1 Samuel 1:1-2:11 - A Mother Named Hannah

Samuel Dedicated by Hannah (Topham)

The book of Samuel opens with the account of the woman Hannah who becomes the mother of Samuel the prophet, who would anoint Israel’s first king, Saul, and Israel’s greatest king, David. In the remarkable circumstances which led to his birth, Samuel focuses on the honorable way his mother Hannah prayed, committed, and praised the Lord as He worked in her life.

Hannah is in many ways an example of an ideal mother. Hannah was one of the noblest Hebrews who ever lived. Her unpleasant circumstances produced in her a character which made her life an inspiration and a blessing to this day.

On this Mother’s Day, let’s look at Hannah’s life as an example for all of us in how to live before the Lord in the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

Key Truth: Samuel wrote 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11 to teach Israel through the example of his mother Hannah to entrust their burdens, their children, and their future to the Lord.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about trusting God with everything.

Pray and Read:  1 Samuel 1:1-2:11

Sermon Points:

1.   Mothers, entrust your burdens to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:1-18)

2.   Mothers, entrust your children to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:19-28)

3.   Mothers, entrust your future to the Lord (1 Samuel 2:1-11)

But David strengthened himself in the Lord

The Women of Ziklag Taken into Captivity (James Tissot)

1 Samuel 30:6; Zechariah 10:12

While David and his 600 men were away from home,[1] the Amalekites had struck. They had raided the territory given to God’s people. The town of Ziklag where they lived was burned, and the Amalekites took captive their women and children (1 Sam 30:1-6). 

When David and his men returned exhausted after a 3-day march, they were devastated at what they found (1 Sam 30:4). The men were so upset and bitter at their loss and what they saw as David’s failure to protect their families, that there was talk of stoning him.

David, exhausted from a long march, having been rejected by Achish king of Gath (1 Sam 29:8) through no fault of his own, now finds total devastation of all he had and all he loved. David is at the end of himself. David was living among the Philistines out of a carnal decision to hide there from Saul (1 Sam 27:1-4).He has been living by his wits, using every trick of the energy of his flesh (1 Sam 27:10). Now he returns to Ziklag see the smoking ruins of all his possessions, his family lost, and the disaster of all his self-effort.

1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-36 -- Eli: the father who wouldn't say no

Hannah presents Samuel to Eli the Priest as Hophni and Phinehas look on

Happy Father’s Day! The best man in the world I know is still my Daddy. Daddy has worked all his life in the wood industry. For twenty-seven years as a scaler and yard manager with Bowater Paper, manufacturer of both newsprint and magazine paper. Then when they closed his division and he was laid off around Christmas 1997, his great reputation and relationships with wood producers got him a job in a short time running a chipping machine with a crew. Now he manages a lumber yard in Hodges, S.C., and continues to work well past retirement age.

He is the most compassionate man I know. He is the most giving man I know. He has the most integrity of any man I know. I don’t remember ever seeing alcohol in the refrigerator, though we kept a bottle of whiskey in the back of the cabinet strictly to add to sugar to stop a cough. I don’t remember ever hearing a filthy word come out of his mouth, even when a chainsaw injured him or the chimney caught on fire. And Daddy protected us. Often that protection meant saying no. That is, he told us boys no. If it didn’t look like something that would help us or if it looked like it would hurt us, Daddy had no problem saying no.

Today we will look at a man in Scripture who would not say no to his children, and we will see the trouble it caused for his sons.

Pray and Read:  1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-36; (4:1-22)