The Story Behind the Song
More than Just Music: Songs of Unexpected Reversals • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 11 views1 Samuel 1:1-2:11
Notes
Transcript
Barrenness to Blessing
Barrenness to Blessing
How many of us have heard the song “I can only imagine”? It’s a song written by Bart Millard, the lead singer of the Christian band, Mercy Me.
Now how many people have seen the movie, “I can only imagine”? — For those who haven’t its basically the life story of Bart Millard and the relationship he had with his father as well as other life events led him to write the song, “I can only imagine”.
When you saw the movie, didn’t if make that song mean a whole lot more to you?
It usually helps to know the story behind the song. Like when we introduced the song “Always Good”. It had a very emotional story behind it.
Most songs have some kind of story behind them.
The song we briefly looked at last week, Hannah’s Song, is no different. Behind that amazing prayer turned to prophecy… is a story. A story of barrenness and blessing. A story that when taken at face value seems to be about a family that struggled with problems. Infertility, arguing, favoritism, love, jealousy, requests made, and promises given.
But when we look at the story a bit deeper we will see that each issue expressed is much more than just a problem with a specific family. This story expresses a problem that plagued an entire nation of Israel.
The problems of barrenness, spiritual emptiness, and a crisis in leadership.
As we approach the beginning of 1 Samuel today, we need to remember that the events described take place during the end of the time period of the Judges.
This was a time when the Nation of Israel was in crisis and in desperate need for godly leadership. The last verse in the book of Judges sums up the situation pretty well.
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
By the time 1 Samuel begins, the Philistines have been plaguing the Israelites for years and the well known stories of Samson and his escapades with the Philistines have been well told.
Knowing this helps us to understand the mindset of the people… and it is helpful in explaining some of the actions of the people as well.
Remembering the rich prophetic song that Hannah sang last week, let’s open our Bible’s to the book of 1 Samuel and hear the story behind the song. The true story that caused Hannah’s song to be sung.
— Prayer asking for God’s blessing on the study of His Word —
As you find your place in chapter 1, we are introduced to a family that will end up becoming a picture of the true needs of the nation of Israel and representative of the family and person through whom God would eventually provide His Promised Blessings!
But for now, our narrative starts out with an obscure and insignificant beginning.
The story begins in a setting of emptiness and uncertainty.... for the nation of Israel, it seemed like a time that was almost completely void of blessing.
I. Void of Blessing (1:1-8)
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. 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.
There was a certain man....
It is interesting that those are the first words in the narrative. There is no king in Israel.... and everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes… and all of a sudden… there was a certain man.
That certain man’s name was Elkanah. He was from Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim, he comes from a family that considers themselves to be Ephrathites, and he had two wives. Hannah and Peninnah.
Elkanah’s name means “God has created or taken possession”
Hannah’s name means “grace or favor”
Peninnah’s name means Precious stone or pearl
There is a snapshot of some of our main characters.
So far, there seems to be nothing very impressive about Elkanah or his heritage. That is why verse 1 starts by saying, “a certain man”. Basically it could also be interpreted as saying.... “there was a nobody in Israel”.
There are no obvious reasons why we should be interested in Elkanah. He and all of the family members listed were pretty much insignificant and obscure people.
Saying that his great-great grandfather was an Ephrathite could mean that he had family connections with Bethlehem (also known as Ephrathah). — David was called “the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem” in 1 Samuel 17:12. Interesting connection you might want to make note of.
Three centuries later the prophet Micah would write in Micah 5:2
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
Being able to look back on the event from our perspective, we know that this prophecy was fulfilled in the birth of Christ… but let’s not get ahead of ourselves!
As we begin our study of this book I hope that you can already begin to see a glimpse of a connection here with the events that would take place in the life of Elkanah’s family with events that would some day impact the entire world.
But, for now, as this event is taking place there is nothing important about the town of Bethlehem or significant about being an Ephrathite.
What should catch our attentions about this point is the obscurity of the names and places given so far. We should be struck by how unimportant these people are. From the perspective of fame, status or power in the nation of Israel, this was a family of nobodies.
This is the first hint at one of the big themes that run through the book. Israel is in a leadership crisis and God introduces us to a family of nobodies. God is going to use unlikely people found in unexpected places!
Our God is able to make something out of nothing, life out of death, rich out of poor, and somebody out of nobody!
As this obscure family is introduced we are told that Elkanah had two wives. Hannah and Peninnah. Hannah is listed first, so we can assume that she was his first wife. This couple suffered from the sadness of not being able to have children. So, as was common in that day, Elkanah took a second wife named Peninnah who bore many children.
While this type of arrangement is not part of God’s plan for marriage, in the Old Testament it was not forbidden. But almost every time we see it taking place in Scripture, there were many heartaches and difficulties.
Being unable to have children is a very sad situation, but not uncommon. We read about quite a few women in Scripture who were barren and could not have children. While the problem of not being able to conceive can be a major crisis and a time of great difficulty for a couple, it is not that uncommon.
Remember the global and national context.... A national crisis is going on in Israel… and God brings to our attention this one specific woman who was childless.
Why?
To answer that question we need to stop and talk about God’s promised blessing on Israel.
You shall be blessed above all peoples. There shall not be male or female barren among you or among your livestock.
This promise was given in the context of the people being chosen by God… and their obedience and faithfulness to Him.
God had promised fruitfulness and blessing to His people. The condition was their obedience and faithfulness to Him.
So, in a time when everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes… which had led to a leadership crisis… which had led to a sense of national barrenness and spiritual emptiness.... Hannah’s problem serves as a representation of Israel’s problems. Hannah’s situation becomes a picture of the nation.
A. A picture of the nation
Back in Deuteronomy, Israel had been promised God’s blessing… but for years now had been living lives that were void of it.
Where was that blessing? Why was it being withheld?
The account of the Judges gives us plenty of examples where, as a whole, the nation of Israel had gone after other gods.... fallen into idolatry and sin.... and had not remained faithful to the Lord their God.
Let’s turn our attention back to Hannah, who is this real person with real problems of her own, whose circumstances represent the spiritual condition and needs of the nation of Israel.
Why should Hannah’s situation pique our interest?
If you are thinking about the entire narrative of Scripture, God uses barrenness in different ways. When a childless woman is introduced, each time the woman experiences a certain act of God’s grace, by which she does have a child. Then, that child usually played a pretty important role in God’s plan.
Sarah was barren/ had no children (Gen. 11:30). — God promised Abraham that Sarah would have a child and she had Isaac (Gen. 17:16; 21:1-7). Isaac became the bearer of the promise of God to bring blessing to the nations of the earth (Gen. 22:16-18).
Rebekah was barren, but Isaac prayed for her and she conceived Esau and Jacob. Jacob would become the father of the nation of Israel (Gen. 25:21-26)
Rachel, Jacob’s wife, was barren, but God listening to her and opened her womb and she had Joseph through whom God would save the lives of many in Egypt.
Another woman (more recent to those who were living during the time of 1 Samuel) who was barren and had no children was visited by an angel and was promised a son. She gave birth to Samson (Judges 13:3, 24). Samson delivered Israel from the Philistines and judged Israel for 20 years (Judges 15).
Each of these women shared the same sadness that Hannah experienced, but each one also had a child that was used in a great way as God’s answer to a time of crisis.
So, when we are introduced to a women who is unable to have children.... we should pay attention because God may be preparing to do something!
As we approach 1 Samuel and see this unimpressive family… we should take notice that God may be preparing to do something great with them and through them.
God’s Word has a story to tell and it does not stop here with providing a solution to Israel’s leadership crisis. It extends to all of the human race throughout history. 1 Samuel is an extremely important part of the greater story, but we can’t appreciate it unless we can see it in light of how the story of the Bible ends.
Let’s take a Biblical Theology road trip together before we go any further: We are introduced to this ordinary woman from an obscure town named Hannah who is unable to have children and has family ties to Bethlehem. If we fast forward into the future, many years after Hannah there would be another barren woman named Elizabeth. By God’s grace she would have a son named John. Around that same time the long sequence of barren women comes to its climax as a young woman… not barren… but a virgin would bare a child. Her name was Mary. An unlikely woman… in an unexpected way conceived and gave birth to a child, was was named Jesus. And it all happened in Ephrathah.... otherwise known as Bethlehem! — Amazing! Right!
The path leading from Genesis 3:15 to John 3:16 runs directly through 1 & 2 Samuel. You cannot study this book and not see God’s divine plan of redemption being developed before your very eyes!
God’s answer to the crisis in Israel… and around the world comes from the unexpected!
It all begins in Israel with a childless woman that just so happened to have a family connection with Bethlehem. That is where Israel must look to see God’s answer to their problems.... and we too must look to the child of another woman, born in Bethlehem if we want to see God’s answer for our problems.
Now that we have some insight into why God has chosen to begin the book by highlighting this family, let’s look at their situation.
While Hannah gives us a picture of the spiritual needs of the nation, Elkanah gives us a picture of what faithfulness looks like in difficult circumstances.
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. 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, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 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. 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?”
During a time when, as a whole, the nation was in rebellion against God, Elkanah made a yearly habit of worshiping the Lord and sacrificing to Him regularly at Shiloh.
Shiloh was about 15 miles north of Elkanah’s home town. Two centuries earlier, after Israel entered the land of Canaan, in the days of Joshua, the Tabernacle had been set up there (Joshua 18:1). Shiloh became an important place in the national life of Israel.
If you read through the book of Joshua there are several times with the nation gathers there. Judges 21:19 tells us that there was an annual “feast to the Lord” at Shiloh. This annual feast could have very well been the occasion that Elkanah and his family went there each and every year.
We are told that Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the priests there. We are just given their names here. We’ll hear a lot more about them next week.
Pay attention to Elkanah’s actions here. In verse 4 we are told that every year Elkanah’s family went to worship the Lord of hosts.
The first impression of Elkanah we are given is that he is a man that is serious about his worship of the Lord and his responsibilities before God.
Elkanah is presented as a man of faith in God, who gives thanks to God and honors him.
B. A picture of faithfulness
Verse 4 tells us that whenever Elkanah and his family would go to Shiloh for their yearly celebration and sacrifice to the Lord he would give portions (the edible portions left over after the Sacrifice) to his wives so that they could feed the children.
Elkanah is presented as a picture of faithfulness and fairness, but then the way verse 5 is translated in our English Bibles it seems a bit like Elkanah is discriminating based on favoritism.
But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.
Unfortunately, the way the English text is translates seems to be taking away from what God is communicating here in the original text.
The yearly feast they were attending was a time of joyful celebration. The Hebrew text brings out that in the middle of this joyful celebration, Elkanah’s heart was full of sadness because his beloved Hannah remained without the blessing of children, while her “adversary” proudly boasted about her children.
Elkanah could only give Hannah one portion, because she didn’t need any more. So, while Elkanah was a man of integrity and treated his wives with respect and fairness.... it broke his heart to see his beloved bride, Hannah, go through this every year.... highlighting to her and everyone around… that she had no children.
The Hebrew in verse 5 is difficult and it is debated about the exact meaning of one particular word in the text. A word that represents a certain type of anger. I think it expresses the reality that Elkanah was upset or saddened because of the shame that his wife Hannah endured.
The Septuagint, Greek translation of the OT, translates verse 5 this way: “To Hannah he gave one portion, because he loved her (even) though the Lord had closed her womb.”
That translation seems to match the Hebrew text more closely than our English Translation does.
our English translation makes it seem like Elkanah didn’t treat his wives fairly and that he showed favoritism. I don’t think that was part of Elkanah’s character.
I believe that this man who was dedicated to regularly worshipping the Lord did not treat his wives unfairly even though he loved Hannah the most. He was faithful in his worship of the Lord and that godly character of faithfulness was also transferred to his dealings with his wives.
Based on several phrases in the text, I also think that Elkanah understood that their circumstances were not due to one of their sins or actions, but were being caused by the Lord Himself. — What a great perspective!
Elkanah was a man of faithful character, a man of fairness, and expresses his understanding that God is sovereign over everything that happens in our lives.
Elkanah, this man of faithful character, loved Hannah regardless of her ability to have children! (very counter cultural)
Several times through this chapter it is reinforced that God is the One behind the scenes orchestrating the events to eventually work towards His purposes. The phrase “the Lord had closed her womb” tells us that God is in control… and it is only logical to think that if God has close Hannah’s womb for some purpose… then he can surely open it also.
1 Samuel starts out by expressing a nation in crisis experiencing a void of blessing. The story starts with a seemingly insignificant family… who end up being a living reflection of the barren and empty spiritual condition of the entire nation of Israel. But, this family is faithful.... they are dedicated to the Lord.... and will also be a picture of not only what it looks like to be faithful to the Lord… but a picture of how God sovereignly works in the world to bring about his His promises.
Hannah and Elkanah become a picture of how the nation of Israel should be responding to their circumstances....
Understanding a bit about the context of Hannah’s situation… let’s move onto her prayer for blessing.
II. Prayer for Blessing (1:9-18)
While Hannah and Elkanah have a firm understanding of God’s sovereignty, Hannah also understands her responsibility to act.
Look at verse 9:
“After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli was the priest sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.” (it is interesting that while Eli is sitting.... Hannah is acting). —> Her action here will turn out to change not only her life but the life of the nation… and the history of the world. <— Big stuff happening!
Look at verse 10. “She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow....”
Let’s stop there for a moment before we dive into Hannah’s prayer . There are some practical lessons about the discipline of prayer that we glean from her example.
First of all let’s be clear about what Hannah is not doing. When we are told that she made a vow, she is not making a deal with God. She is not entering into a contract, hoping that if she will do something for God that he would be obligated to do something for her. (not a patron/ client arrangement)
Hannah’s response to her situation is different than anyone else. She was deeply distressed (literally = bitter of soul). She was disappointed, dissatisfied, and discontent with her circumstances. While Elkanah was a faithful husband and God worshipper… he did not act. While Peninnah was given many children… she shamed Hannah.
What did Hannah do? She prayed to the LORD. (notice each time the word LORD is in all caps it typically refers to the name “Yahweh”, which is God’s covenantal… promise keeping name)
In Hannah’s prayer she expresses a logical faith. She understands that faith in God means knowing and trusting God’s sovereignty and his goodness towards us. She understood that true faith in God leads us to pray to Him who is sovereign over all things.
Now look at how Hannah prays in verse 11.
“… 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.”
Hannah acknowledges to whom she is speaking. LORD of Host… Yahwerh!
When she asks God to look on her afflictions she is echoing the same language that was used in God’s dealings with Israel. When God prepared to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, He used that same words. “I have surely seen the affliction of my people…” (Ex. 3:7 and other misc. verses)
Hannah is using the very same Hebrew words that Moses recorded coming from the mouth of God when He had brought them out of Egypt. —> She was asking God to deal with her as one of His people according to His character.
She comes before God acknowledging His majesty as Lord and his Character as Promise Keeping God.. Yahweh.
She acknowledges her position before God as His servant.
She made her request known to God. — By faith she knew that there was no where else to go.
I wonder if Paul was reading through 1 Samuel when he penned Philippians 4:6.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Seems to fit doesn’t it. — We can apply these same principles to our practice of prayer.....
As Hannah makes her vow, she acknowledges that this child she is asking God for would ultimately belong to Him. So she says that she will give him to the Lord and then says that “no razor shall touch his head”. This is a way of saying that her son would be a Nazarite, who was usually a person that was dedicated to God’s service. A Nazarite vow was usually temporary, Hannah’s son would be a Nazarite all the days of his life.
While Hannah is praying she is pouring her heart out to the Lord, but not audibly. She is moving her mouth… but praying in her heart. Eli watches from the doorpost and assumes the worst.
And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.”
We will discuss the context behind this statement next week. But, basically the priesthood at Shiloh was corrupt and were operating in such a way that extortion, drunkeness and prostitution were common occurences. So common that Eli just assumes that Hannah is one of these drunken “worthless women” that their sons keep around for company.
You can see that expressed in Hannah’s response in verse 16
Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.”
Remember that phrase. She was praying to the Lord out of her great anxiety and vexation.
As Hannah finishes praying … bringing her petition before the Lord, she had confidence that God would answer in some way. She had laid out her burdens before the Lord… she knew that everything was in His hands.
She begins her prayer out of great anxiety and vexation pleading before the Lord.... and then in verse 18 we are told that when she left her face was no longer sad.
While she didn’t know what would happen, by faith, she trusted that God had heard her prayer and He was responsible for whatever the results would be.
(We can have that same confidence. — If we have responded to the Lord by faith.... trusting in Him alone… we too can have that same confidence and peace of heart… knowing that God hears us.)
Now that this prayer for blessing has been given.... let’s look at the provision of that blessing
III. Provision of Blessing (1:19-28; 2:11)
Hannah has poured our her heart to the Lord and now she goes joins the family at the celebration. The next day we are told that they woke up early, worshipped as a family and then went back to their home town of Ramah.
Verse 19 tells us that Elkanah knew his wife Hannah and the Lord remembered her.
That word “remembered” is significant.
Just like the Lord had “remembered” Noah in the days of the flood, Abraham when he destroyed Sodom, Rachel when she conceived Joseph, and his covenant with Abraham in the days of Moses, ..... in the same way he “remembered” Hannah.
Whenever God “remembered” his people, it led to God acting on their behalf.
So when we read that God “remembered” Hannah, we have to expect that God is getting ready to do something for His people.
Then in verse 20 we come to the climax of the event!
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.”
God provided Hannah with a special blessing! A child. The barren woman, who had come before the Lord acknowledging who He is… asked God to not forget but to remember His promises of blessing to Israel … and provide her with a son.
This woman, unknowingly was a picture of what Israel’s great need.
Their need to come before the Lord, acknowledging Him for the God, Creator, and King that He is.
Israel was to see the affliction they were experiencing as a consequence of their sin.... come before God acknowledging that He is the One to whom they belong..... and asking God to remember the promises that He had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The promises of blessing.
Seeing Samuel’s birth as the climax of this event is reflected in his name. Samuel means “God hears”. Hannah had asked the Lord.... and He heard her prayer!
Isn’t that good? God hears us.... and answers according to HIs Will!
Here is the message for the original audience. Whether they were living in Israel before the exile… or reading these words from captivity in Asseria or Babylon. If the nation of Israel would acknowledge Yahweh as their true King… their One and True God… their Lord and Creator.... then He would hear them… and respond with grace.
The same is true with us. Our world is in chaos and confusion and in desperate need to acknowledge the Lord God as King!!!
Hannah now has a son that The Lord has provided. Each year Elkanah goes to the annual feast at Shiloh to worship. But, Hannah tells him that she will not go until she has weaned the boy, and then she will fulfill her vow and take him and leave him there to serve the Lord.
Elkanah’s response is very interesting and probably much more profound that Elkanah may have even realized.
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.
Why does Elkanah answer this way. Hannah just told him that she was waiting for a few years before she will go and worship with Samuel… and Elkanah responds with the hopeful words that the LORD may establish His Word.
Elkanah may very well realize that the Lord’s answer to Hannah’s prayer is part of His greater purposes for His people.
Elkanah could have very likely been saying… “The Lord has answered Hannah’s prayer… may He go on to bring about His purposes to fulfill His promises to Israel!” —
2-3 years pass and then Hannah does finally go to Shiloh with Samuel. When Hannah arrives she goes and speaks with Eli.
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. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 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.
Then this portion of our narrative comes to a close in 1 Samuel 2:11, when we are told that...
Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.
That is the story behind Hannah’s Song. That is the story that produced the heartfelt and prophetic song recorded for us in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. (Even though we read through the song last week, I would encourage you to go back and read through it again in light of the background events that we saw unfold today.)
Conclusion/ Application:
Chapter 1 began in a spiritually barren and empty land, focusing on an obscure and insignificant family that also dealt with an issue of barrenness. Now, the chapter has ended with the God of the universe providing the very thing that His people needed. His grace!
God has just provided the next mile marker in his plan of redemption. His name was Samuel.
When Hannah began to pray, she was in a place of great anxiety and vexation. Now in Chapter 2 she is led to a place of singing and rejoicing!
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.
What a transformation! What a powerful story of sovereignty and provision.... that led to a beautiful song of praise and prophecy!
God is on the move! He is doing something amazing in the world! We need to pay attention!
The truths and realities that we see in the lives of Hannah and Elkanah are true for us as well.
Main Idea:
In our times of emptiness and need, God alone is able to provide the blessings we (so desperately) need.
Response:
Celebrating God’s faithfulness and provision!
Trusting God has provided and will continue to do so in greater ways that we can even imagine....
Trust in God’s timing and plan for your life, even when life’s circumstances are discouraging and extremely hard to live through. — God is not absent…. He hears the prayers of those who are faithful to Him. …. He provided divine blessing to those who are faithful to Him….
Be ready… and willing. God may very well use an unexpected person… in an unexpected way… to bring about spiritual growth and blessing in your life!
Remember the prayer principles from Hannah’s prayer:
Acknowledge God’s Character and majesty as your Lord
Acknowledge your position before God.... as His servant.
Make your request known to God (by faith trusting in Him to respond in the way that is best according to His will… not according to your wants.)
Trust in Him to provide in His Way… in His Time.