Sermon Tone Analysis

Pray

Well as we get started this morning, I’m going to share an article that I came across this week.

It explains:

The police in Oregon are looking for a man who they say stole a car with a child in the back seat only to return the four-year-old and reprimand the mom about her parenting.

Local authorities said the theft took place outside a grocery store when the mom left the car running with the child in the back seat.

The mother left the car unlocked and went inside to buy a gallon of milk and some meat.

The thief happened to walk by and hopped in the car.

He soon realized the four-year-old was in the back seat and pulled back into the parking lot, returning the child to the mother—but not without scolding her first.

Police spokesman, Matt Henderson said, “He actually lectured the mother for leaving the child in the car and threatened to call the police on her.

Obviously, we're thankful he brought the little one back.”

And fortunately, the thief ordered the mom to take the child before driving off in the car.

Now I don’t know how this story played out for this criminal, but I am encouraged this morning at least we have a good few people out there.

You see, of course today is Mother’s Day.

And I can tell you firsthand that I am grateful for the impact of not only my mom Theresa, and the impact that she has had on my life, but also of course to my wife Kim as she has been a beautiful example of a Godly women to our children.

You see, for moms everywhere there is a sense of commitment and loyalty to their children which is often difficult to describe in words, and although cards sum up what mom means to us, the truth is, the $5 card from Walmart fails to convey the true significance of a mom.

You see mom’s been up 3 times during the middle of the night with her crying baby, it’s not even 9 am and she’s already changed 7 diapers for the day.

She’s made sure the kids’ lunch is ready for school, their bags are packed, their teeth are brushed, their hair is combed and don’t forget the money for the fieldtrip.

And if that weren’t enough, she has 3 piles of laundry also known as mount laundrymore which she still needs to summit.

And let’s not forget about the grocery list, the dinner, the dishes, cleaning the house, paying bills, cleaning even more stinky diapers and oh by the way… those toys that seemed so cute at Christmas that we just couldn’t walk past them without buying them for our moms kids… well, they were cute… that is when they were silent… but now after hearing the same phrase for the 900TH time, mom no longer thinks this uh oh gotta go pink flamingo is so cute afterall.

But all joking aside, I think it’s truly important to recognize moms this morning for what they do.

I mean we have company Christmas parties, and perhaps bonuses from the years end performance, and yet, so often moms don’t get the recognition that they truly deserve.

And so, this morning, to all the moms thank you.

Of course, being Mother’s Day, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss the influence of a Godly example in our lives.

As you know, 2 weeks ago, we looked at the idea that everyone need a friend, or a nick, in their lives.

Last week, we looked at the idea of a godly role model, and I concluded that everyone needs a Steve.

Well, this morning, we’re going to wrap up this series and see that everyone needs a mom.

Now for some of us, if we were honest, Mother’s Day is a struggle for us.

For some of us this morning, our mom has gone on to be with the Lord and we no longer have the phone calls or timestogether that we once did.

Or perhaps as a child, you didn’t have a good relationship with your mom and dad, and there is a sense of hurt that you still deal with.

But this morning, if I could encourage us with something, it would be regardless of if you’re here this morning as a mom, or as a dad, or even if you don’t have children of your own… to see the biblical truth behind this morning’s message as ultimately, whether you have your own biological children or not, we’ve all been called to help raise Godly children together.

It’s not just me raising my kids, you’re helping too… we as a community, have a responsibility to our next generation to raise them up in the way of the Lord.

So, with this in mind, if you have your bibles this morning, turn with me to 1 Samuel 1 and as your turning there this morning, there are 2 truths that we’ll unpack about Godly parenting.

1. Godly Parents Pray. 2. Godly parents give their children to the Lord.(We could add in several more, Godly parents love..)

1. Godly Parents Pray

If you’re not already there turn with me to 1 Samuel 1:1-8 and as your turning, there I want to set the scene that we’ll encounter this morning.

First, it’s important to see that the book of 1 Samuel was written when Israel was in a relatively dark place.

Samuel, as you may recall would be the last Judge of Israel, he also serves as we’ll see a priest and as a prophet.

But God has certainly placed Samuel in this world for a very specific purpose.

With a clear destiny and mission in life.

You see, were told that despite God’s warning, that the Israelites wanted to be like all the other nations and have a king rule over them.

The Lord would go on to warn the Israelites of the mistake that they were making, but ultimately the people rejected having God rule over them and instead, insisted on having a king rule them.

So, in these relatively dark years of Israel’s history, we see that God has brought Samuel into the scene who would go on to serve not only as a judge, but as a prophet, as a priest and the one who would help the nation of Israel as they transitioned from the time of Judges who ruled, to kings who ruled.

1 Samuel 1:1-5 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite[a] from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah.

Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb

6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.

7 This went on year after year.

Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.

8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping?

Why don’t you eat?

Why are you downhearted?

Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

So, if we stop for a 2nd, I want us to unpack the scene that’s taking place.

First, we notice that we’re introduced to Samuel Parents Elkanah and Hannah.

Now we see that these Elkanah and Hannah are Godly people,

First, we see that Every year Elkanah and his family went to Shiloh to worship at the Tabernacle.

Now we’re not told in the text if the trip to Shiloh was due to one of the three annual festivals… in the Passover… the Festival of Harvest or Festival of Shelters although it likely could have been.

But As we read, despite her Godly character, we’re quickly presented with a problem as not only can Hannah not have children… but if that weren’t enough, she’s being provoked.

The bible tells us that because Hannah had no children, that her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her… and that this went on year after year… and although Hannah was in deep anguish, although she was downhearted, we see that the story isn’t over.

In fact.

If we circle back around to verse 6 for a moment, we notice an interesting fact, we’re told: “6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.”

But , despite the emotional state she had at the time, despite her pain, we find interestingly enough that God had brought this about.

That Hannah couldn’t have children?

Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb.

In other words, the very fact that she couldn’t have children, wasn’t by accident.

But who was it from?

It was from God.

You see God wasn’t done with her For in her emotions, and In her frustrations, she comes to a point that she would make a vow with God.

You see, in many ways, it was her deep anguish, and misery, that this would ultimately bring her to a point where she at her end… “okay, enough’s enough God…”

You see, Hannah was at end of herself… and there, God came through.

You see, Hannah made this vow with God because her circumstances brought her to this point in life where she was so moved with grief and anguish that she makes a vow to God.

And says Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, but if you’ll do that, I vow to give him to you for the rest of his life.

You see friends, in these moments, Hannah’s heart was moved.

She had enough, her pain, her anguish, her difficulty, the mockery of Peninnah day after day… You see, in these moments, Hannah is hurt.

She’s in deep anguish… and yet, The stories not over.

No, in these moments… God remembers her.

You see, the bible tells us:

12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.

13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard.

Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk?

Put away your wine.”

15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled.

I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.

16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

Friends, I want us to catch something.

Hannah is deeply troubled, she’s in great anguish and grief… and yet, here’s what she does… she prays.

She doesn’t do what was so common at that time, as we see with Sarai and Abram by having her servant sleep with her husband.

no in these moments… She prays… She goes to God.

And you know what happens.

God hears her prayers.

1 Samuel 1:27 “For this child, I have prayed, and the Lord has granted the desires of my heart.”

You see, despite her misery, despite her hurt, despite her pain… God hears her.

The bible tells us:

19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah.

Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.

20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.

She named him Samuel,[b] saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”

You see friend, here’s my question for you this morning?

What are you dealing with?