Starting a new sermon series on for Samuel.
Today. And today's message.
Is about favour faith. And prayer.
Let's pray together as we start. We thank you, Lord, for your
word. We thank you.
That you speak to us through it. And these old.
Stories shape our lives. Thank you that you are the God.
Of then and the God of now you. Are the same yesterday, today
and forever. And we can.
Put our trust in you. Will you pour out your spirit?
Upon us and guide us in the study of Your Word, and then
give us the faith and courage. To live as you teach us when?
We go out from this place and we pray in Jesus name.
Amen. First and second Samuel 1 book
originally. Don't know why it got.
Divided, but that's that's where we're.
Starting out, it's one of it's about one of the most
consequential. Political.
Developments in all of human history.
It's about how God's people. Came to be united under one king
named. David.
Making way for. Jesus the greater.
Son of David to someday come and become the King of Kings and.
Lord of Lords. Over all but near.
Like nearly. All great.
Stories, this doesn't. Start with.
A great king. This story starts.
Very small and it. Starts with a.
Just a small town girl living in a lonely world.
You know, that's that's where it begins with Hannah.
Hannah lived during the time of the judges.
It was a. 300 year period. Of chaos.
It's a It's a terrible time. It's a time of dissolution,
moral chaos, weak decentralized leadership.
Joshua had led. The people into the promised
land and then things. There was a little bit of
promise, but it just kind of degenerated.
Over the decades. Spiraling down.
Through the Book of Judges tells the story.
Spiraling into chaos until the Book of Judges ends with this
refrain 4 times over and over. It says there.
Was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in
their eyes. No king in Israel.
Everyone did what was right in their eyes.
So. Turning the page from.
Judges to 1st. Samuel, let's consider.
First, the favour of God, the favour.
Of God upon. This.
Young woman named Hannah we commonly regard.
Those who are. Rich and famous and powerful as
somehow recipients of God's. Favour.
And it's true. That God.
Sometimes does work through great men and women, but he
frequently does so in spite of them.
You know in. Spite of their pride.
And their opposition to him, God.
Also works through regular. People like Hannah.
People who trust. In the Lord and who?
Prayerfully wait. Upon him and in the Bible, it's
often the common folk. The little hobbits.
Who end up doing the great things, you know, they're the
ones also. Who receive God's favor?
But it doesn't. Always lead to wealth or fame or
power. And Hannah is just.
Such a person. Her name means.
Favored. One Her name means favored one,
but as we meet her at the beginning of her story, she
doesn't. Feel like she.
Is a recipient of God's. Favor at all she is her.
Husband's favorite Bummer that he has two wives and.
The other wife. Is really mean to her.
You get that from the beginning of the story.
Yes, she's her. Husband's favorite and he gives
her a double portion at the feast.
Isn't that sweet? But Hannah is barren, and her
husband's second wife, Penina, mercilessly digs into her over
and over again, making fun of her, driving the shame.
To her heart and so while she's dearly loved by her.
Husband, she doesn't. Feel favored at all she.
Is literally empty inside because.
Look at verse 5. Because of what?
The Lord? Has done to.
Her verse 5 the Lord had closed her.
Womb. Did you see that?
If you missed it. Look at verse. 6 because again.
The Lord had closed her. Womb, in case you missed it the
first time. Sometimes we feel empty and
barren. Because.
Of our own sin, and our sin has made us.
Feel that way? Whenever this happens, we can
trust. The Lord to show us our.
Errors and lead us to repentance.
We probably won't see fruit in our lives until we have repented
and returned to Him. We have to confess our sins and
seek. God's forgiveness.
Sometimes we feel empty and barren and it's not because of
our sin. I know this is confusing.
I don't make the rules. This is just the way life is.
Sometimes we feel barren and empty, and it's not because of
our sin. It's because of God.
Inexplicably. It's because of God.
God was the. Reason for Hannah's impotence.
It says so. In the Bible, if you're in a
barren season, God may be the reason for your barrenness.
Also, we all. Feel impotent in different ways
at different times. It may be God, it doesn't
necessarily mean that you are not someone receiving his favour
and Hannah's. Story is very.
Important for understanding this in Hannah's.
Case God had. Chosen.
Her to play a pivotal role. In his salvation.
Of the world. Her barren life was a microcosm.
Of the. Whole barrenness of the land of
Canaan. Her barren life was a microcosm
of her. People's situation.
For 300. Years Israel had.
Lived in Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey.
In cities they did not build, drinking from wells they did
not. Dig but God.
Gave them the promised land on their promise.
To be a. Light to the nation's instead of
keeping this promise. They loved created.
Things more than. Their creator they took.
For granted God, they took him for granted and they did their
best to blend in with all the cultures around them like so
much of today's American church, trying not to be recognized as
Christians, trying to blend in the.
Israelites did the. Same and instead of instead of
bearing fruit among the nations as they had been sent to do.
Israel was sterile. Israel was.
Barren. So after centuries of taking God
for granted, He took more drastic measures to get their
attention and redirect them in their mission to the world and
it all. Started with a favored.
One not a king, though. This woman, a barren woman named
Hannah, and she was God's favored 1 And it was.
Through her that God would save the world. 1000 years after
Hannah, there is another. Story that is quite like hers.
The Angel Gabriel came to a teenage girl, hailing her.
Also as the favored. 1. The.
Story of Mary and what God did in Mary was an act of
Immaculate. Fertility that would.
Upend her life with scandal and shame, but would end up in the
long run being a part of his saving the world.
You know that. Story.
That's the. Christmas story, our chances.
Are that you're? Experiencing or have.
Experienced or will. Experience some season of
barrenness. It happens to us in different
ways. It all, it happens to all of us.
From time to time. Whatever it is.
The Lord knows. Keep.
Praying. Keep asking for understanding
from him. Keep asking.
For his help. And remember.
That it. Doesn't mean that you have.
Lost the favour of God. He's inviting you to turn into
him and to trust in him all the more.
Let me now draw your attention to Hannah's faith.
This is the. Second thing that I want to show
you from today's passage, today's Psalm that we read from
chapter 2 of First Samuel was written by Hannah and it's the
original Magnificat. It's the model for what Mary
does 1000 years later. They're very similar Psalms,
aren't they? If you read them side by side,
both of them follow the same pattern.
They begin local, they begin small, and they go.
Global they talk about what God. Has done for them and then.
Because of that, it gets big. They begin with God's
intervention on behalf of Hannah and Mary as individuals, and
then they go on to describe the consequences.
For the world because of. What God done has done in the
lives of these two women. There is just.
One big difference between Hannah's song and Mary's song
and that. Is that?
Hannah's that Mary's song. Looks back.
Regarding what? God has.
Done what God has done in fulfilling his promises to
Abraham and the. People of Israel.
But Hannah's song looks. Forward to what God will do.
You can see this in verse 10 of her song, she says.
The Lord will judge. The ends of the earth.
And he will give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his
anointed. Exalt the horn of his anointed.
Anointed in Hebrew is Messiah, and Hannah believes that
somehow, someday. Through the birth of this baby.
This miracle baby that she's asking the Lord for and the
Lord. Gives her.
A Messiah and anointed king will come to reign over.
God's people. That anointed king in in those
times was David. And someday the son of David
will come, and his name will be. Jesus, she is.
Expecting an anointed king to come when they look around
though. Who do they see?
Who is this? King of Glory, let me tell you
it is not. Eli.
Eli is. Definitely not anyone to be
admired or respected. He.
Is the priest and the judge of the Hill Country in Hannah's
time? We'll learn more about him in
the next. Several chapters.
He and his wicked sons, but already in today's lesson.
We have a. Sense of the.
Severity of Israel's leadership. Problem, Eli.
The religious. And political leader.
Of God's. People mistakes.
Good for evil. Doesn't he?
He doesn't have the sense to know when someone is praying or
when they're drunk, and this is another.
Picture of what's? Totally wrong with Israel and in
many cases what's wrong with the Western church today mistaking.
Good for evil. Mistaking righteousness for sin
and vice. Versa.
But even though. Eli is a wicked priest.
And a wicked judge Hannah doesn't give up on God when she
and her family come to the shrine for the annual feast.
Look at verse 10. She takes a leap of faith before
the Lord. Chapter One, verse 10.
While the others are. Feasting Hannah seeks out God in
the sanctuary, praying and weeping bitter tears and in
verse 11, she. Begs Yahweh Sabiot, that is the
Lord of hosts, the Lord of the. Armies.
She begs him to open her womb, and she promises to give back to
him. Back to the Lord, that which.
She's asking for, namely, what she wants most of all, a son.
She promises to give him what he gives her.
Now Eli, this veteran priest who should be comforting and
assuring her, completely misreads the situation.
Verse 13 He sees Hannah earnestly praying in the house.
Of the Lord. Pouring out her.
Heart to God. And what does he do?
He rebukes her. Verse 14 he says, how long will
you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.
I've I've made plenty of mistakes.
As a pastor. I still make mistakes.
I don't know that I've ever done anything like this and he has no
excuse. He is nearly. 80 years.
Old at this point. He has been doing this for a
long time and he has grown so so decrepit in every.
Way he should. Have known.
Better, there's a. Similar moment in the New
Testament isn't there 10 days after Jesus ascended to the
right hand of the Father and the first Christians are gathered
for morning prayer. God pours out his holy.
Spirit on them on the first day of Pentecost and begin praising
the Lord in all these different languages.
It's a. Beautiful international worship
service at the temple on Mount Zion, but onlookers say they
must be drunk and. Peter graciously responds.
Says no, it's only 9:00 in the morning.
This isn't whiskey. This is the Holy Spirit.
At work in US and he, he did this and you know, he will, he
will, He will. Write about this later.
In his letter. About.
How to respond to people when? They accuse you, he says.
Always be prepared. To give an answer to everyone
who asks you to give the reason for the.
Hope that you have but. Do this with gentleness and
respect. You know my first thought when
I'm. Accused like this would be to
fight back, but a. Gentle answer is a good answer
in this case and because of. Peter's.
Response on Pentecost. 3000 people.
Came to know the Lord. That day, back to the story.
Of Hannah and Eli Hannah responds with gentleness when
she's. Accused of.
Drunkenness in the temple and she.
Says Verse. 15 No, my Lord, I'm a woman troubled in spirit.
Can you imagine? She's been accused of
drunkenness and she's so, so gentle, she says.
I've been pouring out my soul. Before the Lord, do not regard
your service. As a worthless woman, for all
along, I've been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.
Eli is. Too old to change.
He's too old even to. Apologize to her, but he still
does the right. Thing in response.
He passes the. Peace and he.
Blesses her verse. 17 go in peace, and the God of.
Israel grant your. Petition as fake and as.
Worthless as that feels, it is still a good word.
It's a benediction. It's a good.
Word spoken in the name of the Lord, how should we?
Respond to hypocrisy. Demonstrated.
By our leaders hypocrisy like this.
Whether in the government or in the church.
And when I was a young man, I used to roll my eyes every time
a president would say anything. Religious at all?
You know, like God Bless America or something.
I'd be just like, you know, but I've changed my mind about this.
I'll take it wherever, wherever. It comes from I have grown in my
faith, not in presidents, but in God.
All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,
including myself. But by faith, I trust God.
To work through me. As a pastor.
Despite my failings. I trust God to work through
other leaders. Despite their failings, and to
the degree that my. Words as a leader.
Have any power at all? It's not because of me, but it's
because. Of the Lord.
Who works through me? And God makes good on things
that are even spoken half heartedly.
Things that are spoken clumsily, God makes good on them so.
I believe there's. Power in what Eli is saying
here, even though. He.
Is a wicked. Leader over Israel.
It's a benediction. Still, it's a good word still,
despite Eli's failures as a leader and a priest.
And here's the point. God works through imperfect
people over and over again. That's a good thing, because
otherwise nothing would ever get done.
We're all imperfect. We can receive from the Lord
through the hands of anyone, even somebody.
As bad A. Scoundrel as Eli and sooner or
later you're going to find that the clergy and leaders, lay
leaders. Of this church.
Are imperfect and we listen to the wrong music, we support the
wrong sports teams, we vote for the wrong party, I'm sure and
when you come up for communion and.
You see who's? Serving.
You may want to change lines, so you may want to turn around and
flee, and I just would. Encourage you to.
Remember. That it is the Lord who does
these. Sacraments.
The Lord does the baptisms. The Lord gives the bread and the
wine. The Lord is.
The one who gives the benediction, he is the one who's
at. Work through us.
And because of him, the ministry of imperfect pastors can still
benefit and bless you. Finally, in closing, I want to
say a word. About as Jesus taught us to
always. Pray and never lose heart.
Look at verses 19 and 20. After Eli blessed Hannah, they
rose early in the morning and they worshipped before the Lord,
and then they went back to their house at Rama.
O Khanna knew his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her, and
in due time she conceived and bore a son.
She called his name Samuel. She called his name Samuel for
she. Said I have asked.
For him from the Lord. She called his name Samuel, for
I've asked of him from the Lord. But that's not what Samuel means
in Hebrew. In Hebrew, Samuel means the name
of God, the name of God. It doesn't mean I have asked of
him from the Lord. Why does she?
Say I've named him Samuel. For I've asked of him.
From the Lord. If you if you were to say.
That in Hebrew. You would say.
Shall from which we get the name King Saul.
King Saul was is. Israel's.
Disastrous first king who is going to ruin the 1st 7 or?
8 chapters of. For Samuel, we'll have to deal
with him over and over again over the next few weeks.
Before we get. To King David, we're going to.
Hear all about what a rotten. Scoundrel.
He was also. And we'll read about.
How Saul? Became the king not because the.
People of Israel. Prayed and asked for him, which
is what Saul means asked not because they asked God for him,
but because they wanted a king like all the other nations.
They asked Samuel, therefore they didn't ask God, but they
asked Samuel to give them a king.
So that they could. Fit in with.
All the cultures. Around them and blend in.
So they rejected. Samuel, whose name means the
name of God. And in essence, they rejected.
The God of. Samuel Samuel had been given to
them as a leader because his mother asked.
Of the Lord? She asked Shaw.
And she named him Samuel, the name of God.
I don't know if this makes sense, but Hannah.
Is the favored. One who?
Seeks God. And waits for his provision.
She's the model. That all Israel should follow.
When they don't it. Leads to disaster.
They should do. What Hannah did and today's
story ends with Hannah keeping her promise, bringing this baby.
To Eli. After he's weaned, maybe around
5 years old in those days. Verse 20.
Four. She.
Took him to.
Eli she. Brought provisions for a great
feast and then when she presents this baby to.
Eli, she gives a little speech that, at least for Hebrew
readers. It drives home the point of
this. Story.
As an opening. Story for first.
Samuel and it drives home the. Priority of prayer.
And it puns on Hebrew. Words.
This word to ask shall. And I'll I'll point it out as.
We read through. Starting verse 26, Hannah says
I'm the woman who was standing here in your presence praying to
Yahweh. Verse 27 For this child I prayed
and you always answered my petition, my Sha Allah.
Which I asked sha all. Of him verse 28.
So I have lent his sha. All I've.
Lent him to. Yahweh for as.
Long as he lives, he is lent sha.
All to Yahweh. Four times in a couple.
Of verses, the Hebrew word for ask, ask, ask, ask, ask.
She's driving home. How she got this baby?
And it was because she. Asked of the Lord, She asked of
the Lord. Here at the beginning of this
epic. Tale of how?
King David became the king. Over all Israel, God's favor
falls. On a barren woman, she conceives
and gives. Birth to a.
Change Maker called Samuel the name of God.
Why? Because Hannah.
Wept. And petitioned and.
Asked of the Lord, shall all? She asked.
Asked. Asked.
For Samuel. Her prayer.
In faith changed. The world as Jesus says, we
should always pray. And never lose heart asking of
the. Lord for his will.
His good things. For us, for our city.
And for the. World.
He's the one who? Provides all that we need.