Responding to Grief

Intro:

LOVE this TIME of YEAR…EXCITEMENT about SUMMER trips/VACATIONS, etc.

(Q) Do any of you have a trip you’re looking forward to this year?

Anyone have anything upcoming that you’re dreading??

TODAY…SEE STORY of WOMAN, STRUGGLING WITH THIS...

TIME of YEAR....PACKING BAGS for SHILOH!...LIFE = TOUGH LATELY

National turmoil

OPPRESSIVE ENEMY NATIONS...

MORAL DECAY

DISAPPOINTING LEADERS!

Personal turmoil

BARREN....DESIRING SON!

HUSBAND MARRIED AGAIN…FERTILE WOMAN…SONS & DAUGHTERS!!

SHE WAS TEMPTED to RUN to BAAL who PROMISED FERTILITY…BUT COMMITTED to WORSHIPPING YAHWEH alone...

HAD HEARD GREAT STORIES from PAST…SARAH, RACHEL, ETC.

See outwardly on most days she looked like she was doing okay, but she was struggling...

3. HEADING to SHILOH to WORSHIP...

STUCK W/ CO-WIFE...

EACH YEAR ANTAGONIZED HER!

HEARING CRIES of HER CHILDREN.

**CONSTANT REMINDERS of her shortcomings...

She COULDN’T WAIT for the TRIP to BE OVER, even BEFORE it BEGAN.

She loved her husband, and her husband loved her. She loved her God, and her God loved her.

COULDN’T UNDERSTAND what was GOING ON..but DESPERATE to SEE GOD MOVE...

She couldn’t figure it all out, but she was doing her best to trust and believe that the God who worked miracles in the past would do a work in her day.

And her name was Hannah.

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Background:

**Turn to 1 Samuel 1

New series:

1 & 2 Samuel ORIGINALLY ONE LARGE BOOK...

HISTORICAL BOOK/ FORMER PROPHETS

Comes RIGHT AFTER the BOOK of JUDGES...“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Jud. 21:25).

We’re going to FOLLOW a JOURNEY in SEARCH of GOD’S DESIRED LEADER

Three main characters:

Samuel

Saul

David

**Ultimately, STORY is BUILDING towards DAVID the whole time.

SERIES OPENS/ HANNAH’S STRUGGLE

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1 Samuel 1:1–20 (ESV)

Setting:

1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

Elkanah:

“CERTAIN MAN”...nothing too significant.

Came from the REGION of EPHRAIM.....from TRIBE of LEVI

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Problem:

Has 2 WIVES

**GOD’S PLAN = 1 MAN & 1 WOMAN...

THOSE DAYS…SOMETIMES MEN MARRIED TWICE if 1ST WIFE BARREN

Abraham did this to some extent.

**HANNAH’S NAME 1ST + GREAT LOVE for her = she’s PROBABLY the 1ST WIFE...

**PENNINAH LIKELY MARRIED FOR CHILDBEARING! HANNAH = BARREN

(T) This is the setting of our story today, and now we’re going to see where this becomes problematic.

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Inciting Incident:

3 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.

Yearly Elkanah TOOK his FAMILY to SHILOH to WORSHIP & SACRIFICE.

Shiloh:

LOCATION of TABERNACLE (TENT TEMPLE) approx. 370 years, from Joshua’s day until David’s

CENTER for PRIESTHOOD & Israelite worship

APPROX. 15-20 MILES NORTH of ELKANAH’S TOWN...

ELI (PRIEST) currently serving, but SONS RAN the SHOW...

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ELKANAH was LIKELY OFFERING a PEACE OFFERING:

OFFERER would EAT BULK of SACRIFICE

GAVE SPECIAL/DOUBLE PORTION to HANNAH

Act of worship to "LORD of HOSTS”

1ST TIME APPEARS in SCRIPTURE

GOD = COMMANDER of ANGEL ARMIES (HOSTS)

Speaks to his great OMNIPOTENCE & POWER… “the Lord Almighty” (NIV)

SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT FORESHADOWED HERE...

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GOD = ABLE to DO WHATEVER He wants...

(V5) GOD had SHUT HANNAH’S WOMB!.

(Q) Have you ever face a closed door in your life?

PRAYING W/ NO CHANGES....

NOTHING SEEMS to CHANGE IT....

(Q) Have you ever considered that perhaps God had closed the door?

GOD BOTH OPENS & CLOSES DOORS…NO MAN CAN REVERSE IT!

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HANNAH’S PROBLEM was GOD’S FAULT.

GOD is SOVEREIGN, even OVER TRIALS...

***REMEMBER…HANNAH COULDN’T READ INSPIRED NARRATOR’S ACCOUNT of HER LIFE…WE’RE IN SIMILAR BOAT.

TASKED to TRUST WHEN THINGS AREN’T GOING OUR WAY!

(T) And now we’re going to see where the trouble is really stirred up for Hannah. Look at verse 6.

Rising Action

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.

Hannah’s problems:

Barren

Husband tries to help & can’t

Rival/Co-wife is a jerk!

TRAVEL TOGETHER....PENINNAH (CO-WIFE) ANTAGONIZES HANNAH!

PLUS HEARING CHILDREN WHOLE TIME

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PENINNAH PROBABLY PLAYED GOD CARD TOO!

COMMONLY BELIEVED BARRENNESS = CURSE BY GOD...

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MAYBE YOU’VE BEEN HURT BY PEOPLE too.

RUBBING SALT in WOUND...

GOD CARD… “YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH FAITH”

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(V6) 2ND REMINDER… (EMPHATIC) GOD had SHUT HER WOMB...

It wasn’t lack of faith

It wasn’t judgment.

IT WAS GOD WORKING in her life!

God had closed her womb…it would have to be God to open it again...

(Q) Are you willing to trust God when he shuts doors for you?

SOMETIMES OUR WILL is AT ODDS W/ GOD’S..

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HANNAH HAD GENUINE PROBLEMS… ++ CO-WIFE who HARASSED HER...YEAR AFTER YEAR!!

**IF YOU THINK YOUR FAMILY IS DYSFUNCTIONAL, TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE!

The TIME of WORSHIP had BECOME a DREAD!

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HANNAH = DEPRESSED....WOULDN’T EAT....

EXTREMELY BAD...

(Q) How many of us turn to food when we’re upset?

GOD GAVE ELIJAH FOOD & a NAP.

HANNAH = SO DISTRAUGHT SHE WOULDN’T EAT!!

ELKANAH OFFERS SPECIAL PORTIONS…SHE HAS NO APPETITE!

ONLY ONE THING SHE WANTS IN LIFE! && ONE THING SHE CAN’T HAVE....

(T) So, now, in her distress, her husband steps in to help, let’s see how this goes.

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Climax1:

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?”

HUSBANDS SPIRITUAL GIFT = DIGGING BOTTOM OUT OF HOLE.

TRYING to CHEER UP??? BETTER to SHUT UP.

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GENUINE GUY, trying...“Honey you shouldn’t be upset about what you don’t have, because you’ve got me!”

TELLS HER of HIS OWN VALUE, NOT HERS!.... OOPS!

NOT SINFUL....BUT NOT HELPFUL EITHER!

(T) And now the story is going to take a slightly different turn. Verse nine says,

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Setting:

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.

MEAL = COMPLETE…HANNAH PROBABLY STILL NOT EATING...

(ELI INTRODUCED)

(T) And then the text says,

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Rising Action:

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.”

HANNAH CRYING OUT to GOD IN DESPERATION

When her HUSBAND COULDN’T UNDERSTAND HER NEED or help her...

When her CO-WIFE MADE LIGHT of HER NEED...

She took her need to the Lord in prayer.

When no one else understands what you’re going through in life, God understands and cares, and we must run to Him in prayer.

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(V11) Hannah’s vow:

IF GOD GIVES her a SON, SHE’LL GIVE HIM BACK.

NO RAZOR = probably NAZARITE VOW (SPECIAL CONSECRATION)… ++ SHE SAYS FOR LIFE!!

“God if you will grant this request and give me a son, he will be yours, not mine!”

Great irony:

HANNAH PRAYED for GOD to REMEMBER…yet GOD WAS FULLY INVOLVED the WHOLE TIME!

GOD WASN’T ABSENT FROM TRIAL…HE WAS AUTHOR of IT....

GOD WORKS for OUR GOOD & HIS GLORY…OFTENTIMES HARD TO SEE....

We’re tasked with trusting the only one who knows the end from the beginning.

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HANNAH CRIES OUT to GOD HUMBLY… 3X CALLS HERSELF HIS SERVANT.

Our prayers shouldn’t ever be demanding or commanding, but pleading and asking.

God isn’t there to be our heavenly butler!

He LOVES US

He CARES FOR US

He DESIRES to MEET OUR NEEDS

Yet He will DO HIS WILL in HIS TIMING...

HANNAH’S DESIRE ULTIMATELY WASN’T SELFISH..SHE’D GIVE HIM BACK....

SOME DON’T HAVE BECAUSE THEY DON’T ASK

SOME DON’T HAVE BECAUSE THEY ASK AMISS...

(T) Now, we’re going to see how Eli gets involved in her story in verse 12.

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Growing tension:

12 As she continued praying before 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.”

ELI ONLY SEES MOUTH MOVING…PRAYING INTERNALLY...

REASSURING to know GOD HEARS the PRAYERS WE DON’T HAVE the STRENGTH to PRAY OUT LOUD...

HANNAH is PRAYING in the PRESENCE of YAHWEH & also ELI...

& ELI…PRIEST…SPIRITUAL LEADER of Israel…MISINTERPRETS HANNAH’S GRIEF & CALLS HER DRUNK!!

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SITUATION....FROM BAD to WORSE!

PRIEST MAKES ASSUMPTIONS…TELLS HER to PUT WINE AWAY!

Hannah’s situation:

Unmet desire

Rival wife antagonizing

unhelpful husband

religious leader w/ assumptions, labeling her!

Could life get any better than this?

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PERHAPS you’ve FACED ISSUES with RELIGIOUS LEADERS or PEOPLE in GENERAL...

NOT ALL CLAIMING the NAME of CHRIST as Christians REPRESENT HIM WELL....

Don’t filter your belief in God & interpretation of Him through the shortcomings of His representatives...

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HANNAH DOESN’T LOSE HER COOL!

DOESN’T CALL HIM NAMES...

DOESN’T MAKE FUN of HIS WEIGHT…GLUTTONY

HUMBLY REFERS to HIM AS “Lord” & HERSELF AS SERVANT...

EXPLAINS: PRAYING out OF GREAT ANXIETY & VEXATION!

(T) You can imagine this would have made Eli fill a bit guilty and ashamed of himself. So, how does Eli reply? Look at verses 17-18.

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Climax2:

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.

TURNING POINT!

ELI PRAYS that HER PETITION would BE GRANTED!

**DOESN’T ASK WHAT HER PETITION IS...

HANNAH has FAITH in the WORD of the PRIEST…RESPONDS with JOY, & EATING and DRINKING AGAIN

SHE BELIEVED B4 the ANSWER CAME!!

(T) And now this story closes in verses 19 and 20.

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Resolution:

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 Lord remembered 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.”

**Note plurals…HANNAH JOINED in WORSHIP.

Not just Elkanah anymore!

**WENT HOME & DID THEIR PART...

HANNAH had PRAYED that GOD WOULD REMEMBER & now IT’S WRITTEN that HE DID...

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SON = SAMUEL

name means, “God hears”

last judge

first prophet

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Big Idea:

God is faithful and able to respond to the needs in our lives, according to His timing and plan, when we are willing to take the matter to Him in prayer.

HANNAH’S NEED/desire was for a SON

GOD SHUT HER WOMB LONG ENOUGH she GOT DESPERATE

& PROMISED SAMUEL would be GIVEN TO GOD...

This son became the catalyst for the spiritual renewal of Israel...Yet, this revival began with a desperate, hurting, and broken woman.

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Takeaways:

Learn about God:

GOD’S ACTIVITY (FIRST) = OPPOSITE of HANNAH’S PLANS/DESIRES...

Dale Davis,

“God’s tendency is to make our total inability his starting point.

Our hopelessness and our helplessness are no barrier to his work.

Indeed our utter incapacity is often the prop he delights to use for his next act” (p. 16).

GOD WILL TAKE US TO POINTS of DESPERATION…WHERE WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DEPENDENCE on HIM!

Gospel:

HANNAH HAD NEEDS…BUT SHE NEEDED to ACKNOWLEDGE HER OWN INABILITY & DEPENDENCE on GOD...

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THIS MUST BEGIN with OUR MOST IMPORTANT NEED.

FIRST, GOD MUST BE OUR GOD!

MUST ACKNOWLEDGE A DEPENDENCE on HIM…OUR NEED FOR a SAVIOR!

The most fundamental need for human beings made in the image of God is to know the God in whose image they’ve been made.

*It begins with our ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of our OWN NEED…our BROKENNESS and SINFULNESS...

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HANNAH PRAYED: “GOD REMEMBER” && GOD ANSWERED ACCORDING to HIS OWN MEANS....

***LIKEWISE WE CAN SEE HOW GOD REMEMBERS & ANSWERS BY HIS OWN MEANS...

See God so loved Hannah that he was willing to give her a Son for whom she prayed...

but God so loved you and I, that he gave us His own Son…even before we knew we needed him!

GOD SHOWS HIS LOVE…WHILE WE WERE SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US...

YOU CAN BE SAVED BY BELIEVING in HIM TODAY!

ATONING DEATH

RESURRECTION

PROFESS HIM as LORD…(PERSONAL & CREATION!)

HOPE on LAST DAY…YOU’LL BE REMEMBERED!!

THIS IS FOUNDATIONAL…WE CAN’T BE WHOLE IF WE DON’T HAVE THIS RIGHT....

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2. GOD is ALL-POWERFUL.

LORD of HOSTS is first found in this passage…and twice here!

***1ST HEARD on HANNAH’S LIPS

God sized problems require God-sourced and God-sized solutions

COMMANDER of ANGEL ARMIES…NOTHING TOO HARD FOR HIM!…HE’S THE ALMIGHTY!!

We can have great hope that he is more than able to meet any of our needs!!

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Learn about us?

TAKE our PROBLEMS to GOD....RELY UPON HIM.

Too easy to go with complaints to:

Spouse

friend

social media

(Q) Do you take your problems to the Lord??

As YOUNG BELIEVER TAKING my BAD DAY to FACEBOOK....Uncle Phil, “take your problems to the Lord.”

When there’s nowhere else to turn, turn to the God who knows all about you, and who knows your every need.

Hannah’s situation…she had:

Penninah the aggravator/doubter

Elkanah, loving but insufficient husband.

Eli the presumptuous and assuming religious leader

Ultimately, the LORD of HOSTS as HER GOD!!

GOD KNEW HER AFFLICTION…ULTIMATELY ONLY HE COULD SOLVE HER PROBLEM!

See SOMETIMES GOD ALLOWS US to REACH a POINT of DESPERATION where we are NO LONGER WILLING to RELY on OURSELVES or on our DEVICES, but where we TURN TO HIM ALONE...

SOMETIMES GOD is the ENTIRE CAUSE of the DELAY or the SEEMING DENIAL, so that WHEN the ANSWER COMES it will BRING HIM GREAT GLORY... and WE ARE TASKED with TRUSTING HIS SOVEREIGN WILL and PERFECT TIMING until it comes.

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2. FOLLOW HANNAH’S EXAMPLE of HUMILITY

REFERS to HERSELF as “SERVANT”

PRAYERS SHOULD BE HUMBLE…NOT DEMANDING…GOD ISN’T OUR BUTLER...

3. Last, we must GROW to TRUST GOD during TIMES of TRIAL…TRUSTING his PROVIDENCE in OUR LIVES & HIS PLAN…

GOD CLOSED the WOMB..ONLY HE WOULD OPEN...

In all of these things, WE MUST LEARN to TAKE our HEART’S DESIRES to the LORD in PRAYER, knowing that in HIS PERFECT TIMING and PLAN He will GIVE the ANSWERS WE NEED...

GOD’S ANSWER in HANNAH’S LIFE = SAMUEL…PROPHET/JUDGE…GREAT LEADER in ISRAEL

Conclusion:

God’s intervention in Hannah’s life gives us hope for His intervention in ours,

and ultimately it showed that God was intervening in the lives of His people, Israel,

by bringing about a new deliverer who would restore true worship of Yahweh

and later anoint the king after God’s heart, David.

Close in prayer

For next week: When you’re considering your prayers…consider the outcome of them…if God grants you your petition, what would the world look like, what would you do in response....