Lesson 13 of 26 in a series on Old Testament Vistas. This sermon on 1 Samuel was presented January 30, 2011, at Palm Desert Church of Christ, by Dale Wells.
3. 1 Samuel 1:9-17 NIV Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD's temple. In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head." As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.
4. 1 Samuel 1:9-17 NIV Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine." "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."
5. 1 Samuel 1:24-28 NIV After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there.
7. For Who He Is 1 Samuel 2:1-3 NIV Then Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. "There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. "Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.
8. For What He Has Done 1 Samuel 2:4-8 NIV "The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength. Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry hunger no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.
9. For What He Has Done "The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; upon them he has set the world.
10. For His Covenant Love 1 Samuel 2:9-10 NIV He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails; those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed."
11. Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.
12. Psalms 33:16-20 NIV No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
13. 2 Samuel 22:1-3 NIV David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent men you save me.
15. 1 Samuel 8:4-7 NIV So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have." But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.
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17. 1 Samuel 11:13 NIV Saul said, "... this day the LORD has rescued Israel."
24. Luke 1:46-53 NIV And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
25. Luke 1:46-53 NIV He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
When this lesson is over, we’ll be halfway through OT VistasLesson 13 of 26God is King (1 Samuel)
Last Judge in the history of Israel was Samuel. Also prophet & priest.1 Samuel tells his life — change in Israel from theocracy to kingdom — (Saul, David)Elkanah and two wives — Peninnah and Hannah (barren)Yearly pilgrimage to sacrifice at ShilohPeninnah taunted HannahHannah prays to God for a son and makes a promise (vow) to God if he grants her prayer
Barrenness was regarded as a sign of God’s disfavor.Hannah knew her relationship with the Lord better than anyone else.Have I ever been this desperate?So desperate in prayer that if someone observed me they would think I was drunk or out of my mind?Maybe the reason we don’t receive the things we ask is that we aren’t desperate enough for God to bless us.Samuel was born.
Hannah doesn’t delay, but fulfills the promise as soon as the child is old enough to be without his mother.Do we forget the promises we made, or hold back?1978 “The End” with Burt Reynolds.6 months to live. Decides on suicide. Unsuccessful attempts.Swims out into the ocean and tries to drown himself. Decides he doesn't want to kill himself anymore. Promises to God. "I promise to obey the Ten Commandments.“ Then “I promise to learn them all.”"Lord, if you get me out of this, I will give you 80% of everything I have.” "50% Lord! I’m talking gross!""Lord, if you help me to get to shore alive I will give you 10% of all my earnings."Feet touch the sand, "Well, Lord, lets just forget about what I said before. I think I can make it from here on my own."
Hannah’s Song of Praise Possibly the greatest chapter in 1 SamuelIn her praise, we see what Hannah learned from God’s intervention in her life.
2:1 Declaration that she will praise God with everything she hasWhy does she do this? Because of who God is and what He has done.2:2-3 Praise God for who He isJoyful reaffirmation of the first commandment (“No other gods”)— Hannah will not make God compete with anything or anyone else.Rock: protection, security, strength, stability, refugeGod is also just (v 3)He is the ultimate judge — will judge by what he knows to be trueWill not be swayed by arroganceWill find out — not swayed by human achievementsWonderfully, radically God-centered life — God is in the center of her triangle
2:4-8a Praise God for what He has done
In his sovereignty, God chooses to bless some and curse others.Theme of blessing & cursing flows through OT. (Ebal & Gerazim)In His grace/sovereignty, he blesses some/curse others — reverse fortunesSeven set of contrasts — (1) strong and weak, (2) full and hungry, (3) barren and fertile, (4) dead and alive, (5) sick and healthy, (6) poor and rich, and (7) humble and exalted(Not all sick, hungry people are wicked)How can He do this? — 2:8b — Everything is his (the world and its foundations)He is sovereign/free to do whatever He wishes — in control
2:9-10 Who does He bless/curse?Whose good fortunes does he reverse? Against whom does God thunder? WickedWhom does He bless? “Faithful Ones” (v 9)“Hesed.” Faithfulness, loyaltyContext of relationship — Covenantal faithfulness“He will judge by what is true” — Standard is the covenant If break covenant relationship — God will thunder/curseIf live within — blessHannah has learned that the battles of life are not won through human strength-v9Victory is given by our gracious, sovereign Lord — our warrior
Jer 9:23-24
It is God who makes the strong weak, and the weak strongGod makes winners into losers, and losers into winners.Hannah has learned that God blesses his faithful ones and curses wicked.Hannah has learned that all that matters for us is faith — faithful obedienceBelieve that God is our rock, our refugeRadically God-centered life Francis Chen: “Crazy Love”Not force God to compete — ShemaNot compartmentalize
Provides the theological structure/emphases for 1 and 2 SamuelKing Saul and David live out and illustrate the truths of Hannah’s song2 Samuel 22 ends with David singing a similar song — bookends(1) God is King — in control “hesed” (2) For our part — we are called to be “hasidim”
The people want change.Fed up with establishment.Want out of covenant.
Samuel and SaulPeople’s sinful request for a king8:4-7 — want out of the covenant (theocracy; kingdom of priests - Ex 19:5-6 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." Samuel warns them, and then gives them what they want.God has not abdicated his throne — in control — The King
Saul starts strong but ends weak (best and worst of times)Defeats the Ammonites — 1 Samuel 11:13 NIV But Saul said, "No one shall be put to death today, for this day the LORD has rescued Israel."His son Jonathan fights the Philistines — 1 Samuel 14:6 NIV Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."Sins by sacrificing (instead of Samuel)
Sins by sacrificing (instead of Samuel)Does not destroy the Amalekites as God demandedSamuel tells Saul that God has rejected him — 1 Samuel 15:26 NIV But Samuel said to him, "I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!"Success/failure is measured, not by military victory, but by faithfulnessStandard of God’s judgment — Hannah — winners or losersAppears that Saul almost goes insaneRepeatedly tries to kill David; witch at Endor; killed by PhilistinesSo much for the king of Israel
What did Hannah Learn that did Saul did not learn?No matter what the external situation (king or no king; powerful or weak)God is the The King — Rock — In him alone is salvation, protectionWhat matters for us is faithfulness — radically God-centered life ≠ competeOT is a witness to the fact that for the most part people just don’t get itBill Mounce to Gary Pratico — OT is same message over and over. The people just don’t get it.Pratico: “Duh! That’s the whole point of the OT.”OT is making the same point, over and over — God sends judges, kings & prophets & “They just don’t get it.” – and they never get it!
1000 years laterThere was another woman who had never had childrenGod gave life to her wombMary responded in much the same way as Hannah — Luke 1:46-53Hannah’s song & David’s song & Mary’s song all say the same thing.
Mary’s son was born, lived, and diedHe did what we could not do on our own — ShemaHis death on the cross 1. Paid penalty of sins committed by us who love God.2. Brings in the new covenant3. With it comes the power to love God — HSTrue faith overflows into faithful/joyful obedienceAt the end of the day what matters …Is not half-hearted commitment to God (like Saul — partial Shema)What matters is a soft heart,ready to do his bidding, sold out entirely to God,radically God-centered lifeInvite you to celebrate the victory of our king.Kingly victory over greatest enemy — Invite all his faithful ones to join.