HANNAH, , AND THE BIGGER STORY

1 SAMUEL 1-2:11 Your altitude affects your observations.

OUTLINE:

1. The Setting 2. The Story 1. THE SETTING JUDGES 21:25

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him. Moral relativism Political instability 2. THE STORY 1 SAMUEL 1:1-2 There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. His name was son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives, the first named and the second Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless. 1 SAMUEL 1:4-11

Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he always gave portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to each of her sons and daughters. But he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved her even though the Lord had kept her from conceiving. 1 SAMUEL 1:4-11

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. 1 SAMUEL 1:4-11

“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?” 1 SAMUEL 1:4-11

On one occasion, Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh. The priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s temple. Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears. Making a vow, she pleaded, 1 SAMUEL 1:4-11

“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.” HANNAH’S DISAPPOINTMENT

1. Childless HANNAH’S DISAPPOINTMENT

1. Childless 2. Rivaled 1 SAMUEL 1:6-7

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’S DISAPPOINTMENT

1. Childless 2. Rivaled 3. Misunderstood 1 SAMUEL 1:8

“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?” OBSERVATIONS

1. Hannah’s disappointment was caused by the Lord. 1 SAMUEL 2:5-6

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. What is the biggest disappointment in your life? https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=yoHPx5wTnRs OBSERVATIONS

1. Hannah’s disappointment was caused by the Lord. 2. Hannah’s disappointed drew her closer to the Lord. How do you typically respond to disappointment? HEBREWS 12:15

Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many. How did Hannah handle her disappointment? 1 SAMUEL 1:15-16

“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.” Hannah poured out her disappointed heart to the Lord in all its rawness. PSALM 62:8

Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before him. God is our refuge. What was the result of Hannah pouring out her heart? THE RESULT

1. Hannah was given a supernatural peace. 1 SAMUEL 1:17-19

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. 1 SAMUEL 1:17-19

They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Philippians 4:6-7

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. THE RESULT

1. Hannah was given a supernatural peace. 2. Hannah was given a supernatural conception. 1 SAMUEL 1:18-20

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.”

1 SAMUEL 2:1

Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is lifted up by the LORD. My mouth boasts over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. Those God uses in the greatest ways, tend to be those who have walked with Him through the greatest disappointments and trials. APPLICATION

1. Connect Hannah’s story to the bigger story.

Closing Question

1. Have you trusted Christ to save you?