Hannah continues

 Women of Courage- May 4, 2013

Hannah continues

Question 3- Based on what scripture says, describe the outset of Hannah’s life?

She was not in the genealogy of Christ, but she was in the Levitical line and she understood and longed for the savior.  She had an unhappy life for a part of her life.  She lived in a troubled time in Israel’s history, one of the worst. Samuel brought the country from the worst to Israel’s best.  She had an intimate relationship with the Lord, understanding her help came from him.  She considered herself a servant of the Lord.  She left her burdens at God’s feet; she took her eyes away from the world and depended upon God to take her through.  It isn’t an easy walk.

The Lord of Hosts- It is all the warrior bands of the Lord, God’s sovereignty over it all.  It isn’t about being meek or mild; Hannah understood the power of the Lord.  She placed her entire trust in Him.   Very much like Deborah, being called to help Israel through the battles.  We as Christians realize that nothing happens by chance.  If we walk in the spirit we realize that everything in our lives is there for a purpose.  When we realize this, we stay in constant communication with our Lord. 

Then we had several examples of times when the Lord has supplied needs when we haven’t even prayed about certain things.  This then brought to mind Robert Muller, the man who prayed. He had a ministry in which he had to depend upon the Lord daily.  His orphanage was provide

Psalm 141

141 O Lord, I call upon You; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to You!
² May my prayer be counted as incense before You;
The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.
³ Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.

Revelation 5:8 ⁸ When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Her human side seems unbearable, but her spiritual life gives her strength. 

Question 4- What were the three great loves of Hannah’s life:

The Lord, her husband and then her son, and her nation were her love.  She put her trust in God foremost.  Her husband didn’t correct the tension in the home, so Hannah learned to trust more and more in the Lord.  Her deepest desire to have a son, she would sacrifice back to the Lord.  These things in her life and our lives are planned by God.  She needed to go through all the heartache in order to draw closer to God.  When we go through things it is for God’s purpose and His glory.  Praise God that all things work for the good.  It is difficult for us to look at the good and not retaliate against those that wrong us.  We have to trust God and God will supply strength to us.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Eli was not focused on God; he was not in communion with God and focused on the wrath of God.  It is easy to focus on the world and get caught up in the things of the world.  Think about our own life and realize your walk.  We are expected to follow God. We need to be in prayer, fellowship with the saints, and reading his word daily.  We praise God for his mercy and faithfulness in all things.