Invite you to take a Bible and go to the book of 1st Samuel. The book of 1st Samuel, chapter 1. Having made our way through the books of Joshua, Judges and Ruth, we now come to this one. It's part of a larger work because 1st and 2nd Samuel are technically one book. When the book of Samuel was translated into Greek called the Septuagint, it was so large that it was divided. with 1 Samuel primarily focusing on the ministry of Saul or the ministry of Samuel through Saul's reign, and then 2 Samuel directed primarily to David's kingship. We, however, start in 1 Samuel 1, starting in verse 1. Before we read it, let me pray for us. Oh, blessed God, we bless you for the scriptures. We bless you for the Bible. We thank you that it is food for our souls and we pray that we would feast much upon it. Oh, God, we pray that the scriptures would be nourishment for our souls. We pray that we might benefit much from it, even tonight. And we ask it in Jesus name. Amen. Starting in verse one, remember, this is God's word to us. There was a certain man of Ramathayim, Zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuth, an Ephrathite. He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah and the name of the other, Peninah. And Peninah had children, but Hannah had no children. Now, this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of Hosts at Shiloh. Where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah, his wife, and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah, he gave a double portion because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her because the Lord had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore, Hannah wept and would not eat. And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than 10 sons? After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now, Eli, the priest, was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. He was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, Then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life and no razor shall touch his head. As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth and it was speaking in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore, Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, how long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you. But Hannah answered, No, my Lord, I am a woman troubled in spirits. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation. Then Eli answered, Go in peace. The God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him. And she said, Let your servant find favor in your eyes. And the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord. Then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah, his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time, Hannah conceived and bore a son. And she called his name Samuel, for he said, Or for she said, I have asked for him from the Lord. The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up for she said to her husband, as soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever. Elkanah, her husband, said to her, do what seems best to you. Wait until you have weaned him. Only may the Lord establish his word. So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her along with her three year along with a three year old bull and a flower and a skin of wine. And she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, Oh, my Lord, as you live, my Lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence praying to the Lord. For this child, I prayed and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore, I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he has lent to the Lord. And he worshiped the Lord there. We praise God for the scriptures and we ask his blessing upon it. From verse one. of this book, we see the mention of a man named Elkanah. We don't know much about him. He was from this place that's really hard to pronounce. Aren't you thankful that you are not from Ramathayim, Zophim? It's a mouthful. The exact location of it is uncertain, but the area was a part of the tribe of Ephraim. It appears that he was a man of social standing. The multiple generations outlined in verse one lead us to that conclusion. And the man had to have some means, some financial means. He had two wives. It would have been expensive to care for such a large family. But the truth is, 1 Samuel does not actually begin with Elkanah. No question, he is the first name mentioned in this book. But there is another who stands behind Elkanah. Who is it? How about Hannah? She is most often cited or Penina. She is the antagonist in chapter one. Maybe Eli, he's the priest at the tabernacle. Perhaps Samuel, his birth is spoken of here. And the book bears his name. It is none of them. This book begins with God. He inspired it. He is at work throughout it. He is at the center of 1 Samuel. And it is important to remember that as we look at our texts. Because it is filled with trying times and temporal blessings. And when we experience these things, both the bad and the good, it is easy to get distracted from God and to focus on ourselves. 1 Samuel 1 will help us regarding that. It will help us to not be distracted, to remember that Life is to be focused on God. It begins with him. This chapter tells us three things about God. First, God's providence. And understanding God's providence is essential, especially when dealing with hard providence, like what we see here in this text. Verse two tells us Elkanah had two wives. His first wife was Hannah, his second Penina. She was probably a bit younger than Hannah. And having two wives was hard. We can joke around about how having one wife is tough enough, two would be worse. And ladies, if the shoe was on the other foot, you would say the exact same thing. Laughingly, you would say, one husband is trouble, two is unbearable. Let's put all the joking aside for a moment. Did these two ladies live under the same roof? Did they eat meals together? Did they share the same clothes? Bathroom space. And bed. This was a mess. And yet we learn here also that Elkanah was a religious man. He appeared to be committed to observing worship. Remember, this was towards the end of the book of Judges, the days of Judges. Israel was quite immoral during that time period. Elkanah was more devoted than the average person. He went to offer sacrifices to God. But we find out very fast that he had compromised. The early chapters of Genesis made it clear, one spouse till death do you part. Ocana had two wives. It was difficult. That's what sin does. Eventually. It makes life harder. Hannah experienced that. Her life was already hard. Peninus presence made it worse. Especially because, verse 2, Penina had many children. It was as if she gave birth every year or two. But Hannah was barren. In a culture where one's identity as a woman was bound up with producing offspring, imagine the guilt and the shame Hannah must have felt. She could provide no heir for her husband. So he found another woman. Feel the sting of that. But clearly, Elkanah cared for her. Verses 3 through 5, every year when Elkanah and the family traveled to Shiloh to sacrifice, they had a special meal together. And he would give the appropriate portions to Peninah and the kids. But he would double it for Hannah. Because, verse 5, he loved her. Hannah's affliction was awful. He felt bad for her. But her barrenness was not some accident of nature. Verse 5 goes on to say it was from the Lord. God brought this to pass. Why? We do not know. But her womb had been sovereignly closed. It was hard providence. Sometimes. God does not tell us. Why? Some of you ladies. You might know what it is like. To not have children. Desiring kids, you've had none. Or maybe you experienced that it was hard to conceive. You wondered if you ever would. Maybe some of you ladies know exactly what Hannah felt like. It brought her low. Her matters were made worse by Penina, especially on the annual trips to Shiloh. Because she would shame Hannah for her barrenness. Verse 6. Her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her because the Lord had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. You can imagine how it might have happened. With both Hannah and Penina walking to Shiloh. A child asks. Mommy, why does Miss Hannah not have any children? That's a good question, dear. She wants children, don't you, Miss Hannah? But God has chosen not to give her any. Why, Mommy? Sweetie, you should ask her. She probably did something wrong. What was it, Hannah? Every year, Hannah struggled on this annual trip to the tabernacle. It reminded her of how God had chosen not to give her kids. Sometimes hard providence can make it hard to come to worship. And yet we see here that Hannah came. Though throughout her time, verse 7, Hannah wept and would not eat. And this one particular time, her husband did not help. Spouses can do that, you know. They can see the other struggling. And make things worse by being insensitive. Elkanah said, look at verse 8. Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons? What a blockhead. God was the wrong response. He was not living with his wife in an understanding way. He was thoughtless. He made her sorrow about him. Husbands, do not imitate Okana. What did Hannah do with her providence that was hard? Did she lash out at Penina, you know, let her have it? Was she bitter towards God? Did she stay away from God? The truth is, in hard providence, Hannah went to church. Look at verse 9. After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now, Eli, the priest, was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. During this time, the tabernacle was in Shiloh. It seems some semi-permanent structures were put in place so that it resembled a temple of sorts. Hence the identification at the end of verse 9 about the temple of the Lord. Eli was there. He was the main priest. Literally, verse 9 says, he was sitting on his throne. That's how Eli viewed his position as a ruler, not a servant. More on Eli in the weeks to come. But when Hannah arrived, verse 10, she was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. Her heart was flooded with anguish. Sorrow was crushing the life out of her. Tears poured down her cheeks. And in her heart, she cried out to God. She had nowhere to go. Ponder it. Hannah was barren. What could she do about that? She was in a polygamous marriage. How could she change that? It would be extremely difficult. Hannah felt trapped. What did she do? In hard providence, she bore her soul to God. Where are you today? Are you facing hard providence? And can't change your circumstances. If not now. You will be. We all will be in that situation one day. Facing hard providence. We must remember, as Heidelberg Catechism number 27 says. leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty. All things come to us, not by chance, but from God's fatherly hand. Without violating the human will, God mysteriously preserves and governs every creature and every action According to his good purposes. God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable minds of never failing skill, he treasures up his bright designs and works his sovereign will. He is the God of Providence. Thomas Watson. He is like a pilot steering the ship of the whole of creation. And sometimes he steers it into rough waters. He leads us into suffering. How do we react? Bitterness. Anger. Fear. Despondency. Pulling away from God. Perhaps we can let Hannah help us. To teach us that in distress. We cry out to the God of providence. Bear your soul to him. Weep before him. Because he is not only the God of providence who unfolds his gracious plan. For the benefit of his people. But he is also the God who entered providence. Swaddling cloths. A manger. A crown of thorns. And nail marks in his hands are evidence of that. From birth to death. The incarnate God knew hard providence. Out of love, Christ submitted himself to it. And that means you can shed your tears upon his compassionate shoulder. You can give him all your burdens. Because Jesus is loving enough and strong enough to carry them. He is. The God of Providence. But in our text, how did providence unfold? What else does it reveal to us about God's character? We see God's providence. But also God's power. Hannah was broken over her circumstances. We're weighing on her. She wept bitterly before the Lord. And she vowed an unbelievable vow. Look at verse 11. Oh, Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life and no razor shall touch his head. That was her prayer. Please, Lord, give me a child. And you can feel her desperation. That was her promise. And I will give him back to you as a Nazarite for life. You can sense her genuineness. Come back to her vow in a minute. Explore the unbelievable nature of it. But did you notice what she called God? Verse 11. The Lord of hosts, Yahweh Sabot. And this chapter is the first time this divine name is used in the Bible, we see it on more than one occasion here. And calling out to God in this way, Hannah was remembering Yahweh's universal rule and his sovereign power. This name for God communicates how everything in this world, creation, both storm and sea and armies, earthly and cosmic, are at God's disposal. He is the God of armies. Every resource is at his command. There is no one and nothing greater than God. Hannah believes. The God was so mighty he could reach into her womb and give her a son. He had done that with Abraham's wife, Sarah. Isaac's Rebecca, Jacob's Rachel and Samson's mama. And many years later, in a greater way, he would do that with Mary. And so with intensity. Hannah begged, Lord, you can do that for me. Please work. She knew God was powerful. What about us? Ephesians 3.20. Do we believe God is able to do more than we ask or think? Why would we? He created the heavens. There are over 200 billion galaxies with zillions of stars in each. And it was no sweat off God's brow to create them. And he created us. There are at least 30 trillion cells in the human body and God made each and God sustains each. He is clearly Powerful. He is so powerful that he took flesh to himself. Without ceasing to be himself. He sustained all life. While depending upon Mary for life. He held the universe in his hands. While as an infant being held in Mary's arms. He was the suffering servant and the Lord of Glory. In Christ, he breathed his last on the cross. While giving breath to those who crucified him. God is mighty. No storm. No empire. No devil, no cross, no sin, no death, no power in this world. Nothing is mightier than God. Oh, but it is easy. For our circumstances to sway us away from this truth. We think. There's no way that person can become a believer. There's no way that marriage can be restored. There's no way things can get better in that relationship with a parent or child. There's no way that church can keep its doors open. There's no way that hardship can be endured with joy for years to come. We doubt God's power. You probably remember the story in Mark's gospel about the demon possessed boy. The father of the child did not doubt Jesus's desire to heal his son. He doubted Christ's ability. He said, Jesus. If you can do anything. Help us. Do you remember how Christ responded? If. If you can. All things are possible with God. The dad replied with words that may need to come from our lips. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Anna believed God was powerful. That's why she prayed. That is one impact of believing God is powerful. It should make us more prayerful. The person who believes God is mighty will make much of prayer. He will sweat in prayer. She will labor in prayer. Because that person knows who stands behind prayer is the powerful God who works through prayer. Maybe our prayer needs to be, Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. Knowing God's power should make us more confident and regular in prayer. But there is another impact of believing God is powerful that we find in this text. About comfort. And a new comfort. Though the priest Eli did not recognize what she was doing in prayer. Verses 13 and 14. He thought she was drunk because her lips moved but there was no sound coming out of her mouth. He essentially said, you are in church. How dare you come in here tipsy? Put away your wine. Some people do not recognize when a heart is being poured out to God. They do not know what it looks like. Because they have never done it. Or at best, seldomly. That was Eli. But Hannah told him the truth. That she was filled with distress over her situation, she was pleading with God. Sadly, Eli didn't ask her about the nature of her request before the Lord. Maybe he was in a hurry, distracted, indifferent, tired, we don't know. But he didn't ask her. He simply said, go in peace. May God grant your petition that you have made. But as we read this text, did you catch how Hannah's disposition changed after she prayed? Verse 18, Then the woman went away and ate and her face was no longer sad. Earlier, Hannah was so distressed she couldn't eat. Some of you have been there. You know what it is like to be burdened to the point you want no food. That was Hannah. But after prayer, she changed. And it wasn't simply the praying that did it. It was the God to whom she prayed. God's power to do the impossible gave her comforts. And it wasn't because her request had been answered, it hadn't. Hannah's face was no longer sad because her face was fixed on the mighty God. Hannah teaches us once more. Comfort comes not from the world. Not when everything is easy, not when life is comfortable. Lasting comfort comes not even when we get what we want in prayer. Comfort comes as we set our sights on the God who is powerful. When we entrust ourselves into the word made flesh. Comfort comes in Christ. Who went from a cradle to a cross, that's power. I realize fear, depression, anxiety and distress are complicated. Sometimes there is no easy solution to these things, this side of heaven. But surely we can know some comfort as we meditate on how God is able God is willing. Doubt no more. How do we know that God is able? And God is willing. Infant lowly, infant holy, for a bed, a cattle stall. Oxen lowing, little knowing, Christ the babe is Lord of all. Comfort is found in the mighty God. The incarnate God. The savior whose grace is sufficient for today's and tomorrow's troubles. We see God's providence. God's power. Finally, God's provision. What did God do for Hannah? Look at verse 19. The Lord remembered her. You see those words? They're beautiful words. He is the God of the universe. Every molecule he personally upholds. He is the king of heaven and earth. Every creature, both great and small, he governs. But still, he remembered Hannah. He remembers you. He remembers you in your distress. The wound on Christ's side is proof of that. And he asks for your good. What did he do for Hannah? Verse 20, In due time, Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel. Do you see God's provision? He graciously gifted her the child she asked for. Jesus said. You have not because you ask not. We have a benevolent God. The giver of every good and perfect gift. And he is so giving that he gave himself out of love, the father gave his son for us. With affection, Jesus gave his life up for us. So you can pray large prayers. Because God loves to answer prayer. How did Hannah respond to God's provision? She kept her word. She pleaded for a son and pledged to give him in service to God. She promised when Samuel was weaned, maybe three or four years old, she would take him to the tabernacle and leave him there to serve the Lord. Whether you are a mama or not. I am sure you feel the difficulty of doing this. Samuel was Hannah's only child. She waited for him for years. She made an unbelievable vow. And she showed unbelievable obedience. She gave him back to God. In fact, she put Samuel into the hands of Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. And Eli, as we'll see, was not the best of mentors. And the two boys were later identified as worthless. Not the hands that you would typically like to leave your son in. But Hannah understood something important. The good gifts God gives, we give back to him. The good gifts God gives, we give back to him. We entrust them into his hands. Parents, that's your kids. God gave them to you to steward and you only have them for so long. Steward them well. Pour Christ into them. Fill their minds with scripture. Model the faith to them. Labor in prayer with them and for them. And moms and dads, you can do that with older children who are adults and you can do that with younger kids. The 19th century Presbyterian missionary, John Patton, tells a story of how every day his dad knelt in family worship and prayed for the lost and the needs of the community with tears rolling down his cheeks. John Patton's dad was not a man of great social standing. He was a humble tradesman. but he was a man of eminent faith in God. When Patton left home for theological training, his father walked with him for the first six miles. There was counsel given, tears shed, and prayers uttered by his father. His dad's last words were, God bless you, my son, Your father's God prosper you and keep you from all evil. With those words, Patton could barely keep it together. As his dad left, he ran behind a tree and wept. Years later, he said. Of that moment. I watched through blinding tears till my dad's form faded from my gaze, and then I vowed deeply and oft by the help of God to live and act as so never to grieve or dishonor such a father and mother as God had given me. Patton's father was given a child. And he gave his child back to God. He emptied himself in service of God to his son. And then he laid him in God's grip. For God's good purposes. Parents. Of young children. And adult children. Make that your pursuit with your kids. Put everything in your hands, including your children and extend it to God. And say, Lord, they are yours. Work in their lives. In truth, let that be all of us. That we extend our very lives to God. That we give back to him. What he has given to us. Jesus secured our life. By giving up his life. Let us give our lives back to him in faithful service. Say with George Matheson. Oh, love that will not let me go. I rest my weary soul in thee. I give thee back the life I owe. How do we do that? Well, our last hymn will help us. As it calls us to adore Christ. Adoring the one who came for us and saved us will enable us to live this one life that we have. All for Christ. The more we adore Christ, the more we will want to give our lives away to Christ. Again, the more we adore Christ, the more we will want to give our lives away to Christ. Let's pray. Father in heaven, we praise you that yours is a love that will not let us go. You are the God of providence and you have proven your affection for us in time and space and that you sent your son to live a perfect life, die sacrificially in our place and to rise victoriously to give us life both now and in the world to come. We pray then that we might trust you amidst the hard providences we face, that we might remember that you are the mighty God and you have proven it in your son. That you are the God who provides. You have given us Christ. How will you not also with him give us all things that we need both now and for the days to come? Help us then, oh God, we pray in Jesus name. Amen. Let's take a hymnal and go to number 200.