Hannah

Hi this is breeding welcome to the Salvation Army's words of life and a a welcome back to words of life.

I'm Cheryl Galen and I'm with my cohost Ernie Dake.

It's good to see me.

We are so glad you're here with us today. Burning in the city again agreed to listen this week in our series with Helen Sterrett. She is studying the story of Hannah Hannah's story is a powerful example of mothers entrusting their children to God. If you missed any of these episodes. This series began in June, so visit Salvation Army sound cast.org to subscribe and get caught up for the casting call for this Broadway musical shortened.

We will need husband Hannah barren wife and I not wife number two more children and Eli the priest. Let's see how the area of one accolades in our Broadway production don't cry for me.

Nine. We find this account in first Samuel one a bit of background is important for us as we begin this study. This was a critical period of Israel's history. During the times that the judges people did everything as they saw fit the pattern of idolatry, repentance and backsliding was repeated time and time again. The people did whatever they pleased. They needed a spiritual leader who could set the course of the nation on the right path. According to God's word to take back the spiritual darkness and backsliding in Israel, Samuel would be the person to do this and Hannah, his mother was instrumental in bringing him into the world and helping to prepare him for such a time as this. Hannah was a woman of courage as well. As a woman of faith and prayer.

Her story of prayer, faith and dedication should be an inspiration for each of us listening today. Let's meet the family. Elkanah lived in Rhema. He was from the priestly tribe of Levi. He had two wives, Hannah, who was barren and benign, who had given Elkanah sons and daughters. He was a godly man and each year, took his whole family to Shiloh from his home to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord. Now some may think his family was normal except for the fact he had to wives. Can you imagine two women in the kitchen renting a house, as might be expected. There was tension in the family and what might've been a sense of calm at home erupted when the family made the trip to Shiloh to add to the tension. We learned that Elkanah loved Hannah best when they had a meal together.

Hannah received the best portion of meat. This was his way to show his affection in a practical way without realizing it. Elkanah and his behavior only magnified the rivalry and jealousy between the two wives banana did like this.

She provoked and insulted Hannah to irritate her because she was jealous of Hannah for receiving her husband's love, jealousy is one of those behaviors that Christians don't call out as much as other sins.

However, it's behavior that God does not like jealousy is hostility toward a revival or someone we believe to have an advantage over us. Jealousy causes us to forget what we already have, in spite of benign, is taunting Hannah. We do not find anywhere in this account of Scripture that Hannah said anything to benign it to retaliate. She kept her mind focused on God. This behavior went on year after year. And on this particular visit, we see that Hannah had had enough. She wept and she did not eat because of the rivalry.

Hannah could not enjoy this display of Elkanah's love and favor my mother would have said, bless his heart. Elkanah said why do you weep, why is your heart grieved. Am I not better than 10 sons he so sensitive he loved Hannah, but perhaps did not realize she had needs. He could not fulfill after the meal we find Hannah on her way to the house of the Lord. Hannah suffered a lot without realizing that God had a plan for Hannah and all of this. I wonder if this suffering led Hannah to seek God more sincerely and grow interfaith.

I'm certain even when the family she lived with. At times she felt alone.

I think there are times in all our lives, we feel alone and wonder what God's plan is for us. Hannah didn't abandon her faith in God despite her life problem.

She went to the Lord and her prayer was very real, sincere and intense. Hannah poured her soul to God in prayer. Obviously, Hannah had a deep and abiding love for God. The value of persistent and passionate prayer is one of the central lessons we take from Hannah's life. There are five things we can learn from her prayer she prayed openly.

She prayed sincerely. She prayed continuously. She prayed fervently. She prayed, believing lady do we pour out our hearts to God. Desire is the very soul of prayer, and Hannah found peace and comfort in prayer. Are we missing the desires of our hearts, because we don't ask for them in prayer. Could it be family financial needs healing broken relationships work deliverance from temptation. The list is endless. God delights in hearing from us.

He's waiting for us in her prayer. Hannah made a vow to God.

She promised that she would give her son back to God for all the days of his life. She's not bargaining with God. She made a promise, we can say she trusted in God and love God so much to the point she would offer her son to him as Hannah prayed Eli the priest was watching, but he didn't understand her.

He saw her lips moving, but her voice was not heard some people pray loudly when praying and others in quiet reverence, and God hears both. This is a comfort for us. God's always there, even when were unable to find words to petition effective prayer can be silent and in our hearts.

Eli misunderstood Hannah's time in prayer that he suspected her of being drunk was not surprising considering that religion was at a very low ebb and Shiloh at that time Eli seemed to lack spiritual discernment. He was insensitive and his rebuke was uncalled for.

He was condescending. A reminder how we need to listen and respond when people come to us even if we are not priests.

Hannah did not accept Eli's accusation. She didn't treat them with disrespect.

Rather, there was grace and humility. In her response. At this point she poured out her heart to Eli explaining her desire for a child. She had the wisdom to let Eli know her heart. This shows her spiritual maturity. Eli blessed her and prayed, God would grant her prayer she went and ate something in her face was no longer downcast. It's a clear contrast between before and after. It can be the same for us. We come to the Lord in prayer. The family rose early the next morning and worshiped Hannah worship the Lord in faith while the promise had not yet been fulfilled.

Such an example of faith in the process of time a child was born. His name is Samuel meaning name of God.

Hannah didn't travel with the family for yearly visits to the house of the Lord until Samuel was weaned in that culture.

A child was not weaned until he was to and sometimes three years old, it's reasonable to assume that Hannah was not in a hurry to wean Samuel. Hannah was a woman of her word, she prayed. She promise that when her prayer was answered. She would redeem her promise as much as she loved her only child.

Hannah did not hesitate to keep her promise. This shows the godliness of Elkanah and Anna when they brought Samuel to the temple. She reminded Eli of her previous visit and her promise to God she left's annual under his care to serve the Lord, he stayed forever.

He was the last of the judges also the priest who anointed David is King there is a song of praise. Interesting that her song is recorded after she gives her son back to God. Hannah song teaches us several things about God. Hannah never forgot the source of her blessings.

And she's quick to share her praises. She expressed depth fervency and joy of a happy woman giving God all the glory. There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no rock like our God, the Lord is a God who knows and is in control. Hannah's prayer was all about God. It was a prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude for God's greatness, though it may be difficult to see and understand what God is doing and why God is taking so long to answer our we can be confident hears and answers and the answers will far from and have extraordinary purposes. May God show you the extraordinary in the ordinary blessings today. The Salvation Army's mission doing the most good means helping people with material and spiritual needs to become a part of this mission every time you give to the Salvation Army visit Salvation Army USA.org to offer your support and love to hear from you. Call one 800-2299 65 email us radio USS.Salvation Army.org tell us how we can help share prayer requests per share your testimony. Would love to use your story on their can also subscribe to a show on iTunes or your favorite podcast work and be sure to give us a rating search for the Salvation Army's words of life follows on social the latest episodes extended and if you don't have a church home invite will be glad to see this is pretty thick wedding to join us next time for the Salvation Army's life