Day 11: Great Expectations

1 Samuel 1-2

The book of 1 Samuel opens to introduce us to Hannah, wife of Elkanah, an Ephraimite and a Levite. We soon learn that Hannah has a stigma of having no children. In Her society, having children was a considered a blessing from God. To have no children, a woman (wife) was looked down upon.

Hannah was made to feel depressed due to her situation- 1 Samuel 1:6-7: “And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. 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.” Hannah then did as we should do in time of need- “She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.” (1 Samuel 1:10)

She turned her troubles over to the Lord and so should we. She also made a promise to God that if He would look on her affliction and give her a son, she would "give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head” (1 Samuel 1:11). Here is a woman of the tribe of Levi whose son was the Lord’s property, for service, from age 25 to 50. She promises not only that, but that his “whole life” would be dedicated to God’s service. After her prayer and then conversation with Eli, the priest, Eli tells her, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him" (1 Samuel 1:17). She now leaves her troubles with God: “And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad" (1 Samuel 1:18).

After she went home, she lived in expectation of her prayer being answered. It was, and she fulfilled her promise- she dedicated her son to God. After he came to the age he could leave his mother, she left him at the tabernacle with Eli, the priest, to begin his life in service to God. In her prayer in 1 Samuel 2, she thanks God and rejoices in Him for His judgments and the strength He gives.

As a result of her belief and trust in God, she learns, as we should, that when we give to God, He returns the blessings many times over. Hannah received the blessings of three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:20-21). Let us pray to God continually and live lives worthy of receiving the blessings of prayers being answered.

Written by David Fleming, an elder at Mt. Juliet

# posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Comments:

"Belief and trust in God" as the foundation for our prayers and petitions to our Heavenly Father. Now that is something we can build on and I believe if we really focus our hearts and our minds, our confidence in God will follow. It is sch a comfort to know God hears our prayers and is always with us! Great blog!

# posted by

Anonymous : November 25, 2010 at 4:20 AM



Day 11: Great Expectations 1 Samuel 1-2 The book of 1 Samuel opens to introduce us to Hannah, wife of Elkanah, an Ephraimite and a Levite. We soon learn that Hannah has a stigma of having no children. In Her society, having children was a considered a blessing from God. To have no children, a woman (wife) was looked down upon. Hannah was made to feel depressed due to her situation- 1 Samuel 1:6-7: “And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. 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.” Hannah then did as we should do in time of need- “She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.” (1 Samuel 1:10) She turned her troubles over to the Lord and so should we. She also made a promise to God that if He would look on her affliction and give her a son, she would "give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head” (1 Samuel 1:11). Here is a woman of the tribe of Levi whose son was the Lord’s property, for service, from age 25 to 50. She promises not only that, but that his “whole life” would be dedicated to God’s service. After her prayer and then conversation with Eli, the priest, Eli tells her, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him" (1 Samuel 1:17). She now leaves her troubles with God: “And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad" (1 Samuel 1:18). After she went home, she lived in expectation of her prayer being answered. It was, and she fulfilled her promise- she dedicated her son to God. After he came to the age he could leave his mother, she left him at the tabernacle with Eli, the priest, to begin his life in service to God. In her prayer in 1 Samuel 2, she thanks God and rejoices in Him for His judgments and the strength He gives. As a result of her belief and trust in God, she learns, as we should, that when we give to God, He returns the blessings many times over. Hannah received the blessings of three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:20-21). Let us pray to God continually and live lives worthy of receiving the blessings of prayers being answered. Written by David Fleming, an elder at Mt. Juliet # posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Wednesday, November 24, 2010 Comments: "Belief and trust in God" as the foundation for our prayers and petitions to our Heavenly Father. Now that is something we can build on and I believe if we really focus our hearts and our minds, our confidence in God will follow. It is sch a comfort to know God hears our prayers and is always with us! Great blog! # posted by Anonymous : November 25, 2010 at 4:20 AM Post a Comment << Home	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM Past Archives: November 2010 December 2010

Day 11: Great Expectations

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