Lesson from the Life of Hannah

1 Samuel 1  Pages 229 and 230

 

Know that God sometimes allows barrenness in our lives.

 

1 Samuel 1:2
Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not.

 

Sympathize with hurting people.

 

1 Samuel 1:4-5
⁴On the days Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her children. ⁵And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portion because the Lord had given her no children.

 

Don’t demean those who are hurting.

 

1 Samuel 1:6-7

⁶So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children. ⁷Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat.

 

Pray with passion and specificity.

 

1 Samuel 1:10-11
¹⁰Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. ¹¹And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.”

 

Get the facts before jumping to conclusions.

 

1 Samuel 1:12-14
¹²As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. ¹³Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. ¹⁴“Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!”

 

Defend yourself with humility.

 

1 Samuel 1:15-16
¹⁵”Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. ¹⁶Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”

 

Believe God will come through.

 

1 Samuel 1:17-18
¹⁷“In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.” ¹⁸“Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.

 

Don’t miss blessings by failing to ask.

 

1 Samuel 1:20
and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the Lord for him.”

 

James 4:2-3 HCSB
²You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. ³You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires.

 

Keep your promises to God.

 

1 Samuel 1:27-28
²⁷I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and he has granted my request. ²⁸Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life.” And they worshiped the Lord there.