Mother's Day 1 Sam. 1:1-20

It’s such a joy to be together this morning. The second Sunday of May is celebrated as Mother’s Day.

The founder of this day was Miss Anna Jarvis, a teacher in the primary department of St. Andrew Methodist Church, in West Virginia,

the class her deceased mother had taught.

On May 12, 1907, Miss Jarvis passed out carnations to this class in honor of her mother.

In this way Mother’s Day was born.

Our passage today focuses upon a would-be-mother, Hannah.

She is battling deep emotional stress standing right in the midst of this festive atmosphere, which certainly would have added to her struggles.

Obviously Hannah wants to pray, which she might do if the great, heaving sobs subside.

In one sense Hannah had almost everything an 1100 B.C. Israelite woman could want.

She had Elkanah, a husband of social standing (note how his roots are spelled out in 1:1),

moderate wealth (else he could not have supported two wives, v. 2),

genuine affection (vv. 5, 8), and faithful piety (v. 3a).

The problem was that though Hannah had Elkanah, she didn’t have him.

She shared him.

With Peninnah, an overly fertile, mouthy, thorn in the flesh (vv. 2, 6–7).

So this morning let’s focus upon God’s faithfulness to godly but struggling women.

Let’s look at the PROBLEMS FACED. "But he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved her even though the Lord had kept her from conceiving. "Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the Lord had kept Hannah from conceiving. "Year after year, when she went up to the Lord’s house, her rival taunted her in this way. Hannah would weep and would not eat. "“Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah would ask. “Why won’t you eat? Why are you troubled? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”” ()

This other woman and childlessness conspired to make Hannah’s life a misery.

And never was that misery greater than at the time of the family’s annual visit

to the tabernacle at Shiloh, when they went ‘to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty’ (1:3).

The ‘Lord of Armies’.

Jealous because Elkanah attempted to compensate for Hannah’s childlessness with

tokens of his love for her, Peninnah ‘kept provoking her in order to irritate her’ (1:6).

Elkanah just could not cope with this situation, beyond attempting to comfort his grieving wife (1:8).

She’s taunted: "Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the Lord had kept Hannah from conceiving. "Year after year, when she went up to the Lord’s house, her rival taunted her in this way. Hannah would weep and would not eat.” ()

She’s childless (in v2); she’s afflicted “Making a vow, she pleaded, “LORD of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction...” (v11)

In vv12-14, the high priest thinks that she’s drunk even though she was just praying! So she’s misunderstood.

In vv12-14, the high priest thinks that she’s drunk even though she was just praying! So she’s misunderstood.

She’s broken hearted: "“No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven’t had any wine or beer; I’ve been pouring out my heart before the Lord.” ()

But there’s good news for the broken hearted: "The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.” ()

Think of a skillful surgeon that cuts deeply into his patients.

Or an anesthesiologist. As he puts the needle into your skin, he’s confident of the freedom of pain that you will experience later.

But now think of God.

He’s got all of the wisdom of the physician and yes observes our afflictions that we now endure

in light of the life to come when He

heals all our diseases and

He gives us a crown of beauty in place of the ashes,

festive oil instead of mourning,

splendid clothes instead of despair ().

But he doesn’t just sit their like the pain doctor, intently and calmly looking on because he’s assured of the result in the future.

No, says, "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” ()

So, although the splendor of his wisdom and his foreknowledge enables Him to see the end as well as the beginning.

Yet, believe me, as a father is pitying his children, so the Lord is pitying those who fear him.

"The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.” ()

"The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.” ()

Hanna is actually under the protection of the Most High and she’s in the shadow of the Almighty!

The shadow of the Almighty becomes a sweet defence against the scorching sun or the full force of the rain.

The picture of the weary traveler comes to mind that finds rest in the shade of this tree.

God is our rest: "“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” ()

Outwardly & inwardly we become weary and burdened by several different factors.

Think of the inward terror and boiling heat of your conscience.

When God’s grace makes known your wretchedness known to you by setting your sin before your face!

Oh my, if we have not the shadow of Christ’s righteousness to hide under we’d fall to despair!

Our consciences afflict us at times.

Especially when Satan adds his poisoned fiery darts, poisoning, inflaming our consciences!

Or when God appears angry and says,

"You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But I will rebuke you and lay out the case before you. "“Understand this, you who forget God, or I will tear you apart, and there will be no one to rescue you.” ()

Oh when God seems as a consuming fire who can survive it?

Yet these are the inward and outward struggles of the believer.

But what about those that are not under the shadow of the Almighty?

What fearful condition they are in!!!?

For those that don’t have the shadow and cover of God for themselves?

To them, God’s not a cloud by day to, and a pillar of fire by night;

that have not Him for a hiding-place to spread the wings of his mercy over them.

What is the state of such people?

What is a drop of adversity that those in Christ taste, compared to the bottomless sea of wrath the wicked must drink?

The same sun which lights up our day and comforts and cheers people, also tortures and scorches people:

so God is a sun, a quickening sun to his children, , yes, a vigorous sun, who has healing under His wings;

but to the wicked he is a scorching and consuming fire, .

‘It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,’ , who is so dreadful.

He will not be a shadow to the wicked in an excellent manner.

God indeed permits the lost to have many shadows in this world,

many sweet comforts, and keeps them also from many dangers;

but they have not that worthy portion which Hannah had from her husband, .

As the leaves are coming back, I’m reminded that most bird’s nests are difficult to find in the summer.

It’s the winter time of adversity, when the leaves are stripped off the branches that the nests are revealed.

Our faith is harder to see in times of prosperity but when adversity comes (and it will come) we see our faith at once.

"Before I was afflicted” David said, “I went astray, but now I keep your word.” ()

The bow of trouble shot David like an arrow towards God!

It’s truly a blessed thing when the waves of trouble wash us upon the rock of ages, God alone.

These are the Problems Faced.

Then we have PLEADING PRAYER. "Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears. "Making a vow, she pleaded, “Lord of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.” "While she continued praying in the Lord’s presence, Eli watched her mouth.” () "“No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven’t had any wine or beer; I’ve been pouring out my heart before the Lord. "Don’t think of me as a wicked woman; I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.”” ()

So this deeply hurt, broken hearted woman, pleading in her affliction

asking God to remember and to not forget her,

weeping and pouring out her heart from the depth of her anguish and resentment before the Lord!

Following : "Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.” ()

She’s persistent in prayer. v3, “This man would go up from his town every year to worship...”

v4 & 5, “Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice…he gave a double portion to Hannah.

v7, “Year after year, when she when up to the Lord’s house...”

Every year, whenever, year after year, she’d meet with the Lord in prayer.

There’s that pump in the park in Demotte that the children get water from in the summer.

When a pump is frequently used, but little pains are necessary to have water; the water pours out at the first stroke, because it is high.

But if the pump has not been used for a long time, the water gets low, and

when you want it you must pump a long while, and the water comes only after great effort.

It is so with prayer; if we are instant in prayer, every little circumstance awakens the disposition to pray,

and desires and words are always ready.

But if we neglect prayer, it is difficult for us to pray, for the water in the well gets low.

She was patient in affliction as well.

This was already evident in the way in which she had borne the taunts of Peninnah.

She was crushed by the unjust treatment she received, but nowhere is there evidence of a vengeful spirit.

She took it patiently.

And when she sought the Lord, it was not for justice or the punishment of her tormentor that she called,

but simply for the healing of her infertility (cf. 1:6–7).

She had a very humble spirit in the face of provocation.

Hannah’s godliness is exemplary!

She knew that this world is not heaven, but a fallen sin-sick place in which

all of its inhabitants have a personal share in its imperfections and afflictions.

As a believer, she knew that the Lord’s purpose for her was one of blessing—even in and through her woes.

Personal suffering, is never meaningless for the child of God.

You may not know why you suffer, AND

Keddie, G. J. (1988). Dawn of a Kingdom: The Message of 1 Samuel (p. 21). Darlington, England: Evangelical Press.

your suffering may seem to you too painful to bear.

Under such circumstances you must always bring your suffering to God and ask Him to take it away.

Hannah cried to the Lord in her trouble and, as we shall see, he delivered her from her distress

"Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; he rescued them from their distress.” ()

In it says that God predestined us “according to the plan of the One who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of His will.”

If God does that, then you should not lean to your own will, nor to your own wisdom,

but rather, give yourself up full unto God.

"One who is righteous has many adversities,...” ()

This is the difficulty. Because sufferings complicates and tests our surrender to God.

God, who is infinite in wisdom and

matchless in goodness,

has ordered troubles, yes, even many troubles to come dropping in upon us on every side.

Job says, "...humans are born for trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.” ()

As our mercies go, so our adversities go.

As His graces come to us, so to, the crosses come to us.

Adversities, are like those April showers we had, no sooner was one over the next one was coming!

Please remember dear believer: Every affliction isn’t execution from God.

Every correction isn’t damnation from God.

The higher that the flood waters rose, the nearer Noah’s ark was lifted to heaven!

The more that your adversities rise, the more that your heart shall by raised heavenward.

Sorrows create a grave dilemma for the Christian, because they do not want to deny either the sovereignty or the goodness of God.

If we desire to walk humbly with our God (), then, we must fall down before God and

acknowledge that He has the sovereign right to do as He pleases.

We must believe that He acts with wisdom, righteousness, goodness, love, and mercy in all that He does,

even though it may be difficult to see that in the confusing shifting, dizzying changes, and deep distresses of life.

God often exercises His providence through methods that are beyond our understanding.

Please be warned, if your human reason attempts to track the logic of divine providence,

it will find itself in entangled mazes and puzzles,

It is far better to bow in worship and exclaim with Paul, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways!” ()

So Hannah was full of grace when she prayed and oh may we be as well when we come to the throne of grace!

She FACED PROBLEMS, she PLEADED IN PRAYER.

Then 3. There is PEACE GIVEN.

"Eli responded, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request you’ve made of him.” "“May your servant find favor with you,” she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer looked despondent. "The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to worship before the Lord. Afterward, they returned home to Ramah. Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. "After some time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, because she said, “I requested him from the Lord.”” ()

The blessing from Eli (1:17) signalled the coming of the peace of God into Hannah’s soul.

Peace always attends God’s answers to prayer, because when God answers—whether ‘yes’ or ‘no’—he speaks peace to us.

He solves the problem and blesses us with the certainty of his good purpose for our lives.

It is significant that it is in stillness that we can truly enjoy the knowledge of God (). “Be still, and know that I am God...”

Restlessness is an effect of sin (). "But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its water churns up mire and muck.” ()

Hannah’s response (in v18) shows that her burden had been lifted. ‘May your servant find favor with you’ is a formal expression

—which highlights the role of the grace of God in her life.

The proof of her restored spirits was that she ‘ate something and her face was no longer despondent’ (1:18).

Her son had not yet been conceived, far less born!

But God had answered her prayer with an assurance of his love towards her.

That is the fruit of all believing prayer.

And because of this, God’s people ought to be the most visibly joyous people in the world.

The Lord ‘remembered’ Hannah and Hannah forgot the sorrow that had blighted her earlier life.

At the personal level, this enshrines the liberating truth that the Lord never forgets his believing people.

Do you feel like you’re missing the nearness of the Lord?

Is there a burden or disability—perhaps childlessness, perhaps something else—that

casts such a shadow across your life that the light of Christ seems remote and His blessing but a dream?

Then, with Hannah, "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” ()

So dearest follower of Jesus don’t despair, regardless of what you’re going through:

Your righteousness if unsafe to hide in anyway, your duties are defective, all that you endeavor after is defective so the truth is, you have nothing in and of yourself.

Yet if you have Christ, you need nothing more because in Christ you have all!

In Him, you have the sum of all. There’s simply no comparing houses, friends, and worldly comforts to Christ, because He’s of infinite worth!

Perhaps Hannah could’ve been like Rachel was quarreling with Jacob when she said, “Give me sons, or I will die!” ().

But let our real husband Jesus speaking through Elkanah when he said, “Am I not better to you than ten sons?” (1 S. 1:8)

Keddie, G. J. (1988). Dawn of a Kingdom: The Message of 1 Samuel (p. 26). Darlington, England: Evangelical Press.

When you live next to a spring you can get rid of the bottled water!

You don’t need a flashlight on when the sun is out!

If you have Christ you have all!

Also, If you have Christ, you have the pledge of all. "He did not even spare his own Son but offered him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?” ()

If ever there was too much mercy given, here’s where it would be, the giving of His own Son.

But since God has stopped at the giving of His own Son,

how would He now hold back lesser things if He’s already given the greater thing?

Remember, also, that the appearance of Samuel brought the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ a step nearer.

Remember, also, that the appearance of Samuel brought the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ a step nearer.

All the cares of all God’s people were cast on Him. He bore them in his own body.

He suffered and died in the place of sinners so that healing and salvation might come to them.

He still calls us to come to Him that we might have rest, to believe on His name that we might have eternal life.