Honoring Motherhood: Hannah’s Life Lessons
Honoring Motherhood: Hannah’s Life Lessons
1. Bear Your Brokenness
1 Samuel 1:6-8 (NASB)
6 Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.
7 It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat.
8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"
2. Prayer & Promise To God
1 Samuel 1:10-11 (NASB)
10 She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.
11 She made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head."
1 Samuel 1:17-18 (NASB)
17 Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him."
18 She said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
3. Demonstrating Worship & Dedication To The Lord
1 Samuel 1:20-28 (NASB)
20 It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked him of the LORD."
21 Then the man Elkanah went up with all his household to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow.
22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "I will not go up until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD and stay there forever."
23 Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you. Remain until you have weaned him; only may the LORD confirm His word." So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with a three-year-old bull and one ephah of flour and a jug of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh, although the child was young.
25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and brought the boy to Eli.
26 She said, "Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the LORD.
27 "For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him.
28 "So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there.
1 Samuel 2:1-11 (NASB)
1 Then Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 "There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
3 "Boast no more so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the LORD is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed.
4 "The bows of the mighty are shattered, But the feeble gird on strength.
5 "Those who were full hire themselves out for bread, But those who were hungry cease to hunger. Even the barren gives birth to seven, But she who has many children languishes.
6 "The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 "The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts.
8 "He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, And He set the world on them.
9 "He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail.
10 "Those who contend with the LORD will be shattered; Against them He will thunder in the heavens, The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; And He will give strength to His king, And will exalt the horn of His anointed."
11 Then Elkanah went to his home at Ramah. But the boy ministered to the LORD before Eli the priest.