Hannah - Fruitful because of Faithfulness - pt1

Introduction

I began to name this the ‘Bible Person Study’, but chose to go with the ‘Bible Character Study’. I hesitated to name it that, as I don’t want to diminish the fact that these are real people we’ll be examining. But the reason that it’s named the Bible Character Study is because we’ll be focusing on the person’s character throughout. But don’t forget that these were real people, with real lives that made real choices that had real consequences.

I. Hannah’s Nature

((What is their History / Background?)

Wife of a Godly Man who Loved Her

Regardless of the fact that Elkanah was a polygamist, we note these two things about him.

He was a Godly man

Every year the Bible says that he went up to worship & offer sacrifice unto the LORD (v1:3) Even after Samuel was born, he went (1:21-23)

This demonstrates his faithfulness unto the LORD

Faithfulness is something that is going out of style. The more the older generation dies off & younger rises, the less faithful we become. Proverbs 20:6 “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: But a faithful man who can find?”

Faithfulness is so important. It’s important to the LORD, important to your pastor, to other members - yet if there’s an excuse to be had as to why not come to church, or read you Bible, or pray - we jump on it!

Elkanah was faithful - he was a Godly man

He loved his wife

He gave her a ‘worthy’ portion

Given her barren state, Elkanah tried to compensate by being extra good to her.

He tried to take the place of ‘ten sons’ (v8)

She was Barren

Two things of note:

The Joy

I can think of no greater joy that a married couple can experience than having children. And she couldn’t.

I know that in today’s age, not being ‘tied down’ by children is a sheik thing to do, but there’s not trinket, car or house that can bring the level of joy that children can - and she didn’t have any. It’s apparent that Elkanah was wealthy, but that didn’t bring her happiness.

The Shame

Secondly, in that day, it was looked at as a failure or curse to be married and NOT have children.

So, Hannah not only was missing out of the joy, but also bearing the shame - in addition to suffering the taunting of Peninnah

She had an Adversary

The Bible describers an adversary - the question is, who is that?

The obvious person to consider is Peninnah, but the Bible doesn’t say specifically.

I think there’s something to glean from this.

While it may appear that Peninnah is her adversary, the truth is, they were family. She wasn’t her adversary. Yes, she may have pricked and prodded her - but if so, she was just the tool, she wasn’t her adversary - Satan was the adversary!

Oftentimes we’ll get cross with family or even other church members - but though you may disagree or get angry with one another, whether it’s fleshly family or Spiritual family, they are not the adversary! WE MUST KEEP THIS IN MIND!

(Ill.) Husbands - you ever get cross with your wife? She ever get cross with you? Guess what - that’s not your adversary. Satan wants you to THINK they are, but they’re not.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

II. Hannah’s Notoriety

(What they are known for?)

Grieving for a Son (1Sam. 1:10)

We notice that her heart broke for the desire that she had, insomuch that she did two things (not just one).

She prayed

She fasted

Two things about this:

Fasting is powerful: (Concerning the lunatick troubled by a devil - (read Mat. 17:14-21)

It’s not popular, and rarely practiced, but Jesus made clear that fasting would be a component for the church.

Luke 5:33–35 “And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.”

Grieving for a Son

Giving Up her Son (1Sam. 1:11; 26-28)

She’s known for giving her son back to the LORD

To a MUCH lesser extent, and albeit slightly different, Hannah made the same decision that Abraham did with Isaac.

Where as both of them waiting and longed for a child, then when it was granted, were expected to give them up to the LORD.

Giving up her Son

Gaining Five Times More (1Sam. 2:21)

After she fulfilled that which she vowed, she’d visit him yearly and bring him a coat, and she was blessed with an abundance of children following.

She Gained 5x more

III. What Makes her Noteworthy

(What Lessons we can Learn from them?)

Prayer & Patience Makes a Difference

From the time we’re introduced to Hannah at the beginning of chapter 1, to the time we say farewell to her about the middle of chapter 2 - Hannah’s life looked drastically different.

Two things were essential to that change - prayer and patience.

Prayer matters

Prayer changes things

Prayer makes a difference

God has attributed promises to prayer

But He’s not promised anything concerning the timeframe associated with it.

This is where Patience fits in.

God could answer your prayer tomorrow or a year from now - whenever he does, it will be on His Time for His Cause to His Glory!

But then there’s also another critical aspect at play here that’s flying under the radar…

The Present Requires Faith (1Sam. 1:18)

She didn’t spend the next month, 9 months, year worrying about it - she believed that God had answered her prayer.

This is what faith looks like.

Faith doesn’t wring it’s hands

Faith isn’t anxious

Faith isn’t concerned

Faith isn’t Fretting

Faith is believing without seeing.

(Ill.) How many of us have lived from paycheck to paycheck? You’re on a budget and you know that it’s the 25th of the month and mortgage is due the 1st, and as it stands rn, there’s not money in the bank to cover it? That would make a man sweat… however, if you’re direct deposit is coming through on the 30th, are you still sweating it as much?

Faith will give you a peace of mind - knowing that it’ll be taken care of!

The Present requires Faith

Polygamy is Ungodly

Elkanah had two wives. So did Abraham, and Jacob.

Understand this is not God condoning polygamy. Whenever we see polygamy in the Bible, it is always DESCRIPTIVE not PRESCRIPTIVE. In other words, God is describing the situation, not promoting it.

God’s Creation speaks against it:

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

Ephesians 5:31 “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.”

God spoke against it specifically for both Kings and Pastors:

Deuteronomy 17:17 “Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.”

1 Timothy 3:2 “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;”

Polygamy is always presented as causing problems:

Sarah & Hagar

Hannah & Peninnah

Leah & Rachel

Amnon raping Tamer (David’s children) then Absalom killing Amnon

Solomon’s heart was turned away from God

Polygamy is ungodly

Alcohol is Ungodly (1Sam. 14-16)

Notice that when Eli accused Hannah of being drunk, she vehemently objected, and likened them unto those who worship a false god.

This is something that seems about as silly to address as does polygamy, but I thought divorce was a no-brainer, but people still do it & try to justify it.

(Ill.) I saw recently a well followed ‘Christian’ youtube personality state that not only was alcohol permissible, but God actually gave it to man for a pleasure - just not in excess.

This I think is the silliest, and a very dangerous comment a Christian can make.

This is not the time for a complete breakdown of alcohol, but I will remind you of one of the Bible’s strongest rebukes on the subject: Proverbs 20:1 “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

Alcohol is ungodly

Dedication is the Parent’s Decision, not Ceremony (1Sam. 1:11)

We see in this verse Hannah is vowing to dedicate this future child unto the LORD. This is where baby dedications come from.

Now, first off, I’m not saying that baby dedications are bad, but it’s not Biblical.

Today when churches practice baby dedications, the parents bring them to the church, they are prayed over and possibly a message is preached about the importance of the parents obligations - while all of that is fine, what I’ve seen is TOO MUCH IMPORTANCE IS PLACED ON CEREMONY AND NOT ENOUGH ON EXECUTION.

Hannah didn’t bring her child the temple and brought him home - she took him and left him! This is what dedication looks like!

For a child to be dedicated to the LORD, the parents must take them and wholly give them unto God. Not focus on God for an hour a week - but completely submerse them in the things of God! THIS INCLUDES THE PARENT BEING WHOLLY DEDICATED AS WELL!

Dedication can’t be done by a preacher, isn’t found in a ceremony - it’s found in the parent’s decision to do so.

Let Sorrow Lead you to Right (1Sam. 1:10)

What we see here is a woman that has two choices:

She’s broken, she’s hurting, and she can either:

Run TO God

Run FROM God

Psalm 147:3 “He healeth the broken in heart, And bindeth up their wounds.”

2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”

2 Corinthians 7:5–6 “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;”

I’ve seen AND experienced both of these - and infinitely better is the results of running TO God.

Let Sorrow Lead you to Right

God Hears your Heart (1Sam. 1:13)

Notice a couple things here:

Eli didn’t hear what she wanted

Hannah never verbalized what she wanted

Yet God KNEW what she wanted.

I had taught on prayer a while back and one of the things that I mentioned is to pray out loud. I mentioned then - as well as now - that while it helps us stay focused and ‘locked in’, it’s not necessary, because God knows our hearts.

This is both good and bad.

Do you have a need, yet you can’t put it into words? God knows.

The Bible says: Romans 8:26–27 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Are you harboring sin? God knows

1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

Remember the words of the writer of Hebrews: Hebrews 4:14–15 “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

God Hears your Heart

Vows Needs be Kept (1Sam. 1:23)

Give Credit Where it’s Due (1Sam. 1:27)

Praise can Follow Parting (1Sam. 2:1-10)

Consider this: Hannah has just dropped off her son. She won’t raise him any longer. She’ll see him at best once a year - and she’s singing praises!

There’s a great lesson for us in this: Praise can follow parting.

All of us have lost a loved one…

Faithfulness Leads to Fertility (1Sam. 2:20-21)

Honor God with your Firstfruits, He’ll Honor You with Abundance

You Can’t Out Give God

Conclusion