Hannah - The Faithful Mother

Intro

Good morning church family, Happy Sabbath. If you are visiting here today, welcome, thank you for joining us to worship today. Also if you have been told Happy Sabbath about a million times it is just a greeting that you will find in basically any adventist church you walk into around the world.

On another greeting, Happy mothers day to all the mothers in the room. If it is your first mothers day, Congratulations! What an exciting weekend.

I am so very blessed to have many mother figures in my life. Firstly my Mum! I have never met anyone who is so caring, loving hospitable and generous. She gives without thinking, always prioritising others before herself. So while she probably won’t see because I’m sure she very busy at church today as she always is. I want to say thank you, you are the best mum in the world. I also am blessed to have to loving grandmothers, who both have had such an incredible influence on my life. From Piano lessons to foul tasting green drinks they both have shown me different aspects about what it means to be follow of Jesus in this world. Then lastly, just recently I have inherited a new Mum, My mother in law! While every movie and comedian ever makes a joke about mother in laws, I have been so blessed to, because I have never met anyone that is so dedicated to making sure that everyone else around her is happy, healthy and served before herself. She is such a loving, peace bringing devoted women of God. Each of these women have taught me a little bit more about the character of God and have all cared for me in different ways, so today as we get to celebrate and reflect I want to say thank you to all of them .

I want to acknowledge for a moment those who so desperately want to be a mum but cannot for whatever reason, I want to acknowledge those of you who do not have a good mother, those who have been hurt by their mother. We see you, we cry with you, we hurt with you, while we can never fully understand that pain that you have experienced and we know that this day weekend which is meant to celebrate mothers can bring with it so much pain. We as a church family pray that for those of you who this includes that somehow you are able to find comfort and peace through a tough time.

Lastly I want to acknowledge the women that have stepped in as the mother figure to peoples lives. Those that have seen a need and filled it. Thank you because you have made a difference.

Today I want to tell the story of a mother who shows incredible faith and trust in a God who is faithful to her. But this story is about so much more than just a mum crying out to God, Through this story I believe the author is trying to tell us that God empowers the powerless.

Before we go there, Would you pray with me?

Today I want to explore the story of Hannah. So come with me in your Bibles to 1 Samuel 1:1-18

1 Samuel 1:1–18 ESV

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. 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?” 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. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 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.” As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 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. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 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. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 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.