD blesses Hannah and Elkanah with more children. But GOD needed Samuel to be dedicated to HIM to serve HIM as a priest.

Last week we studied about Ruth and Boaz being brought together by GOD to produce Obed, who produced Jesse, who produced David. David is the eighth son of Jesse.

GOD wanted Hannah and Elkanah to produce Samuel at the right time so he could be used by GOD to mark the end of the period of judges and to anoint the first two (2) kings of Israel, Saul and David.

Eli’s sons disqualified themselves from being GOD’S servants. GOD needed a person dedicated to serve HIM. Hannah had to be brought to the point that she would give her child to GOD. GOD had a plan, but needed a dedicated person HE could trust and rely upon to be obedient to HIM to carry out HIS plan. That person is Samuel, the last Judge of Israel.

Have you ever wondered why GOD seems to delay in the request we make of HIM? HIS timing is always perfect according to HIS plan. We must trust and wait upon the LORD.

When Hannah left the Tabernacle the day she poured out her heart to GOD, she was sure GOD had heard her and was willing to accept whatever answer GOD had for her. She knew GOD would answer, just not how or when HE would answer. She rested in that fact and returned home with a smile on her face and great confidence in her heart. GOD was in control. Hannah had an encounter with GOD. After the birth of Samuel Hannah birthed three (3) additional sons and two (2) daughters.