Theme: Dedicated to serve
Scriptures: 1 Samuel 1:1-28
Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson Book)
Know: Hannah, who had been unable to have children for years, promised God that if He would give her a son, she would give him to serve the Lord all his life.
Think: Rest in the assurance that God’s timing is perfect.
Do: Take my needs and requests to the Lord, knowing He will accomplish His will in His perfect timing.
Notes and questions:
B1 The home place (Ramathaim Zophim).
C1 Various authorities have suggested the different locations.
C2 Map of Ramah and area.
B2 1 Samuel 1:1-8, The Setting,
C1 1 Chronicles 6:16-30, traces Samuel’s ancestors to Levi. Samuel was a descendant of Levi and the priestly clan of Kohath.
C2 Hannah probably was the first wife. Since she had no children, Elkanah married Peninnah, who did have children. He married Peninnah, in order to have children.
C3 Shiloh was the main center of Israel’s worship during the period of the Judges.
C4 Hophni and Phinehas
D1 Sons of the prophet-priest Eli (1 Samuel 1:3)
D2 Evil (1 Samuel 2:12-17)
D3 Dishonored the office of priest (1 Samuel 2:12-17)
D4 Were cursed by God (1 Samuel 2:27-34)
D5 Died before their time (1 Samuel 4:11)
D6 An example and warning to false pastors today
C4 Hannah and Peninnah
D1 What are some similarities?
D2 What are some differences?
D3 Why did Hannah get a double portion of the food?
D4 Did Elkanah love Peninnah?
D5 Why did Peninnah provoke Hannah to anger?
C5 Was Elkanah’s comfort to Hannah good comfort?
C6 Why would the Lord prevent Hannah from having children? This caused her a lot of distress and sorrow.
B2 1 Samuel 1:9-18, Hannah’s Prayer,
C1 After the feast, Eli sat in his chair to give counsel and make decisions for the people. Eli was High Priest. A few of the responsibilities of the High Priest are
D1 Offer sacrifices Leviticus 1:4-17
D2 Bless the people Deuteronomy 21:5
D3 Teach the people God's law Deuteronomy 31:9-13
D4 Give decisions Deuteronomy 17:8-13
D5 Be the administrer in the Temple Numbers 4:19
D6 Special duties on the Day of Atonement Leviticus 16
D7 Be judge Deuteronomy 17:8-13
C2 Bitter has the idea that life has been a disgusting taste in her mouth, so sorrow, pain, unpleasantness, etc. What are some of the reasons Hannah is so bitter? What can we learn about Hannah’s bitterness? What way did Hannah deal with her bitterness? How do we deal with bitterness?
C3 Hannah made a vow.
D1 What was her vow?
D2 Some things about vows?
E1 It is a solemn promise with God as the witness.
E2 It is limited by time.
E3 It is agreed to give or do something if prayer is answered. (Psalm 76:11)
E4 It is a very serious error to NOT do your part of the vow. (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6)
D3 Another example of a vow: (Genesis 28:20-22 (NKJV) Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, “so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. “And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”
D4 Consider:
E1 (Proverbs 20:25 (NKJV) [It is] a snare for a man to devote rashly [something as] holy, And afterward to reconsider [his] vows.
E2 (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 (NKJV) When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For [He has] no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed– Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger [of God] that it [was] an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?
E3 (Psalms 116:16-19 (NKJV) O LORD, truly I [am] Your servant; I [am] Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds. I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD Now in the presence of all His people, In the courts of the LORD’s house, In the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!
D5 Did Eli handle the following situation wisely? 1 Samuel 1:13-14 NRSV Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. (14) So Eli said to her, "How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine." How could he have handled it better?
D6 1 Samuel 1:16 shows that Hannah’s bitterness was not anger; it was sadness.
D7 1 Samuel 1:20, Hannah had waited a long time, but after Eli’s blessing, she was no longer sad and waited for answered prayer.
D8 Some things about waiting patiently.
E1 It is character building: Romans 5:3-4 (WEL) And not only [that] but we rejoice in distress knowing also that distress brings about patience. (4) And patience [brings about] proven character, and proven character, hope.
E2 God gives grace to endure. From this grace, we get patience and strength to endure. As a result, we give joyful thanks to God. Colossians 1:11-12 NRSV May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully (12) giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
E3 It is something we must pursue. 1 Timothy 6:11 NKJV But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
D9 How are we to act towards those who want children but cannot?
D10 Nazarite
E1 Laws are found in Numbers 6
E2 Was voluntary
E3 Could be a man or a woman (Numbers 6:2)
E4 Was a vow of special holiness and separation to God
E5 The vow dedicates themselves to serving the Lord. (Numbers 6:2)
E6 Cannot eat or drink wine, strong drink, vinegar, no anything from grapes as grape juice, raisins, grape skins, grape seeds, etc.
E7 Cannot cut the hair growing on their head
E8 Cannot come near to anyone who is dead, not even for father or mother. If they do, even if accidentally, they must offer a special offering and start over.
E9 Had to shave his/her head and offer a special offering to God after the time promised is fulfilled
B3 1 Samuel 1:19-20, Prayer Answered,
C1 How many blessings can you name from God’s answering Hannah’s prayer?
C2 What does the name Samuel mean? (Essentially, it means God heard me, that is, answered my prayer).
C3 Psalms 116:1-2 NKJV I love the LORD, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. (2) Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.
B4 1 Samuel 1:21-28, Vow Kept,
C1 In 1 Samuel 1:21, who also had a vow?
C2 It’s been mentioned in a number of commentaries that weaning meant until the child could potty, dress, feed himself, etc., so Samuel might have been approximately 5 years old.
C3 Why 3 bulls for an offering? John Wesley writes: Three bullocks - One for a burnt - offering, the second for a sin - offering, and the third for a peace offering; all these sorts being expedient for this work and time. Flour - For the meal - offerings belonging to the principal sacrifices, which to each bullock were three tenth - deals, or three tenth parts of an ephah, and so nine parts of the ephah were spent, and the tenth part was given to the priest. Wine - For drink - offerings.
C4 Would Hannah been tempted to not give Samuel to the Lord? What about Elkanah?
C5 1 Samuel 1:27-28 NKJV For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. (28) Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD." So they worshiped the LORD there.
D1 The words asked of and lent are the same words in Hebrew.
D2 This has been variously translated as given, lent, lend, asked of, dedicated, and let.
D3 The idea is that Samuel was asked for and that the asked for is given to the Lord.
D4 How can we apply this to ourselves and our children?
C6 The he in 1 Samuel 1:28 is Elkanah. While Elkanah worshipped, Hanna sang her song that is in 1 Samuel 2.
B5 Read Psalm 13 for comfort in troubles and seemingly unanswered prayer.
B6 Next week:
C1 Enoch, The Man Who Was Nowhere To Be Found
C2 Theme: Integrity in Friendship with God.
C3 Scriptures:
- Genesis 5:1-24
- Psalm 26:1-2
- Proverbs 20:7
- Luke 3:37
- Hebrews 11:5-6
- Jude 1:14-15
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