God Hears Your Heart
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Prayer | Welcome |
Mother’s day is both celebrator and sorrowful. For some you are here with family celebrating the mothers in your family. For others, your mother is not with you this year and the void is felt. For some, it serves as a time to remember all the failed attempts to have children, the miscarriages, or the loss of a child. The pain is searing and overwhelming, you find yourself busying yourself attempting to mute the pain. To distract yourself from the situation.
If you are one of those hurting today, I’ve been praying that this morning would be a time of healing and encouragement to your soul. For those celebrating my prayer is this message would encourage you to be a faithful godly mother!
Also, men, we have plenty to learn from this woman of faith found in 1 Samuel 1, if you have your Bibles please turn with me there.
I can recall our own family hurt in the loss of two children. Both Blake and Archer are what is called rainbow children, a name for children born after a miscarriage. As a young man, I had no idea how to handle the loss of a child. I spent hours crying alone at the feet of Jesus in my office at the church. It was later, after our second miscarriage that I came to understand how much I needed to grieve with Katherine not alone. I thought I needed to be strong for her sake but she simply wanted to grieve together.
Men, our wives need us to walk with them through loss, to cry together, to laugh together, to remember together, but most importantly to pray together. This morning Hannah is going to show us the power of a submitted life to the Lord.
If you have found your place in 1 Samuel would you say word?
The first thing I want us to see is that:
1. Godly mothers encounter problems.
1. Godly mothers encounter problems.
1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
We are introduced to Elkanah and his two wives. The first is Hannah, the second is Peninnah.
The two women had extremely different life experience. Peninnah had children, yet, Hannah had no children.
Because of the order of the names listed, Hannah first, and the Peninnah. It is believed that Hannah was Elkanah’s first wife. When Hannah had no children. Elkanah likely took on a second wife to produce children.
We see this kind of behavior with Abram and Sarai in Genesis 16:2-3
2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife.
Also, we see it with Jacob and his two wives, and the two servant women. (Genesis 30:3-4, 9).
In many ways, the story connects Elkanah and Hannah to the patriarchs and how the Barren woman ultimately bares a child to be used for God’s glory.
However, it is important to note that, in the Old testament, it was more common for men to have multiple wives; however, this isn’t God’s design Genesis 2:24
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Also, repeatedly we see in Scripture that these multiple wives families are riddled with rivalry produce all sorts of family trouble.
For Hannah, this was definitely the case, look at verses 3-8:
3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
We see that Elkanah is a faithful worshipper of the Lord. He’d travel, worship, and sacrifice to the Lord.
This is the first time in the Old Testament that we see the name Yahweh Sab(v)a (Lord of Hosts). The name of God here communicates that God has dominion and unmatched authority.
He’d go to where the Priest Eli and his sons were serving.
We know that Eli was not leading well and that his sons were both wicked. A stark contrast to the man Elkanah depicted in this text.
Elkanah at the time of sacrifice, gave out the portions fitting his family. It was customary to give the wife the portion for her and her children to share. In the case of Elkanah he gave that proper potion to Peninnah and her children. Then he would give a “double portion” or as the KJV translates a worthy potion. In any case, he gave her the potion out of love even though she’d bore no children.
It might be hard to understand today. But Childbearing was incredibly important to the women of Hannah’s day. In many ways, their worth to the family was tied to their ability to have offspring. When a woman was infertile, it was the talk of the well. Women would talk about it and it could have emotional damaging effects.
But for Hannah it was even worse than being the topic of gossip in the local gossip chain. She had a rival in her home that constantly berated her. Yet, it was not even Hannah’s fault. The Lord had chosen to closer her womb for a purpose.
Yet here they were gathered for the sacrificial feast. A time that was usually full of cheer and celebration but Peninnah wasted no opportunity to hurt Hannah.
I can picture the cattiness of the dialogue something like, oh I’m so blessed look at my portion for all my children. Yet, Elkanah has given you a double portion because you are simply unable to give him children. He has pity for you in his heart, that is the only reason he gives you any special treatment.
What makes matters worse is that it wasn’t limited to the rare occasion, it went on year after year!
Even in the face of the provoking, we see that Hannah would continue to go to the house of the Lord, yet, as hurt often does, it led her to weep and to refuse to eat.
Yet, here we see that Elkanah asks Hannah why she is so sorrowful. Even asking is he more to her than ten sons?
This is beautiful picture back to Jacob and Rachel. During Rachel’s years of infertility, Jacob had ten sons through his wives and two women servants of his wives. Yet, even in that season, Jacob’s love for Rachel was persisted through it all! Just like Elkanah’s love for his wife was never ceasing.
Yet, Elkanah’s words did not alter how Hannah was feeling. She was a hurt woman facing real difficulties.
Look at verse 9:
9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.
Hannah, having sat through the dinner now arrises and leaves to go to the temple.
Mother’s if you find yourself encountering problems today. Know that you are not alone, do you have a wayward child that you long to see come to Jesus? Are you facing the lose of your child? Are you facing the hurt of failed attempts to have children? You should not blame yourself for your child’s choices. Nor should you blame yourself for the loss of a child, or your infertility. God’s got plans and he sees your hurting. Never forget that you are not alone!
Which brings us to the second thing I’d like us to see, not only do Godly mothers encounter problems,
2. Godly mothers should engage in prayer.
2. Godly mothers should engage in prayer.
10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
We see that Hannah in her distress turns to the Lord and prays and weeps bitterly!
Did you know that God will listen as you pour out your hurting heart? Hannah was in many ways depressed from the constant battle with her rival but she had a bittered soul from the hurt of not having children. Her heart was hurting; yet, despite her hurt she didn’t turn away from God in stead she pleaded with him. Seeking his face and in verse 11 we see her making a vow with the Lord.
The vow she made with the Lord is first a plea to the Lord to see her affliction.
Second, she pleads that the Lord remember her for the purpose of giving her a son.
Hannah’s prayer is specific. She didn’t simply ask God for a child. She specifically asks for a son.
The reason for a son specifically, she declares she will give him back to the Lord for all his days, commited her son to a life under the nazarite vow.
Yet, we would miss such a blessing if we did not take a moment to recognize the great faith in Hannah’s prayer. She is the first in Scripture that we see use Lord of hosts in reference to the God. She, in that one phrase, is declaring she recognizes that God is totally sovereign over her circumstances. Secondly she three times demonstrates her submissive heart toward God. She not only recognized God’s ultimate power and authority, she recognized the right posture for the believer, submitted total to the Lord.
Now look at 1 Samuel 1:12-18
12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
Hannah is praying passionately, yet, as Eli observed, her mouth was moving but nothing was coming out audibly. Eli, jumps to the conclusion that this poor woman has gotten drunk. Hannah having been interrupted from her pray, answers respectively and explains that she hasn’t been drinking at all but is simply pouring out her troubled soul to the Lord.
In Verse 16 we her inform him that she is no worthless woman, she is simply a troubled woman who is speaking out of her great anxiety and vexation.
Eli having heard her explanation sends her with a blessing saying that the Lord answer and grant her petition to him.
Don’t miss this, Hannah having poured out her heart to the Lord went away no longer sad and she ate! When we take our burdens to Jesus and lay out our heart before him and truly surrender it all into his hands, God is faithful to grant his servant peace.
Have you turned to God with your problems? Have you given him all your soul feels? Have you wept at the feet of Jesus pleading with him?
In my family, my Bigmother was known as a prayer warrior. She prayed over her children and grandkids all the time. Growing up, she was one of the primary sitters for us. She taught us chicken foot dominoes, she’d talk about Jesus all the time. In the mornings, she’d listen to the radio with rebroadcasts of sermons from Adrian Rogers and other pastors. There is no telling how many hours she poured over the word of God and prayer.
Without getting into too much details I can recall various times her guest room was used for cousins to live with her in different seasons of life. Yet, I can remember the stories from her funeral how they shared that there were nights that get in and she’d been praying for them.
I can tell you this: her prayers changed lives because she took her burdens for her family to the Lord. She prayed without doubting. My family was impacted by her faithfulness because her kids were impacted and so was my own life through her prayers that her grandchildren would know and serve the Lord.
The prayer life of a Godly mother is powerful!
Not only do we see that Godly mothers, encounter problems and should engage in prayer. We also see that:
3. Godly mothers experience power.
3. Godly mothers experience power.
19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”
After the night of prayer, the next morning the family arose, worshiped the Lord and returned home. After they arrived back home, the Lord remembers Hannah, in other words God answered Hannah’s prayer and allows her to conceive and give birth to a son.
She names her son Samuel because she “asked for him from the Lord.”
God hears her prayer and answers it. God is not simply idle. He here’s our cries and he is always faithful to answer!
Now look at 1 Samuel 1:21-28
21 The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” 23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”
And he worshiped the Lord there.
We see that it is again time to go and give the yearly sacrifice. Yet, this time Hannah stays. The reason for this is so that she can wait until he is weaned to take him and leave him to serve in the Lord’s presence the rest of his days.
Elkanah having heard this agrees to allow her to do as she pleases. So, Hannah nursed her child until it was time for him to be weaned and just as she had promised she took him, along with a three-year-old bull, ephah of flour, a skin of wine, they kill the bull, and Hannah reminds Eli that she is the woman praying, and that it was the child the Lord gave.
In what must have been one of the hardest things to do for any mother, she honors her vow and gives this young boy to Eli to be raised to serve the Lord.
And Samuel stayed and worshiped the Lord there.
Hannah experiences the power of God in her life because she was willing to be selfless and to follow the Lord through even the hardest of times. Are you following after the Lord?
Not only do Godly mothers encounter problems, engage in prayer, and experience power.
4. Godly mothers should express praise.
4. Godly mothers should express praise.
Hannah even in the midst of having to give her child to Eli so that Samuel could be dedicated to God forever find it possible to express praise to the Lord. Listen to her prayer,
1 And Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the Lord;
my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
2 “There is none holy like the Lord:
for there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
6 The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
8 He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and on them he has set the world.
9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
She sees God for who he is, the Lord of hosts, the Lord over the afflicted, the God who provides. Her affliction and depression righted by the Lord of hope and power.
When we experience God’s power in our lives, we cannot help but praise him for all that he does.
If you find yourself in mourning this morning, would you ask God to turn your sorrow to praise? To turn your hurting to hope in Jesus today!
In verse 18, we pick back up on Samuel and Hannah. Listen to these final verses.
18 Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy clothed with a linen ephod. 19 And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the Lord.” So then they would return to their home.
21 Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord.
Hannah continues to give gifts to her son once a year. A robe for him to wear. Each year, Eli would praying a blessing over Hannah and Elkanah for him to grant them more children. The Lord in his faithfulness provided Hannah not just Samuel but he brought to her three sons and two daughters.
Her is Samuel, a man who would anoint King Saul and David, who would serve the Lord faithful. A child of a vow from a woman longing to be a mother. God not only gave her Samuel. The Lord gave her more than she ever asked. God is faithful, even in our problems. Praise God for his goodness abounds.
Invitation:
While this morning is focused on mothers, these promises hold true for all people. We all face problems, maybe you are hurting today, will you bring your problems to Jesus?
Maybe the issue is that you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, will you give your life to him?
For others, you are ready to join the church
Need baptism.
