Prophet Samuel (Message 1)

Two Thoughts for This Series:

In each generation, there are a FEW people who live differently than those around them, who TRUST God, and who therefore make an enormously positive IMPACT.

A Christian life is not measured by success or failure but by a Godly CHARACTER.

Some Context

Samuel lived during one of the most UNGODLY times in the nation of Israel. There was constant VIOLENCE, prevalent sin, and a DISREGARD for God and His law.
Judg. 21:25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

The impact of Samuel’s life is hard to OVERSTATE.
Psa. 99:6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the LORD and he answered them.
Jer. 15:1 Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence!
Acts 3:24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days.
Heb. 11:32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets,

Samuel was born, lived and died in the SAME TOWN. Today, that town carries his NAME.
1Sam. 1:1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim,. . .

The People and the Problem

1Sam. 1:1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. 6 Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

ELKANAH — a COMMON name meaning “God has created”.
— He lived in Ramathaim and was of the tribe of EPHRAIM.
— He had two WIVES. Does God allow that?

a. In Old Testament times, there were many MORE women than men and no way for unmarried women to be CARED for.

b. In a Jewish society, producing a son was so IMPORTANT that sometimes, if a first wife did not produce children, a second wife was TAKEN for that purpose. (The ideal plan was/is monogamy, but sometimes that was not possible.)

— He was a Godly man who WORSHIPED the Lord faithfully.

— He was a good FATHER and husband, and his first LOVE was Hannah, to whom he gave a double-portion.

— He was a TYPICAL man who couldn’t really relate to his wife’s SORROW. “Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

HANNAH — her name (חַנָּה, Channah) means “GRACE”.
— She was probably the FIRST wife of Elkanah and she was UNABLE to have children (“the LORD had CLOSED her womb.”). This distressed her greatly.

Peninnah — her name (פְּנִנָּה, Pĕninnah) means “FRUITFUL”.
— She had MANY children but was still not the “LOVED wife”.
— She MOCKED Hannah for being BARREN.

The Prayer and the Promise

1Sam. 1:9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD’S house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 12 As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” 15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” 17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” 18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

While visiting the Tabernacle of God in Shiloh, Hannah was overcome with ANGUISH. She prayed as a “SERVANT” to “the Lord of HOSTS”. She prayed for a son and promised to RETURN him to the Lord. (No razor?)

It was so UNUSUAL for Hebrew people to pray SILENTLY that Eli, the priest, thought she was DRUNK. But Hannah had come to a PIVOTAL place in her relationship with the Lord.

Eli’s words were AFFIRMING to Hannah, but they were not a promise. However, something changed in Hannah from that MOMENT on. Her response was one of HOPE: “May ‘the favored’ find favor in your eyes.” (She went on her way, she ATE and her countenance CHANGED.)

The Product

1Sam. 1:19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.”

“In the course of time”, Hannah became a MOM.

She gave birth to a SON and named him Samuel (שְׁמוּאֵל, Shĕmuw’el), which means “God has HEARD” or “his name is El”.

Hannah KEPT her word, and after Samuel was weaned, he was taken to the Tabernacle and GIVEN to God. Samuel was raised at the Tabernacle and became God’s VOICE to Israel.

Memory Verse for this Series

Psa. 99:6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the LORD and he answered them.

Walk the Talk

What do we know about Israel before Samuel’s birth? How did he change things?

Why was Samuel’s impact so great?

What did you learn about prayer from this study?

What was most helpful?