Hannah’s Offering

1 Samuel 1:21-28

A Legacy of Faith: Hannah's Offering

Bible Passage: 1 Samuel 1:21–28

Summary: This passage narrates the story of Hannah, who fulfills her vow to God by dedicating her son Samuel to the Lord's service, demonstrating her faith and commitment.

Application: Hannah's action challenges us to consider how we are investing in the next generation and what legacy of faith we are leaving behind. It calls Christians to deeper commitment and dedication to God’s purposes.

Teaching: This sermon teaches the importance of faithfulness and dedication in our lives and how our sacrifices can have lasting impact on future generations.

How this passage could point to Christ: Samuel's dedication foreshadows the ultimate dedication seen in Christ, who was fully devoted to God's plan of salvation, bringing about a greater legacy for humanity.

Big Idea: Our sacrifices for God's kingdom today can create a powerful legacy of faith for tomorrow.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider exploring the historical context of Hannah's vow and its significance in Israelite culture. Utilize Logos to examine commentaries on Samuel's role as a prophet and judge, as well as the implications of parental dedication in biblical times. Understanding these aspects can enhance your application of Hannah’s legacy in contemporary settings.

Introduction:

On yesterday my great niece (Demi Jo Harrison) graduated from Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy of which Kristi and I were privileged to attend the Commencement Ceremony. A Graduating Class of 120 students and because of their hard work and dedication they were awarded $20 million in scholarship money. 10 Valedictorians of which 8 of them spoke on program. As each of them were introduced they also mentioned what College they would be attending. (Harvard, Columbia, Tulane, LSU, Alabama.

They shared their stories of the challenges that they faced and overcame to get that moment. One student in particular shared how he would let his father who was homeless in the house at night to sleep on the couch because his father was homeless. His is now deceased but he had work through all of that and was grateful to be able walk across the stage and receive his High School Diploma and now be headed to Harvard University.

Each one that spoke shared their stories that they did not get to moment by themselves but it was parents, and grandparents, aunts and uncles, god parents, older siblings and others who helped them along the way.

“GRAD WALK” - STUDENTS WHO HAD GRADUATED FROM GRETNA MIDDLE WENT BACK TO GRETNA MIDDLE WITH THEIR CAP AND GOWNS ON MARCHED AND THEN STOOD ON STAGE BEFORE THOSE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TO SHOW THOSE COMING BEHIND THEM THAT IF YOU STAY ON THE JOURNEY THIS IS WHAT’S POSSIBLE.

THEY HAD ON DISPLAY YEARBOOKS FROM THEY YEAR THAT THEY GRADUATED FROM GRETNA MIDDLE SCHOOL!

Their were 3 words that kept being repeated in each of the speeches: “LOVE, SUPPORT, SACRIFICE!

1. Hannah's Faithful Fulfillment

1 Samuel 1:21–23

“When Elkanah and all his household went up to make the Annual Sacrifice and his vow offering to the Lord, Hannah did not go and explained to her husband, After this child is weaned, I’ll take him to appear in the Lord’s presence and stay there permanently. Her husband Elkanah replied, “Do what you think is best, and stay here until you‘ve weaned him. May The Lord confirm confirm your word. So Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him……….”

Look at how Hannah's unwavering faith and her commitment to fulfill her vow to God set an example of what it means to trust and follow through with God's plans, even when it involves personal sacrifice.

This passage lays the groundwork for understanding how an initial act of obedience and trust can set a course for a lasting legacy. Perhaps highlighting Hannah's faith could invite the audience to evaluate their own commitments and trust in God's promises, urging them to seek divine opportunities to invest in future generations.

Hannah is faithful to her vow that she made before the Lord. She does what must have been so incredibly difficult to do: take Samuel to the tabernacle, drop him off with Eli, and walk away.

But she didn’t just take Samuel did she? Look at verse 24, “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.”

She brings the items necessary for a fulfillment of a vow offering which is outlined Numbers 15:8-10. We’re told in Numbers 15:8-10:

“8 And when you offer a bull as a burnt offering or sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or for peace offerings to the Lord, 9 then one shall offer with the bull a grain offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with half a hin of oil. 10 And you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine, as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.”

Most modern translations say that Hannah brought a “three year old bull,” however, the original Hebrew says that Hannah didn’t take one three-year-old bull, but instead three bulls.

Most translations say, “three-year-old bull” in part because verse 25 only mentions one bull. It says that they “slaughtered the bull,” which was just a common way of saying they slaughtered all the bulls. Interestingly enough, the primary reason many commentators argue that Hannah brought only one bull is because of the fact that three bulls would have been over-the-top generous.

Bulls were signs of wealth in the ancient world. And so, a three bull sacrifice had the potential to send a family of decent wealth into poverty.

But three bulls makes a tremendous amount of sense when you realize that everything Hannah brought was over-the-top generous.

Numbers 15 says that only one bull is required but she brings three. Numbers 15 says that only three tenths of an ephah of flour was required; she brings an entire ephah. Numbers 15 only requires half a hin of wine; she brings an entire skin of wine.

Hannah’s sacrifice is noteworthy because she follows Numbers 15 to a tee, except for one detail: she brings much more than was required.

But that’s not all she sacrificed. Did you catch what was mentioned at the end of verse 24? We’re told that, “...she brought him [Samuel] to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young.” She brings Samuel to the tabernacle too.

Suddenly, the bulls, flour, and wine seem incredibly insignificant don’t they? And of course, I don’t want to imply that she literally sacrificed Samuel, rather she’s giving to the Lord what was undoubtedly the most important part of her life to the Lord, just as she promised. After caring for Samuel for the first few years of his life, she’s going to drop him off and walk away.

But Hannah is really on to something here, because she looks at Samuel and doesn’t think to herself, here’s a little boy who I can vicariously accomplish all my goals through. She doesn’t look at him and think this child is going to live the life I wish I would have. She doesn’t dump all of her dreams and goals on Samuel. She doesn’t view Samuel as her treasured possession.

Hannah understood a deep theological truth that we so often fail to remember and that is, everything we have is the Lord’s already! The better way to look at what’s going on here is Hannah is giving back to God something he already possessed. Samuel was already the Lord’s and He was going to use him as he saw fit.

So this dramatic drop off is nothing more than Hannah simply demonstrating to God what she already knew to be true - that everything she owned - a few bulls, some flour, a bottle of wine, and yes, even her dear son, had never really been her things to begin with! They had always been the Lord’s.

But we’d all do better to remember that everything from your house, to your cars, and bank accounts - even your children - are on loan to you from God. Which is why we should feel less entitled to them. We’d do better to loosen our grip on the things we think we own.

Which, by the way, is why tithing is such an important act of worship. It’s not the church demanding money from you as it’s often presented: it’s you recognizing that everything you have - is God’s to begin with, and so, you’re simply demonstrating that He is more valuable to you than your possessions and money.

When you remember that your possessions are in fact, blessings from God your sense of entitlement will begin to melt away. But not only will your entitlement melt away, you’ll be liberated to live more generously. Suddenly, your home, money, and even your family are no longer things to possess but opportunities to express your gratitude to God and further his kingdom.

Hannah’s prayer for Samuel was so much bigger than the prayers for worldly success that’s so common today. Hannah saw Samuel as a boy who could be used by God to accomplish and fulfill his will! At the end of the day, that was her heart’s desire for Samuel. That God would use Samuel to bring Himself glory.

All Christian parents want their children to put their faith in Jesus Christ. We all want that for our children. But I hope that’s not where our prayers end.

We want them to be saved for a purpose - to reach the lost, stand for truth, and accomplish the will of God! Who knows, maybe one of the little boys who runs around after church will one day stand behind the pulpit at Providence Presbyterian Church! Maybe your little girl will one day become a bold lioness for Christ or the Proverbs 31 woman.

My point is, we don’t want our children to be bare minimum Christians. We don’t want them to constantly ask themselves how can they be as worldly as possible and a Christian at the same time? That’s a terrible question isn’t it? We want our children to be faithful to the Lord and bold for Him.

But that’s exactly what Hannah wanted for Samuel! She wanted him to not only know, trust, and serve the Lord, but to accomplish the will of God. She wanted him to faithfully lead the people of Israel.

But in order for all of this to happen, Hannah had to be faithful to the vow that she made before the Lord.

You could focus on how Hannah's unwavering faith and her commitment to fulfill her vow to God set an example of what it means to trust and follow through with God's plans, even when it involves personal sacrifice. This passage lays the groundwork for understanding how an initial act of obedience and trust can set a course for a lasting legacy. Perhaps highlighting Hannah's faith could invite the audience to evaluate their own commitments and trust in God's promises, urging them to seek divine opportunities to invest in future generations.

2. Hannah's Intentional Offering

1 Samuel 1:24–26

“When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, as well as a three-year-old bull, half a bushel of flour, and a jar of wine. Though the boy was still young, she took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh. Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.”

“Please, my lord,” she said, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord…………

Note the significance of preparation and action in fulfilling one's promises to God. Hannah doesn't waver in her decision; she takes deliberate steps to ensure her son, Samuel, is dedicated to the Lord.

This action reflects the need for intentionality in our spiritual commitments and the sacrifices we make for the sake of future blessings. Consider paralleling this with Christ's intentional journey towards the cross, emphasizing the depth of dedication required to leave a lasting spiritual legacy.

Here’s the truth, Hannah had to be faithful to her vow because God had been faithful to her. Look at what she says in verses 27-28: “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.”

Hannah was well aware of God’s faithfulness in her life, because she asked for a son and God answered her prayer.

Dale Ralph Davis in his commentary on 1 Samuel translates verses 27-28 like this:

“For this child I prayed, and [God] gave me my asking which I asked from him; and I also have given back what was asked to [God]; all the days he lives he is one that is asked for [God].”

We don’t speak like that, however, Davis was trying to capture the fact that in the Hebrew, Hannah was emphasizing the fact that God had answered her prayers. In other words, Hannah is emphasizing God’s faithfulness in her life.

God was faithful in every way. He not only gave her a son, he gave her a son who would bring him glory. And we’re even given a glimpse of it at the very end of verse 28. We’re told, “And he worshiped the Lord there.” Who is he? He is Samuel. Samuel worshiped the Lord there at the tabernacle, just as Hannah had prayed and vowed.

After all, that was a big component to Hannah’s prayer for a son wasn’t it? She didn’t just want a son for her own pleasure, she wanted a son who would serve the Lord and God answered Hannah’s prayer in every way. He is faithful.

Which is such a contrast to every other figure in this passage. Everyone in Hannah’s life is pretty much a disappointment. Elkanah was a faithful worshiper of God, but his polygamy was the source of a lot of Hannah’s pain. Then on top of that, his other wife, Peninnah regularly mocked Hannah’s barrenness. And then even the high priest, the man who was supposed to be the most godly man in all of Israel cannot distinguish genuine faith from drunkenness.

Hannah had every opportunity to blame God for her unfortunate circumstances, but instead she believed that it was the Lord alone who could deliver her from her pain.

Everyone around Hannah was a disappointment, except for the living God. God saw her pain and suffering and he answered her prayers.

And it was because God had answered Hannah’s prayers, she had to follow through on her vow to dedicate Samuel to the tabernacle. God had been so faithful to Hannah, Hannah had to be faithful to him.

Even her elaborate sacrifices are an expression of gratitude to God. You might even simplify her response to God’s faithfulness in her life down to one word: worship. The only appropriate response to God’s faithfulness in her life is to worship Him.

I know many of you have been through or are in the midst of trials, but I hope and pray that even in the midst of suffering and still say that God is good. His goodness, grace, and mercy is always greater than the brokenness of this world. Hannah certainly understood that.

In fact, Hannah understood that her sins separated her from God and were only forgiven through the blood of a sacrifice, in the same way your sins and my sins are forgiven through the blood of a sacrifice: the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

And so, no matter what’s happening in your life, you and I should always be able to say that God is good and faithful because of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross! We know that God is good because Jesus purchased your salvation on the cross.

And it’s there we’re reminded that God has been so faithful to you and me, and so we must be faithful to Him.

3. Impact of Hannah's Dedication

1 Samuel 1:27–28

“I prayed for this boy, and since the Lord gave what I asked him for, I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord. Then he worshiped the Lord there………”

In the Bible, Samuel is a pivotal figure who served as a priest, prophet, and the last judge of Israel. He is known for his significant role in the transition from the period of judges to the monarchy, particularly in the anointing of Saul and David as kings.Samuel also appeared in the Bible as an apparition, warning Saul of his demise due to his disobedience to God, according to study.com. Key Aspects of Samuel's Role:

Priest and Judge:Samuel served as a priest at the sanctuary in Shiloh and later became a judge, leading Israel during a period of instability and conflict, according to www.pray.com. 

Prophet:Samuel is considered the first prophet in the Hebrew Bible, communicating God's will to the people and rebuking them for their sins. 

Anointing of Kings:He was instrumental in the establishment of the monarchy, anointing Saul as the first king of Israel and later, David, who would eventually succeed Saul. 

Transition Figure:Samuel's life and ministry bridge the transition from the era of judges to the monarchy, marking a significant shift in Israel's political and spiritual landscape. 

Appearances:Samuel is also unique for appearing as an apparition in the Bible, appearing to Saul to warn him of his impending doom. 

When my mother passed away, I found her Bible tucked away in a drawer. It was filled with handwritten notes and highlights that told the story of her journey with faithfulness. Handling it felt like holding a treasure map leading to the legacy she left behind, reminding me that every prayer she prayed and every verse she studied was an investment, not just for her life but for generations to come. Investing in the legacy of faithfulness is like planting seeds that will blossom even when we are gone.

A relay race teaches us about teamwork and legacy. Each runner passes the baton to the next, ensuring the race continues. In our spiritual lives, we too pass on the baton of faith through our words and actions, empowering others to carry on the race of faithfulness and run their own journey with purpose.

You could discuss the outcome of Hannah's dedication as Samuel enters a life of service to God, illustrating how personal sacrifices impact future generations and fulfill God's greater plans. This holds a powerful call for us to assess how our actions today shape tomorrow's spiritual landscape. Just as Hannah's faithfulness and God's faithfulness intersected dramatically in Samuel's life, our commitment can position us to see God's greater purposes unfold. Perhaps use this as a closing exhortation to invest in a legacy of faithfulness.