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This chapter is about the birth of the preacher Samuel, but it starts with Hannah. We’ll see what led up to Samuel’s birth and the conditions Samuel’s mother lived in prior to his birth. Samuel’s ministry is one of the greatest highlights in the history of Israel. Samuel, as a prophet is a great type of Christ, and will show what a great influence a man will be if given to the Lord from childhood.
Text: 1 Samuel 1
Hannah’s broken situation (vss 1-3)
- Judges 21:25 describes the anarchy and culture at the time of 1 Samuel 1.
- Hannah herself is barren.
- The family is a mess.
- The religion has little to do with God’s instruction.
- The priests are adulterous crooks.
Hannah’s bitter adversary (vss 4-8)
- Nothing will satisfy Hannah’s desire for children.
- On top of that, her husband’s other wife ridicules her for her infertility.
- Now notice how dysfunctional this situation is. On top of the family relationships, this lady Peninnah mocks Hannah while they are all going to church (vss 6-7).
Hannah’s burdened soul (vss 9-18)
- Awkward meal in verse 9.
- Now Hannah will start making some progress.
- Hannah prays and that’s the right thing to do in verse 10.
- She promises God that she’ll lend her son to the Lord if He’ll give her a son. She isn’t just bargaining with God, she means to do it.
- In verse 18 she does exactly what she needs to do. After her prayer she trusts the Lord for an answer and left her problem there. She cast her care upon the Lord and allowed Him to handle it.
- Hannah doesn’t just want a child, but a child to raise for the Lord.
Hannah’s blessing (vss 19-23)
- Samuel is God’s answer to Hannah’s prayer.
- Samuel is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. The birth of Samuel will lift not only Hannah’s burden but the burden of the nation of Israel.
Hannah’s bold faith (vss 24-28)
- We see Hannah lend Samuel to the Lord and you moms say NO WAY! I would never do that with my child. Hannah is a very rare person. She trusts the Lord. She’s willing to thank the Lord with what He’s given her. And she’s willing to sacrifice her feelings to set her son up to be used by God. Samuel’s mother is the reason Samuel is born.
- There is no promise of more children. She is such an impressive individual.
