Hannah concludes

Women of Courage – Aug. 17, 2013

Question 3- Samuel 1:4-5 Elkanah gave one portion of offering to Peninnah and all her sons and daughters, and a double portion to Hannah. What emotional difficulties in Elkanah’s family might have grown from this discrepancy?

Bitterness, envy, competition.  Even if Elkanah had been totally fair and no favoritism existed, there still would have been the propensity to have a skewed image of the relationships and feel slighted. Both women wanted what the other possessed. Both women weren’t thankful for the blessings they had.

What damage is caused by expressions of favoritism in a family.

Favoritism has been an issue to mess up relationships. There are many examples of this in the pages of scripture.  Did the double portion Hannah received bring her distress, knowing that she was the favorite?

Jan brought out Genesis 4:3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

We have the same concerns in our homes. We have to pray daily that we don’t have favoritism, pride, bitterness, envy…… and the list could go on.  We must pray daily and walk in righteousness.  God will help us.

Romans 8: 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

We had conversation on the process of our prayers, how it is different to each of us.  Some write their prayers, some are uttered out loud, but each is personal and God uses our prayers to lead us in line with him.  A prayer journal helps us to see how God answers our prayers and how we have changed over the years.   A journal becomes a precious treasure to others.

George Washington kept journals of prayer and they have become a treasure to Christians today, knowing how our forefathers have prayed.

Question 4- Read 1 Samuel 1:18 ¹⁸ And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

and Psalm 55:22 22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

 and 1 Peter5:6-7   6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

 In what ways was Hannah’s reply to the high priest Eli an expression of faith?

Hannah totally surrendered her heart toward God in her prayer.  She wasn’t concerned with her appearance or the circumstances around her at the time.  She was trusting in her merciful and just God.  She was given and found peace when she finished her prayer. 

We don’t know how God is going to work, but we must trust God for the right answers.

Question 5-  1 Samuel 2: 1-10 list the key words and phrases in Hannah’s prayer.

And Hannah prayed and said,

“My heart exults in the Lord;
    my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
    because I rejoice in your salvation.

² “There is none holy like the Lord:
    for there is none besides you;
    there is no rock like our God.
³ Talk no more so very proudly,
    let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
    and by him actions are weighed.
⁴ The bows of the mighty are broken,
    but the feeble bind on strength.
⁵ Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
    but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
    but she who has many children is forlorn.
⁶ The Lord kills and brings to life;
    he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
⁷ The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
    he brings low and he exalts.
⁸ He raises up the poor from the dust;
    he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
    and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
    and on them he has set the world.

⁹ “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
    but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
    for not by might shall a man prevail.
¹⁰ The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
    against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
    he will give strength to his king
    and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

Gratitude fills our heart toward the Lord for who he is!

We took this prayer by verse and expressed our praise to God for his attributes!

Question 6:  Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.   What is involve in training a child? 

To dedicate and devote a child to God totally.  We model to them the attributes, practice, and devotion to God and our children and grandchildren learn.  

 

Our study of Hannah has made us realize that Hannah learned to depend upon God in all the circumstances of her life.  We too must turn to God through our walk.