Portrait of Piety

Ch. 10 Standing Tall, Falling HardTimeless Truth: Obedience Matters

Prayer Matters

Hannah: Woman of Pain

A. Her CultureA. Time of the Judges is coming to a closeB. ‘Everyone did what was right in their own eyes’ –

Judges 21:25C. Eli, high priest and leader, could not keep the

people faithful to GodD. Violence, foreign oppression, and idolatry was

the norm

Hannah: Woman of Pain

B. Her MarriageA. Elkanah was a Levite who practiced bigamy

A. Common practice amongst Israel at the time – why?

B. Penninah was Elkanah’s other wifeA. Mistreated HannahB. Jealous of Hannah

C. Elkanah compensated for Hannah’s empty womb with double portions on her plate

D. His sensitivity is questionable – 1 Samuel 1:8

Hannah: Woman of Pain

C. Her BarrennessA. Man’s posterity is dependent on a son to

perpetuate the nameB. Regarded as a curse from God, whereas having

children was a blessing (Deut. 7:13-14)C. Result of God using her situation to His glory –

See also John 9D. May have been what led to Elkanah taking

Penninah as another wife

Hannah: Woman of Pain

D. Her RivalA. Continually provoked her until she weptB. Jealous of the love that Elkanah had for HannahC. Pointed out Hannah’s cause of pain rather than

showing compassionA. Penninah would have known what a “shame” it was to

be barren!

Hannah: Woman of Prayer

A. Her RestraintA. Hannah means “grace”B. No indication of retaliationC. She turned to the One who closed her womb

B. Her PrayerA. She wept and spilled her guts to God through prayerB. She did it silently – usually out loudC. Eli mistook her for being drunk because of her silent

prayer

Hannah: Woman of Prayer

C. Her PromiseA. She wanted nothing more than a sonB. Promised that son to service to GodC. She wanted to honor God more than relieve her

own pain and anguishA. Remember the spiritual condition of Israel!

Hannah: Woman of Prayer

D. Her PraiseA. She had a son named SamuelB. She rejoiced in her costly giving to God! – 1

Samuel 1:24-2:10

Hannah: Woman of Prayer

E. Hannah’s Prayer – 1 Samuel 2:1-10A. She praised Him for deliverance – v. 1B. God exalts the humble but brings down the

proud – v. 2-9A. Matthew 23:12

C. She looked to the coming of an anointed king – v. 10

A. Fulfilled first by David and later by Jesus Christ

Hannah: Woman of Perseverance

A. She still influence Samuel by making him priestly garments – shows respect

B. Her support communicated to Samuel to value the things of God

C. Samuel grew into a godly manD. Hannah had 5 more children – barren and empty

to fertile and fullE. She continued to be a driving influence in Samuel’s

life as he became prophet, priest, and judge

Applications and Implications

A. God knows your pain and may be using it to His glory – James 1:2-4

B. Restraint rather than retaliation – Matthew 5:38-39

C. Compassion is the appropriate response to someone else’s pain – 1 Corinthians 12:25-26

D. Marriage is hard – Ephesians 5:21-33E. When in a difficult situation, commit your

heart’s desire to God – Job 1 and 2 (his reaction)

Applications and Implications

F. Seek God’s will over your own – Matthew 9:9-13 and Matthew 26:39

G. Pour your heart out to God – Matthew 26:38-39H. Parents have great influence in faith formation –

Proverbs 22:6I. God can use anyone to do his will – Ephesians

2:10J. Everything depends on the Lord – Psalm 62:5-7