Women of Courage – Aug. 3, 2013

Women of Courage – Aug. 3, 2013

Question 8-  Describe Hannah’s ongoing relationship with Samuel after she gave him to fulltime service at the tabernacle.

She was focused on the limited time that she would have him with her.  She was no more or less his mother; she was still committed to spending time with him.  She was faithful to her promise to God and to keeping him pure as a Nazarite.  God took care of Samuel and the influences in his life.  Hannah, most likely, told him that he had been set apart and was a special gift to God.  We too have been set apart for God and need to realize that He has control of the circumstances in our lives.  We need to lean upon God and his promises, trusting our steps to Him.  We shouldn’t let outside influences keep us from serving our God.  We trust God’s timing, knowing He will direct us, give us strength, and give us peace.

Question 9 –In what ways was Hannah rewarded for her gift of Samuel to the Lord’s service?

She yearly saw his growth in the Lord. He was called as a young man by the Lord and served him throughout his lifetime.  She had more children and a very godly son.  Her husband supported her and she lost the shame of being childless.  She was blessed physically, emotionally, spiritually (having a part in the service of one of Israel’s spiritual leaders).  We hope that she experienced the revival of Israel. 

It isn’t the quantity of time but the quality of time with our children.

Bible connections: 

Question one:  Read 1 Samuel 1:7 and Numbers 18:24-32. What brought Hannah year by year to the house of the Lord?

1 Samuel 1:7

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁷ So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.

²⁴ For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as a contribution to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance among the people of Israel.”

²⁵ And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ²⁶ “Moreover, you shall speak and say to the Levites, ‘When you take from the people of Israel the tithe that I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present a contribution from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe. ²⁷ And your contribution shall be counted to you as though it were the grain of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the winepress. ²⁸ So you shall also present a contribution to the Lord from all your tithes, which you receive from the people of Israel. And from it you shall give the Lord's contribution to Aaron the priest. ²⁹ Out of all the gifts to you, you shall present every contribution due to the Lord; from each its best part is to be dedicated.’ ³⁰ Therefore you shall say to them, ‘When you have offered from it the best of it, then the rest shall be counted to the Levites as produce of the threshing floor, and as produce of the winepress. ³¹ And you may eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward in return for your service in the tent of meeting. ³² And you shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have contributed the best of it. But you shall not profane the holy things of the people of Israel, lest you die.’”

They were Levites; they were responsible for their tithe and needed to go to the house of meeting for the responsibilities of their tribe. She went as her husband performed his service and worship.  She was obedient to God.  She was faithful in her worship and relationship to God.  

We had a discussion about not feeling like doing God’s will, not going to church, etc.  But if we are faithful to doing what God commands we are greatly rewarded and blessed.  Hannah had learned early in her own life to depend on God and follow his commands no matter what!

Deut. 16- describes some of the feasts and their worship.

Question two: Read 1 Samuel 1:3 and 1 Samuel 2:13-24

1 Samuel 1:3

English Standard Version (ESV)

³ Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord.

1 Samuel 2:13-24

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹³ The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, ¹⁴ and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. ¹⁵ Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.” ¹⁶ And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.” ¹⁷ Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.

¹⁸ Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy clothed with a linen ephod. ¹⁹ And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. ²⁰ Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the Lord.” So then they would return to their home.

²¹ Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord.

²² Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ²³ And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. ²⁴ No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad.

In addition to the bad behavior of the high priest’s sons, the visible manifestation of God’s glory was long gone from the tabernacle. What emotions did Hannah and others in her family likely have as they made their annual trip to the tabernacle?

The fact that God set them aside for destruction is hard to bear.  Hannah and her family were probably very upset over the circumstances.  But they were faithful

Concern, anger, doubt were at the forefront, but this lead them to greater faith in God.  What are we doing with the obstacles that are in our way? Are we being faithful in our daily walk, every day is our battlefield.  Keep going to the Lord even when don’t see him the way that we want. There are battles everywhere, every day.

Hannah most likely experienced some sadness every time she walked away and left her son behind.  But she trusted.  God is so much bigger than our choices and our thoughts.  It is easy for us to fall into worry and concern as women, but we must realize that God is in charge of all things and His ways are perfect.  We must daily learn to walk in trust giving God the glory.

Women of Courage – June 15, 2013 Hannah

Women of Courage – June 15, 2013

Hannah Continues:

Question 6 Hannah’s prayer life – describe her prayer life, specifically her prayer at the door of the tabernacle.

She beseeched the Lord, intense pleading before her Lord.  She had a relationship with God and she knew that he would hear her and answer her prayers.  She was mature in her relationship with God, it was personal to her.  Perhaps she had to come to a sanctification step that allowed this prayer to be answered at this time.  This is the prayer that she made her vow to God.  She didn’t know for certain when she arose in joy that she would have this child, but she had trust in God.  She was real, honest, and direct in her prayers and was in joy with her relationship with God, even if the answer would be no or she could have felt God’s answer at that moment.  And when she did have Samuel, she kept her vow.  Unlike many of us that often make vows but break them.

We looked again at Numbers 30, Numbers 6:1-6, and Judges 13:1-5 the vows that can be made.  Samuel was placed into the position as a Nasserite from birth and was placed into the Lord’s service, not because HE chose it, but because of the vow of his mother.  We looked again at what this vow would entail.  Hannah would most likely know what this vow would involve.

Her husband kept her vow too, not stopping her vow. God made provision for the women under their father or husband. 

Ecclesiastes 5:4-7 Don’t make a vow unless you are determined to keep them.

When Hannah is talking about her affliction in verse 11 she was being contrite and unshaken. Hannah requested special attention from God.  It was an intimate moment.

Question 7 moves us into her second prayer. What traits of God did Hannah include in her prayer of praise?  1 Samuel 2

She referred to God for the first time as the LORD OF HOSTS – which includes the angels and the saints from all times.   

We wanted to come back to this prayer next time. WE then closed in prayer.

Hannah Continues- June 1

Women of Courage – June 1, 2013

Hannah continues

Question 4 - What were the three great loves of Hannah’s life (review)?

We have to be careful not to put other things before God. Hannah proved that her priorities were right by giving Samuel back to the Lord. Her prayer for a son exemplified this desire to do God’s will.

We talked for quite a while on the importance of forgiving our families, especially our mothers, and on the influence mothers have on their children.

Question 5 – Why did Hannah long to have a son?

Many reasons – to have someone to care for her in her old age, to be able to dedicate him to the Lord for spiritual service, even the remote possibility of giving birth to the Messiah. Hannah was asking to be a vessel that God could use. She was so brave, giving up her son at such a young age, and having to leave him with Eli every year when she went to visit him. She didn’t want to have a son for personal gratification, but to serve God.

God planned to give Samuel to Hannah all along, but He wanted Hannah to get to the point where she was broken and would give him back to God for His service.

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.

Hannah continues

Women of Courage-  April 20, 2013

Hannah-

Nancy had made a statement, how did she get her knowledge of the Lord?  How did she know how to pray? Did the Lord reveal that to her?

Ferguson Sinclair “Prayer is an expression of what we know of God and ourselves”

Think about his statement in relation to Hannah.  She definitely knew God and had a tremendous amount of heart for the Lord.  She was going through so much in her life and we all tend to grow closer to the Lord because of her turmoil. 

God has total control over all situations, Hannah trusted this.

Question#1 in what ways did Hannah fit the meaning of her name, “grace”?

That we can read in scripture, Hannah did not lash out at her husband, Peninnah, or God for the fact that she was childless.  Grace definition: Elegance and beauty of movement or expression. We know what she may have looked like in her deep grief, so how does that fit the definition? But in the Biblical definition of grace:  Undeserved, unmerited favor, a gracious manner, the divine influence upon the heart and we act upon that influence.  All of our gifts are a reflection of God’s grace.  Coming to an end of ourselves, where we learn to put ourselves aside and leaning totally on God. What graces are we giving back because of the grace that God has given to me?

Referring to chp. 16, in Disciplines of a Godly woman, and the giving we share.  If we don’t do anything with what God has given us then we are meaningless in our walk.  God resists the proud. If we humble ourselves and are obedient, then God grows the fruit.  We become fertile ground.  

Question #2 In what ways was Hannah like both Sarah and Mary the mother of Jesus?

She was childless for many years and relied on God’s promise to provide her a son.  She was faithful. Like Sarah she had problems with the other woman that lasted for many years, and shared the same husband. They were taunted by the fact that Sarah and Hannah were childless.  They were much loved, precious, all of them.   She stayed before the Lord, even with a broken heart, pouring out tearful prayers.   Hannah was raised on the law and understood that her husband could have stopped the vow, but as we know, God was in control and understood the situation.  They dedicated their first born to the Lord.  Hannah was given the opportunity to see her son stay strong in the Lord and grow to worship and serve God.

Compared to Mary the mother of Jesus:

Both mothered a true gift from God and trained them up in every way for the Lord.  Always talking about and serving God.  Mary knew Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and Hannah knew that God had given her a son too.  Their hearts were both familiar with God they were consumed with the grace of God, and surrender to God’s will… which cost them both.  Both women let nothing interfere with their unwavering faith. Both understood prayer as others may not know.  We should look at their lives and follow their examples. 

2 Tim 4:3 - 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Hannah was living at a time when the priests and people were corrupt and doing what they wanted to do. There was a multitude of sin and yet she remained faithful.   Ruth and Hannah lived in the same era.

Women of Courage Bible Study Apr. 6

Today we had a special speaker come to our Bible study, it was Pastor Jon.  He was asked to speak on the subject of submission, since it has been a subject that has appeared in our discussions more than once.  After opening with prayer, we invited him to speak. This was his message, plus a little more at the end. 

Submission

The subject of submission has been corrupted like everything else God created.

If you think about it, we all, male AND female submit to different authorities and really have no problem in it.

   Posted speed limits, the price of a dozen eggs, people in crosswalks, etc., we all

   submit to the authority of someone else, and it really doesn’t bother us.

So why is there this adversity to the authority of a husband? Again, corruption.

Eve submitting to Adam was not something that occurred after the fall, in fact,

Gen 2:18 Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him."

   There was no problem in this. It wasn’t one sided, it wasn’t some dictatorship.

   The way God set it up it worked perfectly for both because they were “one flesh”.

      But this obviously is a paradox: “one flesh” but two different people.

One of the truths of the Bible that escapes us is what the full impact of the fall did to mankind.

It not only effected the relationship between God and man,

                                            but between man and woman.

God gave Adam the responsibility to take care of the garden (Gen 2:15), that was not a curse, and now, after the fall, his responsibility hasn’t changed- God’s pre-established plan for Adam was his responsibility to take care of the ground (not Eden), but now it will be hard work.

Gen 3:16 To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children; yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."

Again, there was a pre-established God initiated design for the family that started like this: “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. 25  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her” 

                                                                                                                          Eph 5:22-25

And again, there was no problem in this initially in Eden because there was no sin.

   Adam did not “use” his wife, and Eve never challenged her husband.

But Satan corrupted this plan and the result was this “desire” or coveting of the position of authority and responsibility God gave to man.

   She literally desired to have the responsibility and authority God gave to Adam- in

   fact, the same structure of the sentence and Hebrew word is found again in the

   next chapter when Cain’s offering wasn’t accepted by God:

      Gen 4:6-7 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your

      countenance fallen? 7 "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?

      And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you,

      but you must master it."

So Satan perverted God’s plan but he did not replace it. Satan does not have that power.

   That authority and responsibility of God’s original plan is STILL placed on man

   (whether he wants it or not), but now he’s in competition for it- because both man

   AND woman have strayed away from God’s original intent.

1 Peter 2:25, 3:1-2 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

3:1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

This “chaste and respectful behavior” is commonly misunderstood to be referring to the husband.

   Although it includes the husband, it is primarily referring to God Himself.

   1 Peter 2:9 clearly tells us, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a

  holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him

  who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”.

   Did you see it? We are to “proclaim the praises of Him” not the husband, and that

   is done by submitting to God’s order.

The isolated objective is the conversion of the husband,

   1.) If the husband does not know the Lord, or

   2.) The husband knows the Lord, but is walking outside of God’s will.

      The key is bring him to the Lord.

You’re not alone, the husband actually has the same responsibility!

   Eph 6:4  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the

  discipline and instruction of the Lord.

      A wife who instigates trouble in the marriage relationship by attitudes and

      actions outside the “instruction of the Lord” is the same as a father who

      discourages his children by the same attitudes and actions.

      In fact, Col 3:21 says it this way, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so

     that they will not lose heart.”               

      Wives, your objective is not to allow your husbands to “lose heart”.

         By “not exasperat[ing]” them, you actually encourage them toward the Lord.

The conversion of your husband initially to the Lord or back to the Lord  does not come from you- that is not your responsibility nor are you capable of it.

   But you can work either compliment these efforts or work against the Lord’s

   efforts by not following His pre-established initiated design.

Warren Wiersbe gives a great illustration: He said, “the receptionist at our church office has a list of names prepared by me, and these people could get to me at any time, no matter what I was doing. Even if I was in a staff meeting, or in a counseling session, if any of these people phoned, she was to call me immediately. At the top of this list was my family. Even if the matter seems to me inconsequential, I want my family to know that I am available. After the service, one of the students said to me, "Would you adopt me? I can never get through to my father”.

   If your husband does not understand- be approachable, after all, it was by the

   grace of God YOU understand.

   If you want your circumstances to change in your relationship with your husband,

   don’t attempt to thwart God’s movements in the answering of that prayer,

   harmonize with His movements by doing it God’s way.

A question was asked concerning violating a command of God when a husband expects his wife to follow him in an ungodly decision.

   Basically there are essentials and non-essentials as with the Scriptures.

   All Scripture is important, but as we should not become angry and fight over the

     identity of the two witnesses in Revelation, we should not divide over, say, 

     whether he can buy a beer or not.

     Practically, what if your husband asks why you can’t stay home every once in a

        while instead of going to Church all the time? Stay home.

     But what about, “… not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of

      some …”? (Heb 10:25)

          Two words to pay attention to: “forsaking” To leave or desert.

                                                          “habit”     Custom.

          This is a far cry from staying home every once in a while for the sake of family

           unity.

Those who have unsaved loved ones or those who have grown cold in the Lord need to learn to be proactive instead of reactive.

   Anticipate problem areas and discuss them at an appropriate time when the

   atmosphere is conducive.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(this is the bonus section)

First, when I ask why someone wants to get married, the answer is always the same:

I love him/her.

That’s good, but that’s not all.

Without the next two things, the marriage is headed for a fall:

Freedom and Responsibility

I’m not speaking about him, I’m talking about both of you.

    If unbalanced, one spouse resents too much responsibility the other controls

       because of a lack of it.

    Freedom works the same way, one spouse has more freedom, the other is being

       controlled.

What balances out the scales? Love. Real love, not just emotional love.

Practical Advice:

*Stop assuming what the other would do and talk about things that are in conflict

      with their values.

*Isolate and deal with your spouses deficiency, set up a plan or explain that things

      will only get worse.

         They may not know how to communicate, deal with a past problem that didn’t

            include you, lack self-discipline, manage money, etc.

      Remember, it’s not his problem or her shortcoming, but a mutual problem. One

          flesh remember?

*Make a pact based on love that “silent treatments” are illegal.

      If something (s)he said or did bothered you wait until an appropriate moment

      (not too long of a wait) and casually mention it only once.

      Refuse to place blame or insist on someone’s wrong, just mention it- once.

*“Realize that although you’re “one flesh”, you’re two different people with two

    different preferences. Don’t forget, you used to find this attractive- what

    happened?

   Phil 2:3-4 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of

   mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look

   out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

      Give the other their way first (agape love) and have a good time!

*Lastly, is this disagreement worth the win?

      Isolate your objective- do you want your way or your relationship?

We pray that this message speaks to hearts and helps each of us to learn to walk in submission.  We thank God for allowing us to hear his words and pray for strength to walk in them. 

Hannah Begins

March 16, 2013

Women of Courage – the study of Hannah

We began by reading 1 Samuel 1-2: The story of how Hannah came before Eli and prayed to the Lord; How Eli’s sons were corrupt and the state of the priests that were serving at the time.  We also looked at the map locating the areas we were discussing and how we have journeyed with all the different women we have studied.

There was a brief discussion on why the two sons wanted fresh uncooked meat. Was it because of the condition of the cooking? Or was it greed, since the meat would fall off the fork if it was tender?  Did they want more than the Lord was permitting? We don’t know what the reasons, but we do know that they were sinning against God.

A little history- Elkanah was from the family Kohath, they received the responsibility to tear down the Holy of Holies when the tabernacle was traveling.  When David was king, he established them as some of the chief musicians. The grandson of Samuel was the chief musician.  Hannah understood the ways of the Lord and most likely was raised in a very Godly home and she married a very good man. 

Eli’s sons walked far from the Lord, but they were raised knowing all about the Lord. But, remembering that parents can raise their children for the Lord, but sometimes they stray and we have to remember not to judge families where the children stray.

Nancy mentioned how she was so impressed by Hannah’s prayer, how she knew how to pray. She was raised understanding how to pray, but our personality is also a part of how we pray. She understood the law.  It is obvious that the Lord was with her prayer, he gave her prophecy within her prayer. 

We discussed how Peninnah vexed Hannah with the fact that she had children and Hannah had none.  But God listed Hannah’s prayer and her story into His word.  God truly loves and honors women. Hannah let all of her passion and concern pour out to her Lord.  Even though she was confronted as being drunk, Hannah didn’t fear Eli, but clearly explained her prayer.  She was confident; she did not shrink from the confrontation. 

Peninnah was not listed as being loved, so she may have,  in her flesh, brought up the fact that she had children to give herself the worth she desired.  But God had a provision in His law for her.

Deut. 21:15-17

15 “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, 16 then it shall be in the day he wills what he has to his sons, he cannot make the son of the loved the firstborn before the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn. 17 But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn.

God loved even Peninnah, the unloved. And even in our study of Hannah, we remember her.

We were then introduced to the companion book we will be using:

Disciplines of a Godly Woman, by Barbara Hughes

this book will help us to go a little deeper in our understanding, we look forward to God's revealing through our study.