In Search of a King
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I. God’s People Need Godly Leadership
I. God’s People Need Godly Leadership
(In all of these verses there is a single reframe “There was no king in Israel” 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25)
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them.
Judges
In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was sojourning in the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.
Judges
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Leaderless people are susceptible to spiritual dysfunction.
Leaderless people are susceptible to spiritual dysfunction.
“everyone did what was right in his own eyes”
John Maxwell stated,
Everything rises and falls on leadership.
Everything rises and falls on leadership.
That is why the author of Hebrews says,
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Heb
And as you will see in just a bit...
Leaderless people are vulnerable to the enemies attacks.
Leaderless people are vulnerable to the enemies attacks.
1 Samuel opens during a time when the people of God are desperate for the the man of God.
Who is leading you?
Who is leading you?
The greatest leader this world has ever known is Jesus Christ. He famously said, “follow me”.
The greatest leader this world has ever known is Jesus Christ. He famously said, “follow me”.
What is the story about? It is about a gracious God who moves his people towards Godly leadership.
II. God’s Presence Brings Something Out of Nothing.
II. God’s Presence Brings Something Out of Nothing.
Read verse 1-3
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.
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.
Who are these people?
We can’t even say these name.
Unlike most genealogies these names are remarkable for one reason - because they are so unremarkable.
These are nobodies. So the question arises why does God include a bunch of nobodies in His story.
a. God’s glory is displayed through obscurity.
a. God’s glory is displayed through obscurity.
The only thing that is remarkable about these names is that they were unremarkable.
These where nobodies.
God moves the story from obscurity to glory.
I don’t care about making a name for myself - I want his name to be exalted.
The song doesn’t go - I exalt me!
Read v. 3-20
1 Samuel 1:3-
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?”
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.
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.”
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.
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.”
b. God brings delight out of despair.
b. God brings delight out of despair.
We find that Hannah is barren. In our day that is a crushing burden. But then it was so much more. God’s blessing was wrapped up with barring children. So Hannah was a women without the blessing of God.
Elkanah would offer sacrifices and as a blessing would take a portion and provide it to his family. To Peninnah and “All her sons and daughters.”
The one thing her heart longs for she is constantly reminded that she doesn’t have. “Year after Year”. In fact that phrase is used twice.
Hannah wept and didn’t eat.
She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.
She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.
She has great anxiety and is vexed.
Where do you turn when you are broken so bad that you can’t even breath?
Where do you turn when you are broken so bad that you can’t even breath?
Hannah turned to heaven.
Hannah turned to heaven.
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.
Think about this.
The God who never forgets at times remembers.
When the scriptures state that God “remembered” it means He acted in a way that radically changed everything.
When the scriptures state that God “remembered” it means He acted in a way that radically changed everything.
So that out of weakness God brings strength.
So that out of despair God brings delight.
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.”
Our weakness is the canvas God uses to display his power.
Where do you turn to when you are hurting so badly you can’t even breath?
Where do you turn to when you are hurting so badly you can’t even breath?
This morning I want to invite you to turn to the one who is able to turn everything around.
c. Despair is often the precursor
c. Despair is often the precursor
Application
Who am I following?
Who am I following?
Where are they leading me?
Where are they leading me?
Where do you turn when your spirit is so broken you can’t even speak?
Where do you turn when your spirit is so broken you can’t even speak?
Like Hannah will you turn and place your faith in the God of Heaven?
Like Hannah will you turn and place your faith in the God of Heaven?