O Lord Almighty
1 Samuel 1:1-20
Key Verse 1:11
“And she made a vow, saying, "O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."
From today we will study 1 Samuel. 1 Samuel deals with the story of 4 people, Eli, Samuel, Saul, and David. Eli and Samuel were the last two judges of Israel and Saul and David were the first two kings of Israel. So the book of Samuel deals with transitional period from judges to kings. 1 Samuel teaches us the importance of ‘obedience’. The first king Saul was rejected by the Lord because of his disobedience. But king David was highly honored by the Lord because of his obedience. Messiah, Jesus Christ, was therefore called as ‘the Son of David’, and David was indeed a shadow of Jesus Christ.
Now today passage talks about the birth of Samuel. So today’s title can be ‘Samuel’s birth’. When we talk about Samuel we cannot miss the story of his mother, Hannah. When we look at the Hannah’s story we have one question. How did the Lord give such hardship to Hannah? Because the Lord had closed her womb. And she really had a hard time. In life, we also have troubles, deep troubles, troubles that can bring great agony and grief, troubles that we cannot solve with our strength at all. Why does the Lord give us such deep trouble? This is the key question we want to think about it, and today’s passage answers it.
Because the Lord had closed her womb (v.1-8)
Let’s read verses 1 and 2.
1 Samuel 1:1-2
“There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. [2] He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.”
The story starts with a certain man. He was just one man before story starts. And his name was Elkanah. He lived in the territory of Ephraim and so he was called Ephramite. But if you look at the names of his fathers he is a Levite. He belonged to a Levite tribe. And he had two wives. One was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children but Hannah had none. So there was possibility that he got a second wife because Hannah had no children. The Bible never approves polygamy, but people did it anyhow. Everyone in the Bible who have more wives than one wife has big troubles. Believe me, you can check it out in the Bible. But there is no exceptions.
Let’s read verses 3-5.
“Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord. [4] Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. [5] But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.”
Verse 3 shows something good about this man. The time he lived was the times of Judges. If you read the book of Judges you find very repeated pattern. This is the pattern. The Israelites worshipped idols. The Israelites came out of Egypt as a nation and they conquered the promised land under the leadership of Joshua. But after the death of Joshua people began to worship idols although they did not conquer the promised land to the full and although they were surrounded by hostile nations. So when they worship idols these hostile nations invaded the Israel and gave them hard time. When they could not bear suffering anymore they cried out to the Lord. And the Lord sent one judge who saved the Israel. Then they did well for a while and then they went back to their sin. And the pattern repeats. The only difference is the names of judges. So the book of Judges describes the spiritual condition of that times as ‘there was no king. Therefore everyone did as he saw fit.” It was spiritual dark times. So most people did not honor the Lord. They did not go to worship and sacrifice to the Lord. But this man, Elkanah, although he got two wives, were faithful to the Lord. He was obedient man. Year after year this man went out of his town, Ramah, to worship and sacrifice to the Lord at Shiloh, about 20 miles away with all his family members, not missing even one year. In Shiloh there was the ark of God, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests of the Lord. As you see later this Hophni and Phinehas were evil men, evil priests. But nothing hindered this man from worshiping and sacrificing to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh. There is a great merit on this man. When almost all the people did not go and sacrifice to the Lord this man, one obedient man, was like a prime light in the sight of God.
Now whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice he would give portions of the meat to his wife and children. It was probably peace offering and they were supposed to eat together in front of the Lord and rejoice together. But when he gave portions of the meat to Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters he just gave regular portion. But to Hannah, he gave a double portion. And she was just one person. Because he loved her and the Lord had closed her womb. He did not hide his love before the eyes of Peninnah. And we hear ‘the Lord had closed her womb.’
Let’s read verses 6-8 to see what had happened.
“And because the Lord had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. [7] This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. [8] Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"
“Because the Lord had closed her womb”. It is a very specific sentence. In the Bible about 7 women are barren, but none of them had such a specific sentence ‘because the Lord had closed her womb.’ They say they are just barren. But in Hannah’s case, the Bible specifically says, “Hannah was barren because the Lord had closed her womb.”
Elkanah kept provoking her knowing that the Lord had closed her womb, knowing that Hannah could not do anything to solve her problem. Peninnah was ruled by jealousy. When she saw her husband giving a double portion to Hannah she could not control her jealousy. And she became a monster. She could have been very compassionate on Hannah, saying, “Hannah, don’t lose your heart!”. But year after year. Her husband was faithful to serve the Lord year after year. But she was faithful to torture Hannah year after year. She kept torturing Hannah to irritate her. Hannah was already irritated. But she kept torturing her, and this went on year after year. How much did she provoke Hannah? Until Hannah wept and would not eat. The double portion of the meat which her husband gave her did not do any good to Hannah because she could not eat. Peninnah stopper provoking her only after seeing that Hannah could not eat that meat! Jealousy is a terrible sin of man. If you read the bible the first sin committed by Adam and Eve was to take the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The second sin recorded in the Bible is committed by Cain, killing his own brother because of jealousy. When Peninnah was ruled by jealousy she became a devil’s instrument. Her husband could not help her much. Her husband would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping?” Doesn’t he know why she is weeping? He asked “Why don’t you eat” as if he did not know why she was not eating. “Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than 10 sons?” “Not really!” Husband and husband and children is children.
Now why did the Lord close Hannah’s womb which brought such deep agony and trouble on Hannah? The Lord could keep Peninnah from mocking Hannah. But obviously the Lord allowed Peninnah to provoke Hannah year after year too. So why did the Lord give such a hard time to Hannah?
II. O LORD Almighty (v.9-20)
Now look at verses 9-11.
1 Samuel 1:9-11
Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord's temple. [10] In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord. [11] And she made a vow, saying, "O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."
One day Hannah could not bear the pain anymore. So once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shilo she stood up. It shows some kind of decision she made. In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much. Her soul was bitter because the Lord had closed her womb, and the Lord allowed Peninnah to keep provoking her. Verse 10 could be written in this way, “In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and finally fought with Peninnah.” Seriously. But it says, “In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord.” She made a vow. Vow is a special kind of prayer. Vow is very binding prayer, saying “O LORD Almighty”. Her first word is ‘O LORD Almighty.” She believed that the Lord is almighty and therefore nothing is impossible with him. She believed that the Lord is able to take care of her problem. She said, “If you will only look upon your servant’s misery.” Why do you think she said, “If you will only look upon your servant’s misery”? Especially the word ‘only’. She said this because she felt that the Lord never looked upon her misery even once. If the Lord looked upon her misery even once the Lord would do something for her. This is probably how she felt. “And remember me and not forget your servant.” If you look at the meaning, ‘remember’ and ‘not forget’ have the same meaning. But she said “remember” and ‘not forget’ twice. Why? She felt that the Lord forgot about her. The Lord did not care about her. Even though she prayed she was afraid that the Lord would forget about her again. So she said, “Remember me” and “not forget your servant”. “But give her a son.” I have a question for you. What do you think about Hannah’s prayer. Do you think Hannah prayed before today’s prayer in usual times? Probably. What about her prayer to ask the Lord to give her a son? What do you think? Do you think? Do you think she prayed in the past before she made a vow to ask the Lord to give her a son? I don’t know. But my guess is she did not. This could be the first time for Hannah to ask the Lord to give her a son. Because she wept much and because she was so bitter in her soul. Because the Lord had closed her womb and she knew that. The old testament bible is very clear. If Lord blesses a woman he blesses the womb of the woman, meaning she will produce many children. So obviously it was very clear even according to the Scriptures she was not blessed by the Lord. And people understood barreness as God’s punishment or even curse at that time. That is why Peninnah kept provoking her.
But why did Hannah offer her prayer to the Lord to give her a son this time? Why did she so? Because she could not bear her pain anymore. When she could not bear pain anymore she just had to pour out everything to the Lord.
“But give her a son and then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life and no razor will ever be used on his head.” “No razor will ever be used on his head” is called “Nazirite vow.” If a man wants to devote himself to the Lord he would make this vow and he would not drink any fermented drink like wine and then his hair should not be cut off. In the bible Samson was a Nazirite. That’s why his strength left when his hair was cut off. So when Hannah said, “No razor will ever be used on his head” he will be devoted to the Lord all the days of his life. So before Samuel was born he was already given to the Lord. Missionary Paul Lim told me a story. Missionary Paul Lim’s father is a devout believer. So even before missionary Paul Lim was born his father offered him to the Lord without agreement from missionary Paul Lim. Then as you see missionary Paul Lim he is here as a missionary sacrificing his career as a radiologist. Usually radiologist earn half a million dollar a year. I don’t know how much he earns though.
In the same way Samuel was offered to the Lord before he was born by his mother.
Let’s read verses 12-16.
“As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. [13] Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk [14] and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine." [15] "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. [16] Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief."
Hannah kept on praying. Hannah did not pray once and stopped. She kept on praying, and she was praying in her and it was silent prayer. Her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. When I read this sentence in verse 13a, “Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard” I felt that she was praying uncontrollably. What I mean is ‘she was praying but she was not aware of what her body or lips or voice were doing.’ She was deep in prayer. And according to her expression she was pouring out her soul to the Lord. To pray deeply with the Lord does not necessarily mean we should shout or pray aloud. It could be silent. And also according to Hannah she was in great anguish and grief.
Eli realized that he made a mistake. So he said, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him." Can you read
Eli thought Hannah was drinking when Hannah kept on praying. Hannah did not pray once and stopped. So she kept on praying. She was praying in her heart and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. It shows her intensive prayer. She was almost un-controllable. She might not know what she was doing. Intensive prayer does not mean to pray loudly and crying out. She prayed intensely but it was silent prayer. Eli thought she was drunk and asked her to stop drinking. But Hannah said "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. [16] Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.". Hannah’s prayer was the prayer of pouring out her soul. She was the woman of deeply trouble and she prayed in great anguish and grief. Usually when I am in deep trouble or in great aguish and grief I go and eat and sleep. But she prayed.
Then Eli blessed her to have peace and he prayed that the God of Israel might answer her prayer. Can you read verse 18 for me? “She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.”
Here ‘May your servant find favor in your eyes’ means “I want to find favor in your eyes.” Although Eli was not that spiritual man as we see later and he misunderstood her her response was meek as if her response for Peninnah was meek. She really honored Eli as the Lord’s servant. Then she went on her way and ate something which she did not do in the past. And her face was no longer downcast. So physically nothing happened. But something must have happened in her heart. Prayer always changes something. I say again, prayer always changes something, outside or inside because it is the fellowship with Lord. Even selfish prayer always changes something.
Let’s read verses 19 and 20. I will go first.
1 Samuel 1:19-20
“Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. [20] So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the Lord for him."
So ‘in the course of time’ Hannah conceived. Hannah was not pregnant immediately. “In the course of time”, in God’s time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. And she named him, ‘Samuel’. So ‘Samuel’ means ‘asked the Lord’ or ‘heard of him.’ This is how Samuel was born.
Now why did the Lord give Hannah such deep trouble? Why does the Lord give us such agony in life? Why? Do you have by now? Why did he give deep trouble in life? Something that we cannot fix with our own strength. Something that brings such an agony and grief. Why? Because he wants us to pray. He wants us to pray. That’s all thing.
We cannot fix the problem. But the problem gives us such an agony and grief and trouble and we cannot bear the pain anymore. Then what should we do? We should pray.
Why does the Lord want us to pray? The Bible reveals that the Lord wants us to pray because the Lord wants to use our prayer to accomplish his purpose and will. The Lord can accomplish his purpose and will without our prayer. He is the Lord Almighty. That is very true. But he chooses to use our prayer for his purpose and will, to accomplish his purpose and will. So when we pray it is important for us to have in mind the purpose and will of the Lord. When Hannah offered Samuel to the Lord she was thinking about the Lord’s purpose and will. That was why she was offering Samuel to the Lord.
When Samuel was born the whole nation Israel was spiritually at the bottom status. But Samuel revived the whole nation and he saved his own country from Philistines. He was one man army. He anointed king Saul and David and laid the foundation of the kingdom of Israel, kingdom of David. And to Saul and David he was voice of God. When Hannah offered to Samuel she did not know such a great purpose and blessing was upon Samuel. It was beyond the blessing of her imagination.
When we pray with the Lord’s purpose in mind the Lord can use our prayer to fulfill his purpose and will which will be a great blessing beyond our imagination. The purpose and the Lord’s will is to save all peoples on earth through Jesus Christ.
This is also what our Lord Jesus Christ taught us. When he taught us about prayer he said, “"This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, [10] your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Mt 6:9-10)
In his prayer on the Mount of Gethsemane before he was crucified he also prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22:42)
The Lord wants us to pray. Because the Lord uses our prayer to fulfill his great purpose and will. There was one missionary from America to Korea. I happened to read his prayer offered 100 years ago for Korean people. If you don’t mind I want to read together paragraph by paragraph. His name is Horace Grant Underwood. This is his prayer. I will go first. 100 year ago Korea, I know more than you know about 100 years of Korea.
“Lord, nothing is visible at this moment.
Lord, you have planted us on this barren and poor land, where not even a single tree can grow tall enough.
It is such a miracle that we could come to this land across the wide Pacific Ocean. Nothing is visible, though, in this land on which we seem to have been dropped off by your hand.
Only stubbornly stained darkness can be seen.
Only Korean people chained with poverty and superstition can be seen.
They don't even know why they are chained, what suffering is.
They just distrust us and express anger to us as we tell them how to take away their suffering, which is not suffering to them.
The thoughts of Korean men are not visible.
The mind of this government is not visible.
We are afraid that we may not have any more opportunity to see the women commuting on Kamas(-a cart carried by men).
And we do not see what to do.
Yet, Lord! We will obey.
We believe that you begin your work as we humbly obey,
And that the day will come when our spiritual eyes will see your work,
According to your Words, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see..."
We believe that we will see the future of the faith of Korea.
Although we are as if standing on a desert with bare hands,
Although we are condemned to be Western devils,
We believe that the day will come when they will rejoice with tears realizing that they are one with our spirit in Christ, and that we all have one Kingdom and one Father in Heaven.
Although there is no church to worship you, no school to study,
Although this land is filled with doubt of suspicion, contempt, and disdain,
We believe that in the near future this land will become a land of blessing.”
Missionary Underwood was born in 1859 and passed away in 1916 living 56 years old probably because he was exhausted from his missionary work in Korea. According to his prayer Korea became a land of blessing and Korean people are blessed, having the same hope same kingdom of God. All Korean missionaries here are debtors of his prayer offered 100 years ago. The Lord does not need to use our prayer because he is almighty Lord. But he chooses to use our prayer to accomplish his great purpose and will which is to save all peoples on earth through Jesus Christ.
Do you have deep trouble? Do you have something that is beyond your agony? This is very sign that the Lord wants you to pray. But when you pray please remember to pray with the purpose and will of the Lord in mind.
When Hannah prayed for a son with the Lord’s purpose and will in mind, offering her son to the Lord, the blessings given to him and her was beyond imagination.
In conclusion, the Key question: why did the Lord give us deep trouble?
Answer: Because the Lord wants us to pray. Why does the Lord want us to pray? 1) Because the Lord uses our prayer to accomplish his great purpose and will. 2) Prayer always changes something.
One word: O LORD Almighty
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