1 Sam 1:1-28

Effective Prayer Leads to Peace and Freedom

Most scholars believe the book was written somewhere between 900Bc- 960Bc

1 and 2 Samuel form one book in the ancient Hebrew manuscripts. They were not divided into two books until the Old Testament was translated into Greek. We don’t know who wrote the books for certain. Samuel was a major contributor, but much of the book takes place after his death in 1 Samuel 25. They are called the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, not because Samuel wrote all of them, but because they describe his great ministry in Israel and the legacy of it. (Guzik)

"Our guess is that the author was a high state official in frequent attendance at the court, enjoying the full confidence of David and his household, who served David throughout his reign in Jerusalem and also Solomon during the early years of his reign, and whose duties may have been connected with literary work."(Dr. Constable)

(Purpose) As with all the historical narratives of the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit's purpose in giving us the books of 1 and 2 Samuel was not just to record events that transpired. It was primarily to teach spiritual lessons to the original readers, and to readers of all time, by revealing the causes and effects of various human responses to God's grace. God guided the inspired writers of Scripture to teach theology as well as to record history. This is clear in all the so-called historical books of both Testaments. We can see this as we examine the reasons God selected the particular events and facts that He recorded, through the biblical writers, for inclusion out of the mass of possible data that He could have set forth.

1.(V1-2) Elkanah and his two wives, problem number one

Often time in those days, a man would take another wife if his current wife could not have kids

A) Peninnah & Hannah were Elkanah’s two wives

-Peninnah was able to have kids

- Hannah was not

B) The two women were in competition for Elkanah’s affection

C) If a women could not have children, she was thought to have a curse from God due to some sort of sin

1.1(V3-8) Hannah was devastated, she was reduced to tears and would not eat

A) Peninnah taunts Hannah because she can’t have children (Over and over)

B) Hannah was deeply hurt (Deep anguish, crying bitterly)

-Hannah was at a crossroads. The temptation when things don’t go our way is to get angry with God and rebel against Him

2.(V9-18) Hannah takes her grief to God in prayer

A) Hannah empties herself to God through prayer

-When we go to God in prayer, He strengthens us and rids us of anguish and bitterness

Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

B) Many examples of godly men in distress who come to God in prayer and experience a peace that surpasses all understanding

King David when he was running from Saul

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

The Apostle Paul in all his trails

Application: Hannah leaves prayer feeling much better and goes on with her life.

a) Prayer doesn’t change God’s heart, it changes ours.

b) God will use certain situations in our life to bring us closer to Him.

(Trials either push us away from God or bring us closer to Him)

-When we face a trial that is greater than us and the people around us, it forces us to go to God

-On the other hand, Some times people run away from God during a trial, which makes everything that much worse