The Silent Cry
Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 1:10
Life Application: God has compassion on man’s emotional torment.
1 Samuel 1:10-11 NKJV “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him back to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.’ ”
Hannah’s desperation before the Lord was misunderstood by Eli. Like Hannah when you begin to cry out in desperation there will be those who misunderstand, and there will be those who do not understand.
1 Samuel 1:12-14 NKJV “And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, ‘How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!’”
When Eli confronted Hannah concerning what he thought was drunkenness, Hannah responded in a polite and respectful way.
1 Samuel 1:15-16 NKJV “But Hannah answered and said, ‘No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.’”
The Lord ministered unto Hannah by giving her the desire of her heart, a son.
1 Samuel 1:20 NKJV “So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.’”
When Hannah went with her husband to take Samuel to the temple, she again ministered unto God by offering up a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God.
1 Samuel 2:1-10 NKJV “And Hannah prayed and said: ‘My heart rejoices in the Lord;
My horn is exalted in the Lord. I
smile at my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation. No one is holy like the Lord,
For there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance
come from your mouth,
For the Lord is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty men are broken,
And those who stumbled are girded with strength. Those who were full have hired
themselves out for bread,
And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has born seven,
And she who has many children has become feeble. The Lord kills and makes alive;
He brings down to the grave and brings
up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,
To set them among princes
And make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s
And He has set the world upon them. He will guars the feet of the saints,
But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail.
The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them,
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to the king,
And exalt the horn of His anointed.’ ”
Hannah’s desperation and worship had birthed ministry to the Lord. Ministry to the Lord will in turn, birth ministry to people.
1 Samuel 2:11 NKJV “Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.”
1 Samuel 2:18 NKJV “But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing linen ephod.”
God again ministered unto Hannah by giving her more children.
1 Samuel 2:21 NKJV “And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three more sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the Lord.”
Even when you feel like you don’t have a word from the Lord (or revelation), you should still be worshipping Him and ministering to Him.
1 Samuel 3:1 NKJV “Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.”
Samuel ministered unto the Lord, and the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel through revelations. Ministry to the Lord then revelation.
1 Samuel 3:21 NKJV “Then the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord
revealed Himself to Samuel in
Shiloh by the word of the Lord.”
God will reveal Himself to those who minister unto Him in a deeper way. There are things that are inaccessible with human knowledge and wisdom. We need revelation knowledge of God.
Daniel 2:22 NKJV “He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.”
Daniel 5:11-14 NKJV “There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father- your father the king- made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called and he will give the interpretation. Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, ‘Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah?I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.’ ”
The Lord speaks (and shares secret things) to those who fear Him.
Psalm 25:14 NKJV “The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him.”
Psalm 111:10 NKJV “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.”
Proverbs 1:7 NKJV “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instructions.”
Proverbs 9:10 NKJV “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
The fear of the Lord is to greatly respect (high regard, honor, esteem, consideration) and reverence the Lord. When you reverence someone you will have a feeling of deep respect mixed with wonder, awe and love. From the account of Hannah we can see that God can take something bad and bring about something good. Hannah was constantly being teased by Peninnah which made Hannah cry out to God for help. God heard Hannah and answered her prayer by giving her a son. She named the son Samuel and he became a great prophet for God.
Review
1. Read 1 Samuel 1:1-2. Who were Elkanah’s wives?
2. What did Peninnah have that Hannah didn’t?
3. Read 1 Samuel 1:3-4. Where did the family go each year and what did they do?
4. According to 1 Samuel 1:5, Elkanah ______________ Hannah, although she was unable to have children.
5. Hannah was desperate to have a baby, but her desperation before the Lord was ________________________ by Eli.
6. When Eli confronted Hannah concerning what he thought was drunkenness how did she respond or react?
7. The Lord ministered unto Hannah by giving her what?
8. When Hannah went with her husband to take Samuel to the temple, she again ministered unto God by offering up a prayer of ______________ and _________________________ to God.
9. Ministry to the Lord will in turn, birth ministry to ________________.
10. God gave Hannah more ___________________.
11. Even when you feel like you don’t have a word from the Lord (or revelation), you should still be ______________________ Him and ministering to Him.
12. The Lord revealed Himself to Samuel through _____________________.
13. There are things that are inaccessible with human knowledge and wisdom. We need ______________________ ___________________________ of God.
14. The Lord speaks, and shares secret things, to those who what?
15. The fear of the Lord is to greatly _______________ and reverence the Lord.
16. When you reverence someone you will have a feeling of deep respect mixed with wonder, awe and _____________.
17. What is the definition of anguish?
18. Read 1 Samuel 1:6-7. Why was Hannah in anguish?
19. What are some examples of emotional torment or turmoil?
20. What should you do when you are in anguish?
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