Bible Study - Second Nature (6) - Hannah: Trust-Filled Prayer - 1 Samuel 1:9-18; 2:1-3 - nOVEMBER 19, 2017

Bible Study – Second Nature (6) – Hannah: Trust-Filled Prayer- November 19, 2017

This is lesson six (6) in our series entitled “Second Nature.”

Our focus scripture is 1 Samuel 1:9-11, 17-18, 26-28; 2:1-3.

CHRIST-centered living chooses prayer, not helplessness.

What is prayer? Prayer is talking to GOD but first a person must believe that GOD exists. GOD revealed Himself to the Israelites. They chose the One True GOD, YAHWEH, Who revealed HIS name to Moses. HIS name means, as recorded in Exodus 3:14: 14 And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

GOD has always existed. HE has no beginning and no end.

GOD loves each of us regardless of what sin we may have committed in our lives. HE forgives when we ask HIM, cleanses and restores us.

GOD is love but also HE is the GOD of wrath.

Our lesson on Hannah reveals the heart of GOD toward Hannah. Hannah’s heart needed to be brought into sync with GOD’S plan.  

Our former pastor was also a counselor. He said the Chinese symbol (ideogram) for trouble is two women living under one roof. 

This was Hannah’s situation. Hannah was Elkanah’s first wife but he had a second wife. Her name was Peninnah and she was very fertile and produced children. Peninnah taunted Hannah because of Hannah’s inability to conceive and bare children. This was a serious source of emotional trauma for Hannah.

Hannah loved her husband and he loved her. Elkanah treated Hannah well and did not hold it against her for not being able to produce a child. But Elkanah’s love and care did not comfort her for not being able to conceive and birth a child. What was she to do? Where would she turn? To whom would she turn? Let’s explore!

Let’s read 1 Samuel 1:1-16:

Hannah's Vow

1 There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah 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. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.

Hannah was the first wife of Elkanah. Hannah was childless which likely led Elkanah to seek a second wife.

3 This man would go up from his town every year to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord's priests.

Shiloh was located about 30 miles from Jerusalem. It had become a primary site for worship because a tabernacle with an altar for offering sacrifices had been constructed there. There Elkanah would offer sacrifices each year. 

4 Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he always gave portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to each of her sons and daughters.

5 But he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved her even though the Lord had kept her from conceiving.

This practice expressed Elkanah’s love and respect for Hannah. This did not set well with wife number two, Peninnah as we learn as we read on ---

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?"

Elkanah’s reassurance of his love and devotion to Hannah was not enough for Hannah to get beyond the fact that she had not conceived and birth a baby. 

Peninnah knew that she was getting to Hannah. What was Hannah to do? She was distraught. 

Keep in mind that Hannah’s husband loved her and she knew it. However, what was Hannah’s relationship with GOD? Was she bitter toward GOD because HE had not given her a child? There are times in our lives when we need to be honest with GOD.

9 Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh. 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, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut."

Notice, Hannah’s prayer was “If YOU will?”  It seems that Hannah was yielding to GOD. GOD, please pay attention to me. She was committing her life to GOD. She made her request. 

Often, we have to get to the end of our will and desire and place our faith and confidence in GOD. She referred to GOD as the “LORD OF Hosts,” which is evidence that she had placed her prayer into the hands of GOD WHO has the power to make her request come about. It also carries the idea of complete confidence and conviction that GOD hears and answers the earnest requests of those who love HIM. It is a reflection of her faith in GOD. She placed her request into GOD’S hands and would leave it there and trust HIM with the result.

That is exactly what GOD needed for Hannah to do. HE needed to bring Hannah to the point of her being willing to give HIM her first born because HE had a plan for him, Samuel. Samuel would anoint King David to succeed King Saul. GOD’S ways are not our ways. We get to see HIS hand working to prepare someone who will be used in the years to come. Hannah’s son, Samuel, would anoint the future of Israel, King David, who would be in the lineage of JESUS.

GOD has a plan for your life. DO NOT GIVE UP ON GOD BECAUSE HE HAS NOT GIVEN UP ON YOU! PRESS ON BECAUSE “JOY COMES IN THE MORNING.”

12 While she was praying in the Lord's presence, Eli watched her lips.

Eli the priest was observing her. Often, what we think or observe misses the mark of reality.

13 Hannah was speaking to herself, 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!"

Priest Eli jumped to a conclusion which GOD used for the benefit of Hannah.

You talk about adding insult to injury, the priest thought poor, distraught Hannah was DRUNK! This false assumption by Eli may have been GOD’S way of getting Eli to take a personal interest in Hannah and listen to her explanation why she had a heavy and broken heart.

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; I've been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment."

Hannah poured out her heart to GOD. She acknowledged that she was angry and harbored resentment. Was she angry with GOD or Peninnah and/or others or all? The point is that she dug deep within herself and came at grips with the source of her situation. It wasn’t GOD, her husband, Peninnah or others. It was her and she was the only one who could do something about it with GOD’S help.

Let’s read 1 Samuel 1:17-18 and 26-28:

17 Eli responded, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the petition you've requested from Him."

Eli did not know what her petition was but he knew that whatever it was, she was broken hearted and was seeking GOD for a solution. She apparently did not mention the promise she made to GOD, which was if she had a son, she would dedicate him to GOD. This is good because, this agreement was between Hannah and GOD. She could have backed out when the baby was born but we know she was sincere because we know the rest of the story.

How many times do we renege on a promise we have made to GOD if HE would help us out of a jam? We need to confess such times and seek HIS forgiveness. Doing so helps us build the right relationship with GOD.

18 "May your servant find favor with you," she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer appeared downcast.

In essence, it seems that Hannah was saying, “When GOD answers my prayers may you be pleased with the results.” When we pray and ask GOD and HE says “YES!” there is a peace and an assurance that HE has heard and there will be a result. Hannah left her place of worship with that sweet assurance that GOD had heard her and she would accept GOD’S answer. She had gone before GOD with an honest heart of faith and trusted HIM to answer her request.

Have you ever experienced that sweet precious assurance from GOD? GOD has heard you and something will take place and whatever it is you know it is GOD’S will for you. Your desire is to be obedient in your availability, trust and service to GOD. 

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.

I imagine that Hannah had a spring in her step and a song in her heart as they returned home. She knew GOD had heard her.

20 After some time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, because [she said], "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."

A child in Biblical times was weaned between 4 and 6 years old.

23 Her husband Elkanah replied, "Do what you think is best, and stay here until you've weaned him. May the Lord confirm your word." 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, two and one-half gallons of flour, and a jar of wine. 

Though the boy was [still] young, 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.

I can almost hear Eli think, “Oh, yea that is when I stuck my foot in my mouth.”

27 I prayed for this boy, and since the Lord gave me what I asked Him for,

Hannah had a message for Eli, "Now, you know what I was praying about and GOD answered my prayer."

28 I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord." Then he bowed and worshiped the Lord there.

GOD answered Hannah’s prayer for a son. She named him Samuel and followed through with her vow by giving him to serve GOD. It is not clear who bowed, Samuel or Eli. But it was a time for giving thanks to GOD for answered prayer.

GOD blessed Hannah with three additional sons and two daughters.

Let’s read 1 Samuel 2:1-3:

Hannah's Triumphant Prayer

1 Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is lifted up by the Lord. My mouth boasts over my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.

“My horn” is a reference to strength. Hannah’s strength and confidence in GOD had been renewed. She witnessed the hand of GOD and could rejoice with victory over her enemies. Answered prayer resulted in her rejoicing from being pulled from the miry clay of despair and the funk she had gotten into. GOD pulled her out and placed her feet upon the solid rock of faith and trust in GOD.   

2 There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one besides You! And there is no rock like our God.

3 Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogant [words] come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by Him.

We as humans cannot boast of what we can do compared to what GOD can do. 

GOD has full knowledge and the timetable when HE will take action on our requests. When we boast of our ability to take charge of matters, it reveals our attitude toward GOD. When we boast about our ability, we have the wrong attitude and relationship with GOD. That must change if we desire to have the right relationship with GOD. Hannah got it right. Trust GOD with the matters of life.

Hannah had to acknowledge that GOD was the One Who had the power to grant her request. She had to yield her will to GOD. When she did, GOD became the “rock” or solid foundation in her life.

Is JESUS your solid foundation? Are you still trying to run your life yourself? Trust JESUS to lead and guide your life. Blessings!!!