1 Samuel 1:1-20

Series: The Providence of God

I. God Rules and Rescues His People (chap. 1-7) II. The People Demand A King (chap 8-12) III. The Reign and Rejection of King Saul (chap. 13-15) IV. The Rise of David and Fall of Saul (chap. 16-31)

Providence is the governing power of God that oversees his creation and works out his plans for it.

Westminster Confession of Faith (V)

“God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least by His most wise and holy providence, according to His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will, to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy”

Foundations of the Christian Faith: A Comprehensive & Readable Theology (Chapter 18: God’s Providence)

God’s providence is purposive; it is directed to an end, a purpose. The flow of human events (past and future) has an end goal - the redemption of God’s elect and the renewal of the world.

Providence means that God has not abandoned the world that he created, but rather works within that creation to manage all things.

Foundations of the Christian Faith: A Comprehensive & Readable Theology (Human Responsibility)

The providence of God does not relieve us of responsibility. God works through means (the integrity, hard work, obedience and faithfulness of Christian).

we still need to make wise judgments…pursue what is right. Rather than being a cause for personal glory, compromise, rebellion or any other sin, the doctrine of providence is actually a sure ground for trust and a encouragement to faithfulness.

The Providence of God in the Birth of Samuel - The Lord Remembers!

The Key verse:

1 Samuel 1:19–20 NASB95

19 Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned again to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the Lord.”

1. The Lord remembers the cry of those who call upon Him for help - He gave Hannah a child named Samuel.

God is sovereign over when and to whom a person is born.

Hannah, “favor” - Worshiper who trusted and relied on God.

Samuel = “heard of God”,

Her name means favor, but it seems like she’s not favored because she did not bear a child. But despite of that Hannah continued to pray and worship the Lord.

God answered Hannah’s prayer because he can - he can close the womb, and he can open the womb (v.5). We’ve read the story of Abraham/Sarah (90 yrs old), and Zacharias/Elizabeth (past child bearing age)

God remembered answered Hannah’s prayer in accordance to His time - we just have to wait.

Lesson about trusting in the providence of God in the area of waiting...

A. Wait and rely on God despite the presence of affliction

Hannah’s affliction was caused by the polygamous relationship. Polygamy does not do any good, Elkanah’s choice made Hannah bitter and desperate, and there was division in the family. (ex. Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon)

B. Wait and rely on God through heartfelt and persistent prayer and worship.

1 Samuel 1:10–11 NASB95

10 She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 She made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.”

1 Samuel 1:14–15 NASB95

14 Then Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” 15 But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord.

Hannah prayed to the LORD because she believes that God hears and God cares...

How about Elkanah and Peninnah? They go to the temple to worship every year..

Elkanah, “God [El] has possessed - Worshiper but questionable conduct. (polygamy is not endorsed by the scripture but was tolerated by the people because of their stubborn heart)

Peninnah, “fruitful”, “pearl”, - Worshiper but questionable conduct (mocker, and prideful)

Hannah, “favor” - Worshiper who trusted and relied on God.

This is a heart issue:

When our value and completeness as a person is found in our status and achievements. Here, it is about having a child would make a person complete and happy.

For Elkanah - I will add another wife so I can have a child. This way I will be complete and my status will increase.

For Peninnah - I am complete and have higher status than Hannah, I am more favored than Hannah because I have children.

For Hannah - I am not yet complete and happy because I don’t have a child.

Reflection: Hannah’s desire to have a child is not in it self a bad or sinful desire. It is not. It is a human nature to long for a child for after all, the Bible says, “children are a gift of the LORD God, the fruit of the womb is a reward”.

GIFT = God has the authority to give or not.

- Notice this, when God gave Samuel to Hannah, Hannah did not keep Samuel to herself - She dedicated Samuel to God - to serve God. A Gift to God. (v.11)

C. Wait and rely on God’s will and timing

God did not promise for every prayer to be answered, but in this instance, Hannah’s prayer was aligned to the will of God to raise up a person whom He will use to lead Israel to go back to Him.

2. The Lord remembers his covenant with Israel - He gave Samuel to bring Israel back to God.

- Israel has departed from God - Read Judges, everyone did what was fitting to their eyes”.

Judges 21:25 “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit”.

- But, God did not give up on them! God is faithful to His covenant and promises.

He raised up Samuel to be instrument of grace in anointing Saul and then David, the man after God’s own heart…

3. The Lord remembers the lost and the unworthy- He gave us a child greater than Samuel, Jesus Christ to reconcile us to God.

Romans 5:8–11 NASB95

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

The Divine Providence of God in History

While we were still sinners = God initiated our salvation. It is not about our performance (how good we are, how worthy we are).

Reconciled through the death of His Son.

The death of Jesus was purposeful - to justify through his blood, those who believe.

The Gospel:

The Gospel freed us from having to perform to be found complete and worthy. The blood of Christ made us worthy.

Proper Response:

1. Let Christ be your satisfaction and happiness.

2. Be persistent in your prayer and worship, and allow God to work in your situation - especially your heart!

Remember Jesus is all you need.

Conclusion:

God is in control over the things that are out of your control and God is at work in your life (even in afflictions) to accomplish His purpose of transforming your heart to become like Christ!