MOTHER'S DAY

Mother’s Day 1 Samuel:1 Now there was a certain man of ( Rhama- thigh -em -so -feem) Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: 2 And 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.

To begin with brothers and sisters , Christian Friends, Well Wishers and Saints of God, Happy Mother’s Day Everybody. I was born at Terrebonne General Hospital in Houma, Louisiana. My Mother is Laferne Banks. I am so grateful that I still have my mother.

I realize that Mother’s Day is hard for a lot of people. I understand that but it’s has to be celebrated for the wonderful mothers that are here and the ones that are gone on to heaven. We all have memories and that’s what brings the greatness to motherhood.The song writer said “I sought the Lord and He Heard and He answered and that’s why I trust Him.” After much prayer I was led to the book of Samuel. to the story of Hannah.

In 1 Samuel there is a unique story. This biblical story has entitlement, jealousy, envy, covetousness, desire, promise, fulfillment, and dedication.

The setting and scene was at Shiloh and Old Man Eli was the High Priest. Eli had been around a long time . And Shiloh was the religious center during the time of the Judges. In fact the Tabernacle at Shiloh was the first permanent place that the Ark Of the Covenant rested after Joshua led the Children of Israel into Canaan. So Shiloh was an important place. And Shiloh is an important place today. Then in the setting and the scene we had to look at Eli. Eli was the Leader or the Judge because Israel had no king at that time. The bible says in 1 Samuel 1:1 Now there was a certain man of ( Rhama- thigh -em -so -feem) Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: 2 And 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.

The first thing is this hard word:

( Rhama- thigh -em -so -feem)

raw-maw-thah’-yim tso-feem’ 3x That’s where Elkanah was from. Elkanah was from the tribe of Levi so he knew the levitical order of things. He knew proper protocol. Don’t miss that. In other words when you were raised to know better you ought to do better. ATCSA.

Then the bible says secondly that Elkanah has two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. And the bible says that Hannah couldn’t have no children. This is where the entitlement comes in. Elkanah had two wives he was entitled to that privilege, but! the jealousy started being so thick between Peninnah and Hannah until you could cut it with a knife. Hannah was so jealous of Peninnah was jealous of Hannah and they couldn’t stand each other.

And the bible says in the NIV that in verse 3 that “Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD.

Alright let me paint the picture.

1. Elkanah made a pilgrimage from

( Rhama- thigh -em -so -feem )the town he was allowed to live in because he was a Levite.

2. The bible says that Elkanah was a just man, a holy man, and a righteous man because he went up to Shiloh year after year to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty. And anybody that will worship and then sacrifice unto the Lord can’t be all that bad, But Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD.

#3. Hophni and Phinehas, were bad priest, they were lustful they were sleeping with a whole lot of the women in the church. Eli knew it told them about and they ignored him. But God saw it and God didn’t ignore it. And Hophni and Phinehas,got got by the Lord. I’ve said a thousand times you might get by but you will never ever get away. God sits up high and looks down low and He sees everything. ATCSA.

In the NIV 1 Samuel 1:4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb.

First of all Elkanah took care of his wives.

Secondly he gave Hannah a double portion because she couldn’t have children like Peninnah could. This caused a deep rift. And what I gather is that you got not only jealousy but you’ve got envy too. Peninnah is envious of Hannah because Elkanah gives Hannah a double portion twice more than her and she got the children.. Yes Indeed. And Hannah is envious of Peninnah because God has opened up her womb and she just spitting out baby after baby. And brothers and sisters that’s life.. And when you lil you don’t know how that’s going to turn out for you because it’s all in God’s Hands anyway. ATCSA.

And so Peninnah starts to tease Hannah. She starts to ridicule Hannah, The bible says in verses 6 & 7 “And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. 7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. And what I get out of this is, When people know where they can hurt you at they’ll home in on it and dig in.

Poor Hannah was miserable. Year after year And that’s the desire in the text. Have you ever wanted something so bad and it looked like God gave it you all your enemies and not to you, and then they rub it in your face.… Been there and done that too. And the desire is so strong and until Hannah wouldn’t eat..

8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

He already know what the problem is. because the text says that Elkanah says to Hannah, “am not I better to thee than ten sons?” Men sometimes when you don’t know what to say , “Don’t say nothing” Sometimes when my wife upset I just agree with a thumbs up!!!! and I shut up. Because sometimes all we doing is making things worst. Silence is golden. I’m going to let that woman have what ever she want today! She ain’t gon have no trouble out of me this day. Fellows if you mess this day up… 3, 4, 5, months from now she’ll remind you about it, And you ain’t did right for mother day either.. So Whatever she wants ok.

The bible says that Hannah went to the church house and lay the trouble on the altar. Look at verses 9 & 10 “So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

Hannah prayed to God and poured out her heart to God.. She prayed and cried and prayed and cried. Brothers and sisters sometimes we have to pour out our hearts before the Lord. I believe that there is Power in prayer. There’s power in talking to the Lord about it. Prayer changes things, prayer changes conditions and prayer changes the circumstances in our lives.

Hannah’s prayer was so powerful, so deep, so moving and so inspiring Let’s listen to her prayer.

From the NIV in verse 11 And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

Hannah said Lord God Almighty If you will only look on your servant’s misery. Right there in modern times She’d be saying Father God in the name of Jesus please take away this misery and remember me. Brothers and sisters the songwriter said I sough the Lord and He heard and He answered. That’s powerful 2x.

#2. Hannah was specific with her prayer, She said Lord I want a son..… A son would carry Elkanah’s family name and heritage and blood line. Elkanah was from the tribe of Levi. So Hannah knew if she didn’t have but one son it would be enough. And so she’s weeping and crying and praying.

#3 Hannah said “then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life.” In other words Lord I’ll dedicate my only son back to the service of the Lord, all the days of his life.How many mothers and fathers and aunties and uncle and grandparents had prayed and asked God to bless somebody with a child and that that child would be dedicated to the service of the House of the Lord. I believe we ought to get back to those powerful norms we had in the black family. Don’t let the world raise them. Because Saturday night and Sunday night are the highest nights of homo sides in the cities around the country. And 95% of them are black males.

I know when parents mothers and fathers raised their children they didn’t say Here’s little John he going to Angola or here’s little John he’ll be dead by his 18th birthday Lord have Mercy.

#4 Lastly in verse 11 Hannah said And no razor will ever come upon his head. That means that Lil Samuel will be raised in the Nazarite Order. It’s a strict lifestyle. No drinking no smoking no running women no gambling no cussing no fussing no fighting and no acting like a fool. The Nazarite Order is what Jesus came up under. ATCSA

Then the bible take a turn look at verse 12 As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

1. We’re still in the prayer!!! The bible says pray without ceasing, meaning don’t stop until you get enough, don’t stop talking to God about it.

#2. Hannah’s mouth is moving but the prayer is so deep until no words are coming out. Sometimes stuff be so deep until no words don’t come out Look at Hannah NO WORDS BUT LORD HAVE MERCY 3X THE SILENCE IS SO DEAFENING until no words are coming out… I feel her pain!!! Don’t talk about me until you walk a mile in my shoes.

#3. The High Priest Eli sees her a praying but it looks like she’s drunk with wine. Well If you want something you’ve never had you’re going to have to do something that you’ve never done… Hannah done had it up to here!!! She’s sick and tired of being sick and tired is her situation.

Eli thinks she’s drunk and in verse 15 Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Hannah say Pastor Eli I don’t drink I don’t smoke and I’m not a woman of the night I’m pouring out my soul to the Lord that he would grant me a child . And Pastor if the Lord gives me a male child I’ll dedicate him back to the service of the Lord for the Priesthood.

I imagine that had seen Hannah with Elkanah year after year but not noticing that Peninnah had all the children and Hannah had none. Hannah had been praying here of her great anguish and grief.” And 17 Eli said “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” 18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

Right there the deal was made!!! Yeah 3x Pastor Eli had to speak the blessing on Hannah and Sister Hannah had to believe it and receive it. And that’s how it works That faith in God.Mother’s Fathers Saints of God we have to have faith in God because the bible says without faith it is impossible to please God.

And so the bible says that Hannah ate something and felt better. Don’t miss that because When God says that He’s going to fix it, It’s fixed. That means stop being sad and mad and acting bad and tripping and treating everybody around you like they did you something because you ought to rejoice that God has intervened God know how to show up show out and show off in our lives. Two things and I’m through in

19 the bible says “Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, j saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.”

Happy Mother’s Day

She asked the Lord for him and as I leave you here today.

Hannah thanked God for giving her a child and when the yearly sacrifice came and the whole family went to Shiloh, um um um Hannah went before Eli and said Man of God here is my baby boy.. I want to dedicate him to the service of the Lord. Hannah wasn’t selfish or self centered. Hannah no longer care to show Peninnah that she had a child too. Hannah’s name goes down through history as being a virtious mother.. Yes. I got close here y’all but won’t you get up where you are and go and hug a virtuous woman and tell them Happy Mother’s Day.