Be Faithful
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION: Welcome/prayer
Introduction to our new series - these 4 books provide the background for 27 other OT books… essentially, by covering these 4 books we’ll cover close to 80% of the Old Testament
Intro to 1 & 2 Samuel
Intro to 1 & 2 Samuel
A book of many events… as well as many names
LXX & Greek Orthodox Traditions - First & Second Kingdoms
Vulgate & Catholic Traditions - First & Second Kings
Hebrew Bibles saw no division until the Bomberg edition in 1516/1517… prior to that the two books were one, simply known as Samuel
Who’s the author?
Traditionally, most of 1 Samuel is attributed to Samuel along with the prophets Gad & Nathan
The canonical edition, or the final edition, that made its way into the OT canon is most likely a compilation of several sources by several people
2 Samuel 1:18 is an example of a potential source that was used
18 and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said:
Also, in 1 Chr 27:24, 29:29, we also read about sources being used which help show us where the detailed lists of David’s administration in 2 Samuel most likely came from
24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count, but did not finish. Yet wrath came upon Israel for this, and the number was not entered in the chronicles of King David.
29 Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the Chronicles of Samuel the seer, and in the Chronicles of Nathan the prophet, and in the Chronicles of Gad the seer,
If you’re wondering why Samuel could not have written all of 1 Samuel as well as 2 Samuel, because Samuel’s death is recorded in 1 Samuel 25
Context of 1 & 2 Samuel
These books are referred to be a part of the historical books or writing of the OT… b/c they are narrative in nature, and they tell us what happened...
Now, when we reading historical narrative, we must understand that not everything written is prescribed to obey or given to us to model...
Some text is purely descriptive… other text is prescriptive… (similar to Acts)
For example, b/c 1 & 2 Samuel tells us that David practice polygamy, does not mean that polygamy is what we ought to practice.
Historical context for 1 & 2 Samuel is best understood in light of Judges
Remember the key theme of Judges… there was no king, and everyone did as they desired without regard for God....
Now, they did have a king… Yahweh… He was the one they were to follow… this is why God sent raised up judges to correct and lead the people into righteousness, but after each judge, the people went back to their wicked ways...
Judges concludes with some significant events that involve unholy behavior of the Levites thus leading Israel into sin. This behavior is what opens Samuel following the account of Hannah.
So, as we move from a nation ruled as a theocracy, with various forms of tribal governments scattered throughout as described in Judges. 1 Samuel gives us the transition from theocracy to a monarchy of one king, and one nation.
In the midst of it all, the lesson provided is that no king, no leader, will ever be the solution. Only God is.
Dating of Samuel...
The events of Samuel primarily occur in the eleventh century BC
The book of Judges and 1 Samuel overlap, with Ruth happening during the period of Judges, but before Samuel’s birth.
Samuel was born 1105 BC, so our passage today takes place near the end of the 12 century
In 1080 BC, the Philistines capture the Ark of the Covenant which we will read about shortly in 1 Samuel 4
Meanwhile, in 1078 BC we have the account of Jephthah fighting the Ammonites as recorded in Judges 11, where we read about his fateful vow that he made which ultimately caused him his daughter’s life.
Then in 1055 BC we have another account of Judges from Judges 16, and that’s the account of Samson destroying the Philistine’s temple and killing himself in the process.
Then in 1050 BC Saul is anointed as the first king of Israel. So, that is where we are at in the timeline. Clear as mud?
Now, let us get to our main course this morning and eat shall we?
(Text) 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11a
We are going to look at the actions of a faithful woman by the name of Hannah. We will read about her faithfulness despite her circumstances, and see how her prayer reveals to us the theology she held that gave her such faith.
In fact, Hannah could be considered the most pious woman that is portrayed in the OT… simply based off the short passage we have before us.
She is shown going up to the Lord’s house, unlike any other woman in the OT
Only woman to make and fulfill a vow to the Lord
Only woman who is explicitly said to pray… not that the others didn’t but the action is stated explicitly with Hannah
Her prayer is one of the longest in the OT which has the most mentions of the name Yahweh by a woman (18)
She, unlike Sarah another infertile woman, does not try to rectify who situation on her own, but rather trusts Yahweh
She also doesn’t make a vow like Jepthah (Judges 11) that leads to the child losing her life, rather Hannah’s child lives as a living sacrifice
We’ll start with 1 Samuel 1, and after we cover that then we will read 1 Samuel 2:1-11a
READ 1 Samuel 1
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. 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.” 21 The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” 23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, 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. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 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.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
Hannah’s Faithfulness
Hannah’s Faithfulness
Hannah’s Circumstance
Barren
Ridiculed
Hannah’s Response
Lived obediently
Prayed fervently
Our takeaway
Our circumstances do not determine our standing with God
His favor rests on those who are faithful
Not our vocation, education, socioeconomic standing, gender, or skin color…
Not even if you’re in ministry or out of ministry.. you can be a pastor of a thriving megachurch and the favor of God is not upon you… or even the church…
We must not let our circumstances dictate our standing with God… we must be like Hannah, faithful...
God loves us, and He will hear our prayers… but not unconditionally… God is not an unconditional God… we must kill that thought, that teaching in America, it’s devastating… He’s a holy God… there must be conditions! If God loved us unconditionally why did He send His Son to die on the Cross for us?
But this is the beautiful thing of God… He’s good, He’s merciful, and all we need is faith. The favor of God rests on the faithful, regardless of who they are...
READ 1 Samuel 2:1-11.... now this prayer is similar to Mary’s prayer in Luke
1 Hannah prayed, “My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted high because of the Lord. I loudly denounce my enemies, for I am happy that you delivered me. 2 No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one other than you! There is no rock like our God! 3 Don’t keep speaking so arrogantly, letting proud talk come out of your mouth! For the Lord is a God who knows; he evaluates what people do. 4 The bows of warriors are shattered, but those who stumble find their strength reinforced. 5 Those who are well-fed hire themselves out to earn food, but the hungry no longer lack. Even the barren woman gives birth to seven, but the one with many children withers away. 6 The Lord both kills and gives life; he brings down to the grave and raises up. 7 The Lord impoverishes and makes wealthy; he humbles and he exalts. 8 He lifts the weak from the dust; he raises the poor from the ash heap to seat them with princes and to bestow on them an honored position. The foundations of the earth belong to the Lord, and he has placed the world on them. 9 He watches over his holy ones, but the wicked are made speechless in the darkness, for it is not by one’s own strength that one prevails. 10 The Lord shatters his adversaries; he thunders against them from the heavens. The Lord executes judgment to the ends of the earth. He will strengthen his king and exalt the power of his anointed one.” 11 Then Elkanah went back home to Ramah. But the boy was serving the Lord under the supervision of Eli the priest.
Hannah’s Prayer
Hannah’s Prayer
Praises God’s Holiness
Knowledge of God leads to worship
Despite the sacrifice she is joyful
Praises God’s Deliverance
She trusts in His sovereignty and His ability to make what is dead alive
Her barren womb fertile
His ability to overthrow the ways of the world, to turn it upside down
The poor to rich, the rich to poor, the hungry to satisfied, the satisfied to hungry
All of which is ultimately and fully fulfilled in Christ… this is Luke’s main theme in his Gospel… Kingdom Reversal… we constantly see Jesus showing favor to those society as rejected… but understand this… lest you think I’m preaching some sort of liberation or social justice theology… the favor of God didn’t fall upon all who were rejected by society… only some… let us not swing all the way to the other extreme and think that rejection from society is a mark of favor or a sign of one as approved by God… we must have faith… faith rooted in truth, in Christ.
We have no need to look to the President to change the world… only to God.
God will use anyone and whomever He pleases but especially those who are faithful.
Never think you cannot be used by God or that God would never use you…
Brothers/sisters the church in the first century grew and advanced b/c of the lives of those we have no record of.... yes, Paul, Peter and others were key aspects, the foundation of it all. But the bulk of the work is done by you…
Revival does not happen on Sunday mornings… it happens Monday-Saturday… outside of this church. When you all make disciples according to the will of God, wherever He has placed you...
Want to fix the injustices in our community? Make disciples
Want to have leaders who fear God, seek justice, and find mercy? Make disciples
Think you are incapable of doing this? Trust the one who make the barren fertile, the dead alive, and the dark light.
And be faithful like Hannah… do not give up b/c no one at work seems to care or wants to listen…
Pray fervently that God would make the soul that is dead alive again and that He would use in the process.
Pray fervently that God would cause what is dark to be light, what is hostile to be friendly…
Stop putting your trust in programs, books, or even myself… put it in God first, Him alone...