Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 1:13
Life Application: God hears our silent cries.
Bible Text: 1 Samuel 1:1-20
1 Samuel 1:1- 4 NKJV “Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.”
Hannah, one of two wives of Elkanah, had no children, although she had been married for some time. Elkanah’s other wife, Peninnah, had children.
Each year the family would faithfully go to Shiloh and worship and offer a sacrifice to God. Elkanah loved Hannah very much, even though she did not have any children. Elkanah treated Hannah very kindly and special. He even gave her a double portion of the offering to give to God. However, Peninnah was not so nice to Hannah. She made fun of Hannah because she did not have any children.
1 Samuel 1:5-8 NKJV “But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb. And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb. So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat. Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
Year after year Peninnah teased Hannah so much that Hannah even lost her appetite. Her childlessness affected her whole outlook on life. She was so depressed and sad. In her bitterness and misery she could not see her many blessings, such as God’s goodness in giving her a loving husband.
In the house of God, Hannah cried out to God, asking the Lord to give her a son. She earnestly, specifically, and believingly prayed to Him. Hannah was praying so hard that her lips were moving but she wasn‘t making a sound., Eli, the priest, accused her of being drunk.
1 Samuel 1:9-14 NKJV “So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. 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 to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” 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!”
Hannah explained to Eli, the priest, that she was not drunk, but praying, because she was very sad. Knowing that God would surely do what was best for Hannah, Eli told her to go in peace. Eli reminded Hannah that as she brought her request to God in faith, she could have peace knowing that He would answer in the way best for her.
1 Samuel 1:15-18 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 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.” Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.”
Eli knew that God would answer Hannah’s prayer in His own perfect way, so he told her to go in peace. After Hannah prayed and Eli spoke to her she was no longer sad or unhappy. She went her way rejoicing, knowing that God had truly heard her prayer. The next morning Elkanah and his family returned home.
God answered Hannah’s prayer in time and gave her a son. She named the baby Samuel, which means “Heard by God.”
1 Samuel 1:19-20 NKJV “Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 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.”
Review
1. Hannah had no ________________, although she had been married for some time.
2. Each year Hannah’s family would go to Shiloh and ________________ and offer a sacrifice to God.
3. Hannah’s husband treated her very kindly and ______________.
4. Peninnah was not ________ to Hannah. She made fun of Hannah because she did not have any children.
5. Hannah cried out to God, asking the Lord to give her a ______.
6. Hannah explained to Eli, the priest, that she was not drunk, but ______________, because she was very sad.
7. Eli told her to go in peace because God would ____________in the way best for her.
8. Hannah went her way ________________, knowing that God had truly heard her prayer.
9. God answered Hannah’s prayer in ________ and gave her a son.
10. Hannah named the baby ____________, which means “Heard by God.”
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