Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Following God in uncertain times can be difficult.

We often wish God would come to us and just show us where to go and why.

When times become increasingly difficult what do we do?

How Do We Remain Faithful While Walking Through Seasons of Discomfort & Uncertainty?

Now this man [Elkanah] used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.

5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.

6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.

7 So it went on year by year.

As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her.

Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.

8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep?

And why do you not eat?

And why is your heart sad?

Am I not more to you than ten sons?” – 1 Samuel 1:3-8

The Reality of Hannah’s Pain:

1. God is Behind her Barrenness.

a. Faithful People Will Endure Real Pain & Struggles

i.

The Text Clearly Informs the Reader That Hannah is Unable Conceive Due to God.

1.

The Reason Why is Not Given Here

2. Compare to Job – We May Often Never Know Why Amid the Season or Even After.

a.

The Blessing of Children in Biblical Times for Mother

i. Potential For a More Successful Crop Due to More Workers.

ii.

Providers in Their Old Age

iii.

Protection Both for the Home & Country

b.

Lack of Children Would Lead People to Believe You Were Not Blessed

i. Compare to Ruth & Naomi

3. The House of the Lord Became a Reminder of Her Pain and Suffering.

a. Every year The Sacrifice & Pilgrimage to the House of The Lord is a Reminder

b.

Her Sister Wife Provokes Her Pain

Elkanah’s Questions:

1.

The Question: Am I Enough?

2. The Answer: She Doesn’t Say….But She Shows

9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose.

Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.

11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

– 1 Samuel 1:9-11

1.

She Rose.

She Doesn’t Passively Wait.

She Gets Up & Seeks the Lord!

2. Her Prayer

a. Recognition of Who She is Before the Lord

b.

Gives Her Request to The Lord as A Sacrifice

i. Nazirite Vow: She Will Give Her Sone Over To God and The Priest of The Temple.

She Relinquish Claim to Her Request.

ii.

By Giving Her Son to The Lord She Loses All What Would Have Been Seen as Valuable in That Day.

– All That Was listed Earlier

iii.

She Surrenders Blessing of Her Request to God!

iv.

She Ultimately is Saying “The Lord, I Give You My Best…My Literal First Fruits is Yours…My Son is My Sacrifice…Let My Prayer Serve Your Needs Above My Own”

v.

She Ultimate Answers Her Husband’s Question by Seeking the Lord as Enough.

12 As she continued praying before the Lord [Some Translation’s In The Presences of The Lord] , Eli observed her mouth.

13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard.

Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.

14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk?

Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit.

I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.

16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.”

17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”

18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.”

Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

– 1 Samuel 1:12-18

1. Hannah Gives The Priest A Lesson on the Power of Prayer & Faith Amid Seasons of Desolation!

a.

She Sought The Presence of The Lord Who Never Left Her

b.

Pours Out Her Soul Before the Lord.

She Doesn’t Hold Back With God.

2. We Cannot Know if She Shares Her Request with Eli However We Know His Response.

i. Go in Peace…Let God Answer Your Request”

3 .

She Leaves with Peace: Her Fast is Over

19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah.

And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lordremembered her.

20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”

– 1 Samuel 1:19-20

1.

She Displays Everyday Faith By Retiring to Normal Life of Intimacy With Her Spouse

2. Her Husband is Aware of Her Request and They Both Worship The Lord

3. The Lord Remembers Her

24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh.

And the child was young.

25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord!

As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord.

27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.

28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord.

As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”

And he worshiped the Lord there.

– 1 Samuel 1:24-28

1.

Her Child Not Only is A Sacrifice but Becomes a Reminder of The Power of A Prayer & Faith to The Priest

a.

What Used to Be A Reminder of Pain & Suffering is Returns to Her a Place of Praise & Joyful Sacrifice