1 Sam 2:1-26

The Rise of the Faithful and the Decline of the Unfaithful

Introduction:

Hannah and Peninnah were the two wives of Elkanah

Peninnah gave Hannah a very difficult time because she could not have kids.

In that culture, if you could not have children it was thought that God has cursed you because of sin in your life

Hannah went to the Lord in prayer pleading with God for a child and she vowed to dedicate the baby to the Lord

Have you ever been in a desperate situation and have gone to the Lord in prayer?

In many of the Psalms King David was in desperate situations, with many enemies.

God would rescue David and in the Psalms, King David would rejoice because God delivered him from the hand of the enemy.

1. (V1-10) Hannah’s Prayer of Praise

A) God strengthens Hannah and heart rejoices

There is something amazing when all of the sudden the Lord delivers us from the trial that sucks the life from our soul

B) No rock like our God

2. (V12-26) Eli’s Wicked Sons

A) They were scoundrels (V12)

No respect for the Lord or for the duties of the priest

NKJV Says, They did not know the Lord. (No personal relationship w/God)

Think back to Malachi, the book we finished.

The two sons were priest, which gave them the right to take a portion of the sacrifice for themselves, however they took advantage of it

What is the definition of stealing?

The Law ordered the priests to handle the offerings in particular ways to respect God's holiness (cf. Lev. 3:3, 5; 7:34; Deut. 18:3). However, Eli's sons served God the way they chose. The Law allowed the priests to take for themselves the breast and upper part of the right rear leg of animals brought as peace offerings (Lev. 7:30-34). But Eli's sons took all that the three-pronged fork brought up when plunged into the remaining meat being boiled for the sacrificial meal (vv. 13-14). The priests were to burn the best part of the sacrifices on the altar as offerings to God, but Eli's sons demanded for themselves raw meat that was not cooked at all (vv. 15-16). Meat was luxurious food in Israel's economy, so Eli's sons were living off the fat of the land.

2.1 (V17) Sin is very serious in the eyes of the Lord

A) People really struggle with the concept of understanding sin, as God views it

God takes it serious enough that He sent Jesus to beaten, mocked, and crucified on the cross because sin comes with a cost

The priest represent God, so when people miss represent God, He takes it very serious

Why didn’t Moses enter into the promise Land? (He miss represented God to the Israelites)

3. (V22) The Sons were taking advantage of the women by having sex with them as they came to volunteered

A) They caused the Lord’s people to transgress

They mocked God to His face

1 Samuel 2:25 “If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?” But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death.”

Conclusion:

1 Samuel 2:26 “Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people.”

Samuel despite being a small boy was faithful to the Lord and to his service to the people (Favor grew with the Lord and with the people)