I Samuel (5)

 

Hannah’s Prayer

I Samuel 2:1-10

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline the section:

 

i.                    EXPRESSION OF JOY (I Samuel 2:1)

ii.                  EXALTATION OF GOD (I Samuel 2:2)

iii.                EXHORTATION TO THE PROUD (I Samuel 2:3)

iv.                EXCHANGES OF FORTUNE (I Samuel 2:4-5)

v.                  EXECUTIONS OF GOD (I Samuel 2:6-8)

vi.                EXPECTATIONS OF THE SAINTS (I Samuel 2:9-10)

 

2.      Hannah offers a prayer to God in this section (I Sam. 2:1-10).  What kind of prayer is it?

 

It seems to be a prayer of praise unto God.  She speaks much about God’s great power and ability.  She seems to rejoice in that He has brought her victory over her enemies.

 

A.    “Talk no more so exceeding proudly” (v. 3)

B.      “…the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble” (v. 5)

C.     “…the wicked shall be silent in darkness” (v. 9)

D.    “The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces” (v. 10)

 

These words are also prophetic in nature as well.  Clarke said that this section of Scripture is an
“oracular declaration.”

 

3.      What four phrases does Hannah use to describe herself? (I Sam. 2:1)

 

And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord:  my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

 

A.    My heart rejoiceth

 

B.      My horn is exalted

1.      The horn was a symbol of strength

2.      It referred to the ox horn that had the power of the ox behind it.

3.      She states:  “My power is great in the Lord.”

 

C.     My mouth is enlarged

1.      In times past, she had been the victim of another’s evil mouth (I Sam. 1:6-7).

2.      Through the Lord’s intervention on her behalf, her mouth was now enlarged over her enemy. 

 

D.    I rejoice in thy salvation

 

4.      What three descriptions does Hannah apply to God? (I Sam. 2:2)

 

There is none holy as the Lord:  for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

 

A.    There is none holy as the Lord

 

B.      There is none beside thee

 

C.     There is no rock like God

 

5.      Define:  holy (I Sam. 2:2)

 

A.    Strong (6918):  sacred

 

B.      BDB:  sacred, holy, set apart

 

C.     Revelation 15:4

 

Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?  for thou only art holy:  for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

 

6.      What does Hannah mean when she refers to God as a “rock”? (I Sam. 2:2)

 

A.    The word “rock” means a cliff, that is, a large slab of rock.

 

B.      Large rocks represent strength and a place of refuge.  When individuals were threatened in those days, they would flee to the mountains, the rocks, for safety.

 

7.      Who is Hannah referring to in the opening statements of I Samuel 2:3?

 

Talk not more exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth…

 

These words were probably directly toward Penninah.  She had been proud and arrogant during the time that she possessed children and Hannah did not.

 

8.      What two facts do the proud and arrogant often forget about God? (I Sam. 2:3b)

 

…for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

 

A.    The Lord is a God of knowledge

1.      God is aware of all things that are happening between individuals on the earth, especially of His saints.

2.      He knows when one person is not treating another person with honor, dignity, and respect.

 

B.      By the Lord actions are weighed.

1.      God sees the deeds of man and weighs them in the balance of His holy Word.

2.      Daniel’s words to king Belshazzar (Dan. 5:27).

 

TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

 

9.      List the three reversals found in I Samuel 2:4-5.

 

The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumble are girded with strength.  They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased:  so that the barren have born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

 

A.    Mighty are broken; the weak (those who stumble) are made strong

 

B.      The full (rich) must work for bread; the hungry are now fed

 

C.     The barren has seven children; the one who could bear is now feeble

 

LESSON:  This is one of the great lessons of life.  Things do not always remain as they are.  In fact, there can be a complete reversal of situations in life very quickly, especially where God is involved.  Just think of the nation of Egypt in the days of Moses.  It went from being a world power to being completely devastated in a few days.  Israel went from being in slavery to freedom in that same time span.

 

10.  T – F    I Samuel 2:5 is prophetic in nature.  If true, how?

 

True.  It is true in the sense that the barren will bear.  In I Samuel 2:21, we learn that Hannah also bore five other children in addition to Samuel.  We do not read that Penninah bore any more children after this.

 

And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters.  And the child Samuel grew before the Lord. 

 

11.  Write the nine acts of God listed in I Samuel 2:6-8.

 

The Lord killeth, and maketh alive:  he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.  The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich;  he bringeth low, and lifteth up.  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among the princes, and to make them inherit the inherit the throne of glory…

 

A.    Killeth, bringeth down to the grave

 

B.      Maketh alive, bringeth up

 

C.     Maketh poor

 

D.    Maketh rich

 

E.      Bringeth low

 

F.      Lifteth up

 

G.     Raiseth up the poor out of the dust

 

H.    Lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill

 

I.        Set them up princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory

 

12.  Which one of the acts listed above provides you with the most hope?  Why?

 

Maketh alive, bringeth up.  The worst thing that a man can do is kill the body.  This, however, is not defeat.  God can make one alive again.  He can bring one up from the grave.  Without life, nothing else is important.

 

13.  In I Samuel 2:8, Hannah closes verse 8 with these words:  “…for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.”  How does this statement apply to what is said in verses 6-8?

 

This verse reveals the power of God in the creation.  God is the one who founded the earth and all that is therein.  It is not surprising that He can also manifest control over this creation that He has made.

 

14.  Define:  keep (I Sam. 2:9)

 

He will keep the feet of his saints…

 

A.    Definitions:

1.      Strong (8104):  to hedge about, guard, protect attend

2.      BDB:  to keep, guard, observe, give heed, to keep watch and ward, protect, save life

 

B.      God protects His saints in many ways:

1.      Through His Word

2.      Through His providence

3.      Through appointed ministers:  parents, government officials

4.      Through His people

 

15.  What does Hannah mean when she says:  “…the wicked shall be silent in darkness” (I Sam. 2:9)

 

A.    Some believe that this is the darkness of hell itself

 

B.      Others see this as the silence and darkness that comes upon the wicked when they realize that they have been defeated by their enemies because God has fought for them.  They can no longer be boastful with their words.  They merely sit in utter defeat.

 

16.  T- F      Man’s strength can prevail over God. (I Sam. 2:9)

 

…for by strength shall no man prevail.

 

            False.  

 

            II Kings 6:15-16

 

And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots.  And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master!  How shall we do?  And he answered, Fear not:  for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

 

17.  What two things will God do to the adversaries? (I Sam. 2:10)

 

The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces:  out of heaven shall be thunder upon them…

 

A.    Shall be broken to pieces

 

B.      Thunder shall be upon them

 

 

 

18.  Who will the Lord give strength to? (I Sam. 2:10)

 

…the Lord shall judge the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king…

 

A.    The Lord will give strength unto His king.

 

B.      Note:  The words are prophetic in nature.  The children of Israel are still living in the period of the judges when Hannah speaks these words.

 

C.     Many see this as a dual prophecy

1.      The earthly king who would be established in the days of Samuel.

2.      The Messianic king who was to come, that is, Jesus Christ.

 

19.  Define:  anointed (I Sam. 2:10)

 

…and exalt the horn of his anointed.

 

A.    Strong (4899):  anointed, a consecrated person, specifically the Messiah

 

B.      BDB:  anointed, of the Messiah

 

C.     “The king, or the anointed of the Lord, of whom Hannah prophesies in the spirit, is not one single king of Israel, either David or Christ, but an ideal king, though not a mere personification of the throne about to be established, but the actual king whom Israel received in David and his race, which culminated in the Messiah” (Keil & Delitzsch, e-sword).

D.    NOTE:  God is constantly reminding Israel of the coming Messiah.  Sometimes He does it in very subtle ways like here.  This is one statement made by a Jewish handmaid at the end of a prayer of praise to God because He answered her prayer.

 

20.  What do the words, “exalt the horn” mean?” (I Sam. 2:10)

 

A.    Previously, we noted that the word “horn” indicates strength.

 

B.      All the kings of Israel would have been strengthened by God if they had been obedient to God.

 

C.     The heavenly Father would exalt the strength, power, and authority of His anointed over all the earth ultimately through the Messiah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SONS OF ELI CONTRASTED WITH SAMUEL

I Samuel 2:11-26

 

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline the text

 

i.                    I Samuel 2:11

 

ii.                  I Samuel 2:12-18

 

iii.                I Samuel 2:19-21

 

iv.                I Samuel 2:22-26

 

2.      Why was Samuel left to minister unto the Lord before Eli? (I Sam. 2:10)

 

 

3.      Define:  minister (I Sam. 2:10)

 

 

4.      Define:  sons of Belial (I Sam. 2:11)

 

 

5.      What does the text mean when it says that Eli’s sons “knew not the Lord” (I Sam. 2:11)

 

 

 

6.      What three sins of the priests are listed in I Samuel 2:12-16?

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

7.      How is the sin of Eli’s sons described in I Samuel 2:17?

 

 

 

8.      Define:  abhorred (I Sam. 2:17)

 

 

9.      How is Samuel contrasted with Eli’s sons in I Samuel 2:18?

 

 

10.  What did Hannah bring to Samuel every year when she came to the feast? (I Sam. 2:19).

 

 

11.  What blessing did Eli desire to come upon Hannah? (I Sam. 2:20)

 

12.  Define:  loan (I Sam. 2:20)

 

 

13.  Define:  visited (I Sam. 2:21)

 

 

14.  How many more sons and daughters did Hannah have? (I Sam. 2:21)

 

 

15.  What was an additional sins Eli heard that his sons had committed along with the sins surrounding the offerings?  (I Sam. 2:22)

 

 

16.  Who told Eli about his sons “evil dealings”? (I Sam. 2:23)

 

 

17.  “…ye make the __________________  _________________ to transgress” (I Sam.2:24).

 

 

18.  Define:  transgress (I Sam. 2:24)

 

 

19.  Against whom were the sins of Eli’s sons? (I Sam. 2:25)

 

 

20.  T – F    The sons of Eli hearkened unto their father. (I Sam. 2:25).

 

 

21.  What would be the end of Eli’s sons? (I Sam. 2:25)

 

 

22.  Samuel is contrasted again with Eli’s sons in I Samuel 2:26.  What are the two contrasts mentioned?

 

A.

 

B.