SAMUEL LESSON # 1
I Samuel 1:1-20
The Advantage of Disadvantage
I. Greetings.
II. Unusual Beginnings to the History of Kings.
Note: The books we call I and II Samuel and I and II Kings are named differently in the Hebrew Bible. There the names are I, II, III, and IV Kings. In other words our books of I and II Samuel are I and II Kings in Hebrew and I and II Kings in English are III and IV Kings in Hebrew. We do not know who wrote these books. They are anonymous and their titles reflect their content not their author. These four books cover roughly 400 years (1050-586) or the period of Israel's Monarchy. Our study will cover the first two books and will cover the beginning of Kingship in Israel.
Q If you were writing a history of the U.S. Presidency, how would you start? What would your opening chapter cover as you began to discuss President Washington?
An = Get some feed back here and then suggest that we look at how the O.T. starts.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 1:1-2.
Note: The author starts speaking of a man who seems quite unknown and so gives us his place of birth and city. He is not from a major city.
Q How many wives does Elkanah have?
An = Two, note one has no children, and who would care about this petty detail of the domestic situation of two housewives? However, this domestic detail will dominate the rest of the first chapter of the opening chapter of the History of Israel's kings.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 1:3-5.
Note: The two sons of Eli the priest are mentioned = this is a deliberate mention of Leadership which is perhaps the key issue that dominates the entire four books of Kings (I and II and Samuel and I and II Kings).
Note: The author goes out of his way to let us know one of the wives has no ability to have children.
Q Who had closed Hannah's womb?
An = God.
Q Is God responsible for our handicaps or lacks in life, like Hannah's not being able to have children. In other words is God really responsible for us not having the things we really want that are normal to have: marriage, children, a good reputation, good job, etc.
An = Yes, according to I Samuel 1:5.
Q What do you think of God then?
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 1:6-8.
Q What has this misfortune done to Hannah?
An = Reduced her life to misery.
QQ Why is she so miserable? Are women competitive?
An = The taunting hurts in ways that are hard to bear.
Q Has someone ever taunted you because of a lack? When you were young?
An = How did you feel.
Note: The double portion, was a nice gesture on Elkanah's part but the taunting took even that away. She was so upset she could not even eat. Penninah had triumphed.
>>>> Re-read I Samuel 1:8.
Q What do you think of Elkanah's speech in 1:8?
An or note: = Sometimes our relationships with people and with our situation will never improve until we try to accept the good we have. We can hurt those we love and who love us, when we are hurting, if we are not accepting of the love they try to offer.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 1:9-11.
Q In her distress where did she go?
An = She went to God, but after she tried to eat, i.e. to accept her husbands token of love. It is the best place to go. This is also what is done in many other examples in the Old Testament: Ezra: 9:1-7 and Nehemiah 1:3-6.
Note: Give an example when you first fretted before you prayed, or did not pray but stayed in your fretting. (TV)
>>>> Have someone read Ezra 9:1-7.
Note: Ezra is faced with tragedy in the spiritual lives of those he loves and is responsible for. I love how he "fell on his knees with his hands spread out to the Lord, his God." He is grieved, pulled his hair, tore his clothes but finally prayed. Have everyone turn just a few pages over in the Bibles to Nehemiah 1.
>>>> Have someone read Nehemiah 1:3-6
Note: Note Nehemiah is faced with a crisis in his nation. He, at first sits down, grieves and weeps and then finally prays.
Note: Lets return to I Samuel 1:11....
Q What do you think of the vow in 1:11? Is this good, why or why not? Is this commitment or manipulation?
Note: Explain nazarite vows briefly. Explain also the giving to God, i.e. to the priest as a servant.
Q Is it good to give a kid everything without him working for it?
Q What happens to the kid that never has to make costly choices?
Q Is it healthy for us to give to God so that it costs us? If so why?
An = We grow! We decide whether we really want something (like God) if it cost us something.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 1:12-18.
Q Is the priest sensitive?
An = No! He is like many ministers and priests today. This is how life is whether we like it or not, but the Bible is a reflection of reality not "what would be ideal". It tells the truth so that we can deal with it.
Q Does she let the insensitiveness of the religious leader stop her?
An = No! Sometimes despite the leadership, people get to God. It is not right but it happens sometimes.
Q How many of struggle today because of the insensitive actions of ministers or priests in your life?
Note: Explain priestly pronouncement. Power of the spoken word. God created worlds with speech. Jesus calmed the Sea of Galilee, stopped disease, etc. with His speech. Speech can alter reality according to the Bible, especially if God backs it. Charismatics understand this sometimes better than other groups. In our own experience, wedding pronouncements: "I now pronounce you man and wife" alters reality for many people.
Q In I Samuel 1:18 did the woman believe?
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 1:19-20.
Q Did God answer?
An = Yes, and it could be of encouragement to hear this strain of teaching about prayer. It is here, later in chapter 7, all through the Psalms, in the story of Jesus in the boat, in the book of Kings, etc. The strain is simply this: when we are really desperate and hope only in God then He will hear and He will answer. It sounds so simply but is so important to learn.
Q What do you really need right now? Humbly confess your need.
Note: One of the great advantages I have had lately in my life is my actual disadvantages. My disadvantages have become my advantages. Not just in the big things but in the little things. These disadvantanges drive me to prayer. The prayer drives me to contact God in way that has never been a reality before. In the long run a relationship of trust begins to develop that never would have been except for the disadvantage I experienced that drove me to prayer.
Close in prayer.
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