140-115 Devotion of a Godly Mother

1 Samuel 1-2

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-18;

What’s wrong with the world today? (Spectrum: nothing to nothing right). I think the answer (at least for our country) lies closer to the “nothing is right” as we see our nation turning morally progressive in massive steps. You’ve probably heard this week the Boy Scouts of America have dropped “boy” and now called Scouting America to become more inclusive of girls. That’s a shift that has been in the making for many years (5 years ago girls were permitted to join). BSA was a secular organization that existed to help boys grow up and take on male responsibilities in society. It wasn’t exactly Xn but there were many principles that were established on biblical principles manhood.

So boys would learn lessons of leadership and moral responsibility. As the culture shifted to be morally progressive, these qualities were being repudiated and you fast-forward today and there are problems with gender identity and gender confusion on a massive scale. BSA changing their name is only a symptom of the breakdown of the family as an institution ordained by God and created for the good of mankind.

The family is falling apart. Our society is falling apart and the two are related. As the family is torn apart, society (as intended by God) will very quickly follow.

Clear back on May 9, 1914 congress passed a resolution and Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the 2nd Sunday of May to be “Mother’s Day.” That started 6 years before when Anna Jarvis suggested a holiday when she held a memorial service in honor of all mothers. She lobbied all over the country and congress acted.

Mothers have an indispensable role in the family (not saying to disregard fathers’ role). Mothers are irreplaceable. All thru Scripture we find accounts of women who followed God’s calling and faithfully carried it out: Sarah, Rachel, Jochebed (Moses), Deborah (A mother in Israel—Judges 5:7), Ruth, Elizabeth, Mary.

One particular mother is spoken of in great detail—Hannah (1 Sam 1-2). Name means: graciousness or favor and is a woman who truly personifies ideal motherhood. As 1 Samuel opens, she is barren and yet becomes the mother of one of Israel’s most important men—Samuel.

1 Samuel opens during the period of Judges. There’s turmoil, chaos, confusion. There is no king, Israel is vulnerable to the Philistines, nation is plagued by immorality and religion has grown cold. The nation was bankrupt spiritually and there was an immediate need for man to rise up and take leadership to move the nation back to the Lord. This was evident as the last verse of Judges explains:

Judges 21:25 NASB95

25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Total anarchy as people were driven by their sinful, self-centered passions. It only took 1 generation to get to this point.

Joshua 24:14-24; powerful sermon warning God’s people to fear the Lord and serve Him. That next generation began several hundred years of a cycle of sin, servitude, supplication, salvation and silence.

In the midst of spiral of godlessness, there is Hannah who leaves her legacy on the nation thru one godly child. the 1st 2 chapters provide a portrait of this woman’s devotion…explained in 3 areas:

1. Her Devotion to Her Husband

1-8

Being a godly mother really must begin with the wife’s relationship to her husband. Your relationship with your children (though very important) comes in 2nd place after that bond you have with your husband. You are not 1-flesh with your children, you are with your spouse (fathers too). The greatest thing you can leave your children is a good example of love, how to deal with sin, forgiveness, integrity, compassion, honesty and understanding. These virtues should be exemplified in your marriage and your children will see it. Hannah was devoted to her husband.

vv 1-2

Elkanah was not a perfect man (but righteous man). He was a polygamist (culturally acceptable when the 1st wife was barren—Peninnah had many children sons & dughters). Immediately there is conflict in the home. The same thing happened with Abram (Sarah & Hagar). There is hostility, animosity, a rivalry of Elkanah’s doing. But he was a worshiper of YHWH. The high point of the family’s year was the annual journey to Shiloh for worship (this is where the ark was). This would include a time of feasting as well:

1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary i. A Woman’s Prayer Is Answered (1:1–28)

no offerer ate the meat of his own sin or guilt offering, he was given back a substantial part of his own thanksgiving or ‘peace’ offering (Lev. 7:11–18), and this meat was enjoyed at the meal in celebration of restored fellowship with God.

Elkanah is contrasted to the sons of Eli who were “worthless men.” Hannah’s husband was devout & upright and Hannah, despite the constant provocation of Peninnah (her rival), she was devoted to her husband. Every year this happened. It was tiresome, she would be ridiculed by another person in the home and it caused her to weep and not eat.

Many women today would get out of this relationship but Hannah is devoted to her husband. You can see problems people face when they live apart from the instruction the Lord. Not following Scripture will bring hardship and heartache. But Hannah was devoted to her husband and he loved her. He didn’t love Peninnah (by implication) but he did love Hannah and that provided her the security she needed to become a godly mother. I guess what we could say is that the bedrock for this godly mother was a godly husband. Men—love your wife, be the spiritual influence in your home. Wives (mothers), be be a godly example to your children in your devotion to your husband.

2. Her Devotion to Her Lord

vv 9ff

Hannah wanted children badly. vs 10 tells us she was “greatly distressed. (bitter soul)” This term describes the heart crushing response to a horrible situation. Not only b/c of the treatment of Peninnah but b/c she wanted to bear a child. Like Sarah, Hannah knew that if she were to bear a child it would be b/c God opened the womb. She was not bitter toward God but it was her soul’s longing to have a child—since children are a gift of the Lord. It is often in moments of great trial that your devotion to the Lord is tested and proven. This is true in Hannah’s case.

Her devotion is manifest in several ways:

Her Prayer

Being distressed, she “prayed.” I want you to note that this was a silent prayer. Her lips were moving but Eli (who was present) could not hear a sound so he presumed Hannah to be drunk (vs 13). This was Hannah’s consolation. To come to the Lord with your heart-wrenching requests will bring the joy and peace of the Lord. Hannah didn’t really get that consolation from Elkanah (though he tried—vs 8 (why weep, food is the answer…).

So she prayed in silence. This is one of the many ways you can “let your requests be made known to God.” Proper prayer isn’t about a posture or a place. Hannah went to the tabernacle to pray but you have that privilege wherever you are an in whatever circumstances you find yourself in.

Susannah Wesley delivered 19 children (some died in infancy) but she would be found communing with the Lord by pulling her apron over her head. Devotion to the Lord will be manifest by those who know the power of prayer.

Her Promise

vs 11

The content of that prayer includes a vow that she made to the Lord that should he give her a child she would give that child back to Him. It seems that she is referring to the Nazirite Vow (no razor) explained

Numbers 6:3–6 NASB95

3 he shall abstain from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar, whether made from wine or strong drink, nor shall he drink any grape juice nor eat fresh or dried grapes. 4 ‘All the days of his separation he shall not eat anything that is produced by the grape vine, from the seeds even to the skin. 5 ‘All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall pass over his head. He shall be holy until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the Lord; he shall let the locks of hair on his head grow long. 6 ‘All the days of his separation to the Lord he shall not go near to a dead person.

This is the vow of the Nazirite (means “to separate, consecrated”). There were 3 life-time Nazirites in the Bible: Samson, John the Baptist and Samuel. Again, devotion is keeping the vows you make to the Lord (be careful of what you promise!).

Psalm 15 NASB95

A Psalm of David. 1 O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? 2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. 3 He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the Lord; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

Her Purity

12-17

Now Eli is sitting at the door of the temple. Again, he see this woman moving her lips but no sound coming from her. So he supposes she is drunk.

Now, Eli was not terribly sharp about his discernment. A little later we’re told that he is a fat man, nearly blind. When his sons die (they were worthless men—sons of belial, sons of the devil) and when he heard about their death and that the ark was captured by the Philistines, Eli fell backward off a rock and broke his neck and died. So he thinks Hannah is drunk but she replies in vs 16: “worthless woman” (daughter of belial). “I’m not like your sons but all I’m doing is pouring out my soul the Lord.

Hannah is a woman of purity which belongs to those who are devoted to the Lord.

Her Patience

17-18

Eli responds “go in peace” and Hannah—vs 18.

When you truly believe that God is bringing His plan and purposes to pass, when you bring your concerns to the Lord, with patience and trust, you will leave the matter in God’s hand. That’s what Hannah did and once she did, she went and ate and she was no longer sad. Now, she didn’t know what God’s plans were. The Lord didn’t tell her (as He did Sarah) that she would have a son but Hannah knew that God was good and that He could be trusted whether she had a child or not.

Robert Bergen

1, 2 Samuel (1) The Lord Opens Hannah’s Womb (1:1–20)

Hannah’s departure from the sanctuary area was an example of faith triumphant. Though she had approached the Lord in the depths of despondency, she left the sanctuary elevated and transformed. Hannah’s spiritual victory, won through the labor of tearful prayers, enabled her to eat the festival meal in peace and hope.

Her Praise

2:1-10

All too often we carry our burdens without ever casting them on the Lord. But you know from your own experience that when you take the matter to the Lord in prayer and leave it in His hands…this is going to free you to bring your praise to the Lord. Fast forward—Hannah, after the child is born we see her praising God—vs 1.

Her burden is lifted and the song of Hannah is just extolling the greatness of God.

You can see Hannah’s devotion to the Lord in her prayer, promise, purity, patience and praise.

3. Her Devotion to Her Child

19-28

Godly mothers are devoted to their children. vs 19. Their day started early, they rose up and went to worship. Some time has passed but we don’t really know how long. YHWH Remembered Hannah. This is the same expression as Rachel (Gen 30:22). It is the same as Noah. It speaks of the blessing of the Lord’s presence and activity in the life of His people. Lord Remembers and Hannah conceives and gives birth to a son. She calls him “Samuel” (asked of the God). The time came for the yearly sacrifice to be made but this time, Hannah would not go up b/c the child was still nursing. She wouldn’t leave the child for the weeks that it would take to return and this shows her heart of devotion to the child—to provide for the boy in his earliest days.

Hannah did not forget her vow though, as soon as the boy was weaned she would bring him up and give him to the Lord (forever). The vow she made, she fulfilled. But her devotion to the child is seen here.

That devotion doesn’t stop here. When Samuel was weaned, she kept her word and brought the boy along with a sacrifice of her own and brought them to Shiloh. vv 25-28

As a devoted mother, she brought the boy up with the clearest example of full devotion to the Lord and there is one little statement that indicates this is what Samuel learned in those first few years. vs 28 “he worshiped there.” That is speaking of Samuel. As a very young boy Samuel learned to worship the Lord from his mother and father and when he was brought to the temple—that’s what he kept doing—worshiping the Lord.

One more indication of Hannah’s devotion to the child is in 2:18-21. Every time they came to Shiloh Hannah would bring another robe for growing Samuel. Though he was dedicated to the Lord, she never stopped being his mother.

The same is true for all mothers—you will always be mom to your children. Godly mothers will demonstrate their devotion—in different ways but the result will be the same…the boy grew up.

There was added blessing to this family in additional children 3 sons and 2 daughters.

The application is simple this morning: are you a godly mother like Hannah? Is your devotion apparent to your husband and children? Are you bringing up your children to love the Lord and worship Him even at the earliest of ages?

Men, are you creating an environment in your home where your wife’s godliness and devotion can have its full impact? Are you loving her, leading her and living with her in an understanding way? And children—your duty before the Lord is to give honor to your father and mother. The Bible says that this is the 1st command with a promise:

Ephesians 6:3 NASB95

3 so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

If our homes would look like this, maybe in a small way we’ll begin to change the many things that are wrong in this world. I think the Lord would honor that and your family will be a light that shines forth the gospel of the glory of LJC.