From Ashes To Riches

Introduction

Turn to 1 Samuel 1:1-3.

In our culture, people value someone who is relatable. That’s true of all ages but I think it’s especially true of the younger generation. They gravitate towards politicians that are relatable. They gravitate towards those in the older generation that they find relatable.

There is a older man in a church down south that I know. He’s in his 80’s now, but the teens in that church love him. He’s just a good ol’ country boy who has a healthy dose of common sense. The teens in that church find him relatable. I don’t know if it’s because he wears bib overalls or if its because of his long slow southern accent, or maybe its because he’s just a real person that takes an active interest in their lives. Whatever the reason, the age difference doesn’t seem to be a problem for those teens.

Today we’re going to see a woman in the Bible that I think you’ll find deeply relatable. Her humanity vividly shines through the pages of Scripture as her emotions, her desires, and her heart are put on full display. Hannah was a woman whose life went “From Ashes to Riches”, and it was all because she chose a life of godliness.

Read 1 Samuel 1:1-8.

I think the image on the screen this morning perfectly captures the contrast between Hannah and Peninnah.

Peninnah’s life went from riches to ashes.

Hannah’s life went from ashes to riches.

The difference between the two was a choice that Hannah made.

Next slide here

Hannah’s home life - 1 Samuel 1:1-3.

God shares with us a number of important details about Hannah, her family, and their life experiences.

Elkanah and his family lived in the hill country of Mount Ephraim, somewhere around 20 miles north of Jerusalem. They would have lived only about a day’s journey from Shiloh, where the Tabernacle of God was. The Tabernacle was where Jehovah God was worshipped. You see, these were the days of the judges in Israel. They were individuals that God would select and use to provide some civil and religious leadership over Israel.

“Pastor Tim, why does that matter?”

Here’s why: two times the Bible describes the days of the judges like this:

Judges 21:25 KJV 1900

In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Those were the circumstances in which Hannah lived.

Read slowly:

Every person, even the more religious Israelites, did whatever he thought was right, like having two wives. Why did Elkanah have two wives? Because he felt like it - he did what he thought was right. Either he didn’t know or he didn’t care what God’s Law taught about marriage. He was just a reflection of the society in which he lived.

Application: Christian, is your life a reflection of American society or is your life a reflection of Jesus Christ? It cannot be both.

The Scriptures indicate that Elkanah was somewhat devout. Every year, he travelled to the Tabernacle as commanded and offered sacrifices on behalf of his family. He provided spiritual leadership, but he had two wives. That was the source of much strife.

Next slide here

Hannah’s affliction - 1 Samuel 1:4-8.

Hannah had a good life. She had a husband who cared for her. Later on, he offers an ox as a sacrifice to the Lord, so he must have been somewhat wealthy. She was well taken care of, it seems, but she also had a full share of affliction.

Next slide here

The affliction of no children

I don’t know if Israel had an annual Mother’s Day celebration, but if they did, Peninnah celebrated while Hannah mourned. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. God emphasizes that contrast on purpose. Twice the text says, “the LORD had shut up her womb.”

What a burden, what a sore trial this was for Hannah! She just wanted to have a son, but for years God said, “no!” In that culture, if a woman could not bear children, it was a shame to her.

Genesis 30:1 KJV 1900

And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

Luke 1:25 KJV 1900

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

Peninnah had sons and daughters, but Hannah had no children. No doubt, at least in her heart, she asked God “why?” “Why won’t you let me have a son?”

Sometimes in life God allows us to see the why, other times He reserves that answer only for Himself. I might not be able to answer why, but I remind you of something that we saw several weeks ago in the book of Acts that is true in Hannah’s life also:

Application: “God is always in the business of making us need Him.” - Pastor Tom Brennan

Read slowly:

God wants us to need Him. How He does that in each of our lives may vary, but you can be certain of one thing: every one of us, in one way or another, needs God. For some, it is the affliction of no children.

I can think of two different couples in full-time ministry that at least for now, God has not given them any children. In each case, they are godly, sweet couples. I respect them greatly. From everything I have observed, the wives are great working with children, But God in His wisdom has not given them any.

One thing I appreciate about both couples is that they bear their burden with grace. They have embraced God’s will, though it is not an easy road. They have accepted that this is one way that God has chosen for them to need Him.

I say this with a heart of love: Christian, whatever your affliction might be, bear it with grace.

Hannah, whose name means “grace” carried her affliction with grace for many years, as we’ll see in this next point.

Hannah bore the affliction of no children and secondly she bore…

Next slide here

The affliction of an adversary

Having no children was bad enough for Hannah, but to have another woman mock her for it was far worse.

Proverbs 18:21 (KJV 1900)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue:

It seems that Peninnah took every opportunity to torment Hannah. Peninnah degraded Hannah’s self-worth and whittled her down until she felt useless, and good for nothing. Her life was worth nothing more than a pile of ashes. I can hardly imagine the amount of stress that Hannah endured in these circumstances. She got to the point that she dreaded the annual pilgrimage to the Tabernacle. What should have been a time of rejoicing and celebration was a time of grief and heartache. It didn’t matter that Elkanah showed her great love. She dreaded the Tabernacle and it was a relief when they went home.

Hannah had every reason to choose bitterness.

She had every reason to hate her enemy.

She had every reason to live and die bitter against God for not giving her children and bitter against Penninah for her daily insults.

She had every reason to go to her grave with nothing but ashes, but she didn’t do that. She chose godliness and as a result she went to her grave with great riches.

“So Pastor Tim, she went to her grave with great riches because God gave her children. What if God hadn’t given her any children?”

No, you’re missing the point. You see, her rival had children. But Peninnah went to the grave with nothing but ashes because she did not choose a life of godliness. Hannah’s greatest riches in life was that she chose to be a godly woman and God blessed her for it!

Ladies, choose this day that no matter what affliction God may allow in your life, you will be like Hannah. Choose a life of godliness.

Next slide here

Hannah’s faith - 1 Samuel 1:9-11, 24-28.

Hannah’s godliness is on display throughout the rest of 1 Samuel chapters one and two. She believed that God could give her a son and she promised God that if he did, her son would serve the Lord all his life.

Now consider Hannah’s faith in the context of her home life. She lived under the same roof as her greatest rival and adversary. She lived under the shadow of her more successful counterpart who had sons and daughters running around the house. She lived with Peninnah’s subtle jabs and open insults, but Hannah endured.

I’m inspired by Christians who endure and trust God despite an acute trial or hardship.

There’s a young family that I am acquainted with who have endured a long trial in recent months. Around Christmas, the mom became ill with an infection, was rushed to the hospital, diagnosed with sepsis and a number other problems, and nearly lost her life. Despite months of ups and downs, they have endured and they have chosen to trust God in ways that they never have before. Their example of faith has been a great encouragement to me.

Application: Hannah’s life proves this to be true: your background, your difficult home life does not have to determine the depth of your relationship with God. Despite living in a difficult home, you can be as godly a person as you want to be. Moms, you can be as godly a mother as you want to be as you daily walk in a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Hannah was not in a good home situation, but that did not stop her from being a godly mother.

Moms, in so many ways, you set the temperature of the home. You’ve heard the cliche, “if Mommy isn’t happy nobody’s happy.” It’s a cliche, but I think it has an ounce of truth in it. Your faith in Christ being lived out or a lack thereof will affect everyone else in the house. Because Hannah was a woman of faith, God used her to raise up a faithful prophet in Samuel that would replace Eli and provide civil and religious leadership to all of Israel. Peninnah had no such legacy.

Conclusion

Hannah’s home life didn’t stop her from choosing a life of godliness.

Her lack of children was never made an excuse for a lack of faith in God.

Her adversary’s insults didn’t embitter her and prevent a life of godliness either.

After giving Samuel to the Lord, Hannah would go on to have three more sons and two daughters. She went from ashes to riches because she chose a life of godliness.

Invitation