Hannah, A Woman to Imitate

the historical event we are going to look at this morning took place around 1050 BC

story of Hannah, her husband Elkanah and her son Samuel

the circumstances surrounding the birth Samuel

why this story is important:

Samuel led Israel for many years as a prophet, a priest and a judge

he anointed Israel’s first king

when Saul failed and was rejected by God Samuel anointed David

The name Samuel means ‘asked of the Lord’.

- grew in the presence of the Lord

- continued to grow in stature and in favour with the Lord and with man

- let none of the Lord’s words fall to the ground

- Lord revealed self to Samuel

called Israel back to the Lord

called upon the name of the Lord ()

Samuel led Israel for many years as a prophet, a priest and a judge

he anointed Israel’s first king

- given the same status as Moses in God hearing their prayers

when Saul failed and was rejected by God Samuel anointed David

in - given the same status as Moses in God hearing their prayers

named in the Saints Hall of Fame in

keep in mind Samuel’s great record of faithful service

Hannah only had Samuel until he was between the ages of 3 & 5.

after that he lived at the Tabernacle with Eli and his 2 wicked sons

Whatever Hannah did with Samuel in that short period of time had a profound effect on the rest of his life!

three things in Hannah’s life to imitate

3 healthy relationships:

her relationship to her husband

her relationship to heaven

her relationship to her home

Her Relationship to Her Husband

They Worshipped Together

The most important relationship in the home is not between parents & children but between husbands & wives.

Hannah was married to an imperfect husband, a polygamist

now you ladies who are married, I know that there are some things about your husband which irritate you and even drive you crazy at times

how many of you live in a home where you are not the only wife?

though Elkanah shows the marks of being a godly man he violated God’s plan for marriage: one biological male with one biological female joined as one in a lifetime commitment

possible reasons why Elkanah might have made this foolish decision to have 2 wives:

Hannah’s infertility

did the desire for a male heir lead him to this awful decision?

would explain why

levirate marriage (Dt 25:5-6)

commanded by God for the protection of wives whose husbands died leaving no male heir and to maintain the family inheritance of the land

whatever the reason, this created great trouble for Hannah

Principle:

Husbands are called to lead their homes and men are called to lead the church but they are nowhere near perfect and sometimes make poor decisions.

In spite of his foolish decision Elkanah appears to have been a godly man.

“he went up year by year to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts” (v.3)

Israelite men were required to go to where the Ark of the Covenant was at least 3x/yr to worship

Passover/Unleavened Bread - commemorates God’s sparing Israel’s firstborn in Egypt

Feast of Weeks (7 weeks after Passover) = Pentecost - celebrates harvest

Feast of Booths - commemorates God’s provision during wilderness wanderings

Pentecost Feast of Booths

“year by year … to worship”

Elkanah went up at least as often as commanded

most likely he went more often as he was a Levite (the only way Samuel could be a priest!)

burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings

other reasons:

he was a worshipping man

he understood the law of God and walked in obedience

he was a man of faith recognizing his need to offer sacrifices to the Lord

In spite of all his failures Elkanah was seeking after the Lord.

a believer, a worshipper but a polygamist

polygamy caused great trouble and sorrow but Hannah had a husband who sought after the Lord

she had a husband who was a spiritual leader

Application:

[encourage christian women to seek men who love the Lord]

Because Hannah had a worshipping husband she was better able to cope with his sins.

what part can a believer have with an unbeliever?

&

&

ex of oxen unequally yoked

- how can you follow a Master who demands absolute allegiance if you become one flesh () with an unbeliever?

[encourage those who have come to Christ and still have unbelieving husbands]

- unbelieving husband made holy because of believing wife

[encourage women who violated scriptures and married an unbeliever]

God is gracious and merciful and able to overrule

encourage other Christian women not to sin and bring upon themselves such trouble

One of the things which made Hannah a woman to imitate was that God was at the centre of her marriage.

Hannah and her husband worshipped together

Principle:

worship is vital to your children’s growth into maturity

how do you worship?

are you faithful in worship?

do you make the Word of God a priority in your life?

is prayer a regular part of your family’s experience?

does your life match up with what you affirm at church?

recent study which showed that 1/3rd of young people who walk away from their faith do so because their parents did not live out at home the Christian life they were taught at church

They Shared Their Love

1 Samuel 1:4–5 ESV

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.

1 Samuel 1:4 ESV

4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.

“but to Hannah he gave a double portion”

example of peace offering: when it was made the priest would take a small portion for himself and the remainder would be eaten by the family

when Elkanah portioned out the food he gave extra to Hannah as an expression of his love

remember the account of Joseph eating with his brothers and giving Benjamin a greater portion

a way of showing honour, of expressing love and devotion

“because he loved her, even though the Lord had closed her womb”

the reality that children are a blessing from the Lord

led to strong belief in that culture that the ability to bear children was a sign of God’s favour

thus not being able to have children was seen as shameful

examples of Rachel in and Elizabeth in

reproach = a state of dishonour

in the NT “reproach” was connected with disparaging words

having heirs, especially male was vitally important because they were needed to work the family farm and eventually take it over, keeping the property in the family

Though she was reproached for being childless Elkanah went out of his way to assure her and remind her of his love and affection.

Principle:

husbands are to live with their wives in an understanding way (1 Pet 3:7)

do you know the things that cause your wife fear, shame, worry, etc?

knowing what makes your wife “tick” are you ministering to her needs

warning in - prayers hindered for failure

They Shared Their Trouble

unconditional love expressed at such times is especially meaningful and encouraging

example of the Lord Jesus with his disciples at the Last Supper (Jn 13-17)

being loved in the midst of difficult circumstances is especially meaningful and encouraging

Hannah’s position was especially difficult because she lived in such close proximity to her rival

Penninah provoked her grievously because she was unable to have children

“as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her”

the provocation was especially intense when they travelled to the house of the Lord

provocation happened as they were eating

picture them all gathered: Elkanah, Penninah with all her children and Hannah all alone!

the provocation was directed at the fact that she was childless

Hannah experienced:

v.8 - sadness of heart

v.10 - deeply distressed … wept bitterly

v.11 - the affliction of your servant

v.15 - troubled in spirit

v.15 - pouring out my soul

v.16 - speaking out of great anxiety and vexation

so great was the pressure that Hannah would stop eating, perhaps to avoid the provocations

Hannah’s position was especially difficult because she lived in such close proximity to her rival

Principle:

we all want to be loved but especially in the midst of difficult circumstances

Unconditional love expressed at such times is especially meaningful and encouraging.

example of the Lord Jesus with his disciples at the Last Supper ()

husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church (Eph 5:25)

They Shared Feelings

1 Samuel 1:8 ESV

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?”

she’s weeping and is so upset she’s not eating

he has given her a double portion to express his love and concern

he didn’t try and provide answers but noticed her grief and sought to comfort her

they both knew there was nothing he could do

it says 2x that the Lord had prevented her from conceiving

Principle:

how easy it is for us as men to be insensitive and pontificate

Husbands are often quick give solutions without paying attention to the heart.

Elkanah knew that Hannah was in a very difficult place

the Lord seemed to be against her

Penninah took great pleasure in making her miserable

all Hannah had was Elkanah and he was compassionate knowing how deep and painful her situation was

so he was tender, sympathetic and thoughtful

Principle:

note what Hannah did not do, she did not turn against Elkanah and throw his folly back into his face!

example of Rachel and Jacob

Proverbs which speak of nagging woman (; )

neither did she turn against God

did not become bitter and angry

sought the Lord in prayer (vv. 10-11)

neither did she attack Penninah in retaliation

example of Rachel and Leah

Her Relationship to Heaven

not only did H have a good relationship with her husband but she was heavenly minded

In her trouble Hannah turned to the only one who could solve her problem, her Lord.

he was the one who had closed her womb and he was the only one who could open it (vv.5-6)

in desiring children she desired God’s best (v.8)

[focus on the fact that children are a blessing not a curse]

one of God’s best gifts to a married woman is children

children are a heritage from the Lord and a reward ()

heritage = inheritance = something valueable, something to be cherished, held in high value

children the result of God’s grace (Jacob’s response to Esau in )

God’s command to Adam and Eve: be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Gen 1:28)

she sought the Lord in prayer (vv.9-10)

she continued praying (v.12)

she was passionate in prayer (v.15)

she trusted God in prayer (1:18)

she did not go away anxious, afraid or frustrated but ate and was no longer sad

Hannah cast her burden on the Lord know that he cared for her. ()

her motives were pure

she didn’t seek a child for her own fulfillment, to validate her worth in the eyes of others, to put on display

Hannah sought a child with the intention of giving him back to God.

the essence of a godly mother, to prepare her child to give back to God

this should be the goal of every godly mother, to train up her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and one day give them back to the Lord prepared for whatever purpose he has for them

her motives were pure because she was pure

v.16 - do not regard me as worthless

worthless: ;

sexually immoral, sexual perverts, rebels, those who bear false witness, idolatry,

a virtuous woman? a godly woman?

she was a woman of her word (vv.22,24,28)

she was a woman of praise and thankfulness ()

Her Relationship to Her Home

v.22 - as soon as the child is weaned I will bring him

she recognized that she had a very short time with Samuel

she obviously used that time well

though he entered into an environment dominated by the wicked priests Hophni and Phineas he was not swayed or corrupted by them

Principles:

Paul’s teaching in ;

The primary focus of a godly mother is her home not her career, her friends, her church ministry but her family and her home.

raising of the next generation of leaders and godly women

make the most of every opportunity (; )

training up a child in the way he should go ()

train up a child in the way he should go

not a promise but a general principle

encouragement to families about the importance of training your children at home vs. fear and anxiety over how evil society is

encouragement to families about the importance of training your children at home vs fear and anxiety over how evil society is

Hannah was able to fulfill her promise even though she knew that the wicked priests Hophni and Phineas were there

she sought nothing from Samuel

she did not set her hopes on him to satisfy some deep need within her

she did not design some great career for him, did not push him into some lucrative job

though she gave him away to the Lord she never stopped loving and caring for him

1 Samuel 2:19 ESV

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.

though she had given her son to the Lord she never let go of her responsibility

Such are godly mothers, they never stop being mothers no matter how old they get!

Questions:

Are you a godly mother, worthy of being imitated?

Are you preparing to be a godly mother?

If your children are grown and you are an empty nester what you doing to help prepare younger women to be godly mothers?

Young women, are you looking for and praying for a godly woman like Hannah to help and nurture you?

Young people, are you honouring your mother? obeying her? praying for her? helping her? encouraging her? praising her?

Young unmarried men, are you praying for such a woman as Hannah?

Husbands, are you working hard to grow in your spiritual maturity so that you don’t make foolish decisions like Elkanah? Could you be characterized as a worshipping man? Are you working at understanding your wife? Are you loving your wife as Christ loved the church?