1 Sam 1:15-28

Hannah is barren; she represents Israel. Eli represents the high priests of Israel, with a bad eye, spiritually blind. He's a wicked father who has put his wicked sons in charge of the temple.

Hannah is godly, but a woman of great anxiety... anxiety is a given in this world; everyone experiences it and it's not necessarily a sign of weak faith!

When Eli tells her, "may God grant your prayer," she believes in the weight behind his words not because of who he is but because she respects his office. She was no longer sad, went home with her husband and had sex, and God remembered her: he acted on her behalf, and she conceived and bore a son, Samuel. She named him this because she asked the Lord for him.

Israel kept asking for a new "son" made in their own image, one of which turned out to be Saul.

Hannah's prayer... children are a blessing from God, and Lord willing, they'll one day bless God's people. Samuel was a gift from God to his country! We must keep these things in mind when considering issues such as abortion. Every child brought into the world has a place, a purpose, and God has a plan for them.

Hannah chooses not to bring the baby Samuel to the temple at Shiloh for the yearly sacrifice. Is she in sin? No, as Samuel is still a nursing baby, of no use to Eli. She'll bring him as soon as he's weaned. God gave a child to Hannah, and she's giving him back to God; so should we! We raise them to walk in the way, and be a blessing to the church.

When Samuel was weaned, she brought her best sacrifice, and took him to the temple as she'd promised.

Samuel was a gift to Israel, but also to his mother. And with his nazirite vow, he's going to serve God his whole life.

Hannah's promise... it's wrong to try to manipulate God in prayer, but it's fine to tell him what you'll do if his answer to your prayer is a yes. Hannah promised, and she delivered.

The story of Israel's monarch doesn't begin with Saul, but with a barren woman longing for a better future. Similar to Mary in the New Testament, or Zechariah and Elizabeth. God delights in starting big things through humble people! When we think, "Who am I to do anything great for the Lord," we're in good company.

Psalm 8:3-9 - who is man that God is mindful of him? Yet he puts even the humblest among us in an honored place in his creation!