I SAMUEL Lesson # 2
I Samuel 1:21-1:28
Promises and Gifts
I. Greetings: I recently had a letter and a phone call on the same day from two young but committed Christians. The one asked how one could develop and maintain health friendships in their life. The other asked how does one actually draw closer to God and let Him satisfy our deepest longing. How could one answer satisfy both questions? The answer could be in the last few verses of the opening chapter of I Samuel.
II. Keeping Our Vows and Giving Gifts.
Q Does someone know the story of Hannah, Samuel's mother? Could you briefly tell the story?
Q How important were children to women in the ancient world?
An = Children gave them their dignity and fulfillment. In Hannah's case it was what gave here social standing in her own eyes (not her husbands) and some ammunition against the taunts of Penninnah.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 1:21-23.
Q Why does Hannah not go up to worship?
An = She will only appear when she brings a gift. The most "dear" gift is, of course, her only son.
Q Had Elkanah made vows?
An = Yes, see I Samuel 1:21.
Q Did Elkanah know what she was going to do and approve of her action?
An = Strangely, yes. He was willing to give up a son, and thus the giving of the son was a joint adventure. Numbers 30 tells us that religious vows should not split families. She could not have fulfilled her vow without Elkanah's help. Sometimes religious people use religion or religious vows (above and beyond what the Lord normally asks) to the detriment of their family. It causes great resentment and does not make the Lord look to good. Sometimes we need to remember that we cannot give what is not ours. Often, people want to give the extraordinary, but not be faithful in the ordinary. Our Elkhanah's must agree.
Note: It is hard to tell how long "until she weaned him" could be. It is possible it was three to seven (probably closer to 3-4) years.
Q Are we to appear before God without an offering?
An = No, we are not to come empty handed: Exodus 23:15, 34:20 and Deuteronomy 16:16. Have three different people look these verses up and then have them read to the group.
Q Why bring a gift? What does it do for the worshipper?
An = It is obvious, when we think about it, God is not broke. He owns the cattle on a 1000 hills (Psalm 50:9-13). It is us who need to give, not God who needs our gifts. Perhaps give an example of this.
Q Must we teach our children to give gifts to us?
An = Yes, if we want them to be healthy. Those who do not learn to give will not grow to be healthy parents, healthy mates, healthy giving members of a community. We are raising a whole batch of kids both poor and rich that think the world owes them everything. It is destructive for them and for their community. "It is truly more blessed to give than to receive."
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 1:24-28.
Q Did she bring the little boy empty handed? Did she come also with a gift?
An = And quite an expensive one. It was like bringing several thousand dollars in today's reckoning. It is expensive to serve the living God.
Q If you look a the verbs and their subjects, what had the woman done according to her speech?
An = In her words: "I stood, praying (26), I prayed (27), I asked (27), and I have lent back or dedicated forever the boy (28). She prayed, she received, and now she keeps her vow and gives. Have the group count the verbs of her speech with you and list them. It begins with standing before God in His presence. We cannot begin a decent relationship with people if we do not "stand" before them.
Q What action dominates her story?
An = Her asking in prayer. Hannah has a "testimony", a story of God's action in her life. Her particular story is dominated by prayer, by her asking. All of us who want to grow closer to God might take a hint from Hannah and simply begin by truly asking for what we want.
Note: Despite the actions of the woman everything depends and centers on the Lord. This is not mere religion, but interaction with a living God. She prayed to God and God gave to her and now she gives back to God. This is not sentimental religion, but faith in a living God, a real God who can be spoken to, who can do miracles, and who is expensive to worship.
RQ Has God given you something?
Note: If we receive, then we must give...this is what Hannah teaches us. Notice her asking then leads to her receiving and then her giving. The cycle is complete. Just as a child is not healthy until it gives and a parent is not a good parent unless they are willing to receive, so with God.
Q Is her decision to give her child an emotional, impulsive one?
Q What is the proof from the text that her decision was not an immediate reaction to an emotional high?
An = She had years to reflect as her pregnancy developed and she nursed that baby in her arms. This was a deliberate decision. She both gives and keeps vows with deliberate decision.
Note: So, again, back to our two people who asked questions about relating to God and relating to people. They asked two questions: 1) how do they have a valid relationship with other human beings and 2) how does one truly develop a proper relationship with God.
Q So, how can one answer to be related to both questions. What is that answer?
An = If they cannot answer, that is OK, just tell them we will go on.
III. Conclusion:
Q How important is it to keep vows, to be bound by our pledges?
Q How important is it for men to keep their vows to their wives?
Q What happens to men or women who keep their word?
Q Do they make better friends, better mates, better parents, better assets to the community?
Q Can you be in relationship to God and not keep your vows?
RQ Have you vowed to God? Then keep your vows, even if it cost you your happiness. Your true happiness will be just around the corner!
An = We cannot please God or grow close to Him, after He has blessed us if we do not keep our vows. It cannot be a one-way street. No healthy relationship is. To be committed is costly. It could cost us our perception of what it means to be happy (with Hannah it was the possession of a child).
Q Does God look bad in demanding of us that we give Him gifts?
Q What would you think of the parent who demanded gifts of their children?
An = In subtle ways this must be done. We must teach our children to give and they must be shown the way of keeping their vows, their word or they will grow up to be worthless people both to themselves and to their communities.
Note: God kept His vows, His covenant, so we must be like Him to be godly. To be godly is to be "like God" and He keep His vows.
Note: We cannot get to God with vows. He must act first (in Hannah's case it was in answer to her prayers.) The Order, according to I Samuel 1 is:
Prayer: while in need (perhaps while in grief or sadness).
Reception of God's grace or miracle.
Keep Our Vows
Bring a Gift
Sing: in the state of commitment and in Hannah's case in joy.
Q Why bring a gift to God with the boy?
An = 1) At the heart of our relationship to God there should be giving. We cannot approach Him empty handed. 2) He is a giver, so we should become like Him.
>>>> Turn to I Samuel 2:21 and have someone read this verse.
Q What does this mean?
An = You cannot out-give God.
Q How many of you know people who so desperately want friends that they are like leaches when they enter a room?
Q Are these people pleasant to be around? Why?
Note: Ever notice that certain people are a joy to see walk into a room? It is often because they are givers. I have heard countless people say, I do not give to others or care about others in a social situation because no one cares about me. It has to start some where. So if they give they will slowly begin to reshape their personality and therefore their relationships to others and they, most importantly, will be pleasing God.
Note: God wants us to have good and healthy friendship with others and to do so we must be give to others and be keeper of our promises. Do those two things and you will not only develop your friendships but also your relationship to God.
Note: One last thought. So people give so as to control. Notice our Lord asking us to give and His gracious acceptance of our gifts. It takes grace to receive gifts from those around us and if we do not learn to accept we will be inadequate people. To be godly is to receive gifts as well. Notice the graciousness of God who risks looking bad by demanding gifts, but by doing so opens the door to our health.
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