Hannah and Mothers Day…Part I

I am just about finished with my sermon for this Sunday…which is of course Mothers Day…Now me and Mothers Day haven’t always meshed well. This will be the third time I have preached a Mother’s Day message…but I always struggle, because….I’m not a mom! Yes it’s true, I know it’s hard to image…

Now don’t get me wrong, I have spent my whole life around mothers. I mean my mother raised me, my grand mother took a role in raising me…and now my wife is raising me, at least that is what she say’s! I love moms, where would we be without our mothers! Hannah is one of those mothers. She is without child and she is married to a guy who has another wife who does have children. This of course is a problem; the second wife reminds Hannah at every chance she gets…she does it to the point of purposely hurting Hannah. Hannah prays and prays…she is weeping and praying from her heart…and Eli the priest see’s her and thinks she’s drunk! So there is Hannah, and no body understands…her husband has tried, the priest thinks she’s drunk…she isn’t shaken…she chooses to let God have the situation.

So many times in life we are faced with difficult problems. They come and we pray and nothing happens. What do you do? Do you stop praying and have a big ol’ pity party…or do you let God have the situation. Do you trust God will see it through until the end. Hannah chose to let God have the situation. She got up 1 Samuel 1:18, ate something and was no longer downcast. She trusted God…the next morning she got up and worshiped the Lord.

Hannah returns home and conceives a child…she named Samuel. This wasn’t an ordinary child…but the Last of the priestly, judges of Israel and the first great prophet. He would usher in a new era for Israel. God would use Samuel in a very special way. Hannah kept her oath and at three or so years…she took him to Eli the high priest and gives her only son to the service of the Lord. Hannah then shares a prayer, 1 Samuel 2:1-10. Hannah confirms the Lord is in charge…He is Lord. How many would be able to give up the one child they prayed for and still praise the Lord. But that is what Hannah did.

There are several things we can take from Hannah…

Hannah prayed…she prayed when she face difficult problems, she prayed for her son, before he was born. She continued to pray for him her entire life…I’m confident in the fact.

Hannah worshiped….worship was important to Hannah, she worshiped at the tabernacle, she worshiped with her very life, she worshiped with her heart and she was consistent.

Hannah also sacrificed…she gave of her self to the lord and to her husband. She gave her only son to the service of the Lord.

Lastly Hannah was blessed….The Scripture says “the Lord was gracious to Hannah”.

I’m going to stop there…I will continue this conversation tomorrow…we’ll look to see how Hannah’s example can be applied today.

Keep reading your Bibles…

-ps