FBCWest 719 | Two Prayers
Recorded On: 07/05/2026
Bulletin
Hymn # 508 “America the Beautiful”
SCRIPTURE READING – Psalms 34:1 - 9
Giving of Selves and Our Offerings
OFFERTORY PRAYER
OFFERTORY MUSIC – Pru Hungate
Praise and Worship
“Endless Light”
“God So Loved”
“Jesus Saves”
Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“Two Prayers”
PRAYER TIME / Time of Reflection
“The Battle Belongs”
Acknowledgements and Announcements
Sermon Notes
1 Samuel 1:1 – 8 A man had 2 wives, one had children and the other was barren because of the Lord
1 Samuel 1:9 – 11 Hannah prayed, wept in distress and made a vow to the Lord
1 Samuel 1:12 – 16 Eli, the priest misinterpreted Hannah’s prayer and condition
1 Samuel 1:17 & 18 Eli says may the Lord grant your prayer and Hannah leaves no longer sad
1 Samuel 1:19 – 23 God grants Hannah’s prayer and has a son
1 Samuel 1:24 – 28 Hannah fulfills her vow
1 Samuel 2:1 – 5 Hannah prayer is full of praise to God
Scritpures
Transcript of Service
The Bible talks a lot about the importance of prayer. It even gives us instructions on how to... This message you want to take a look at two prayers by a woman named Hannah. Each of the prayers have a different purpose, but they have one thing that is in common. I invite you to listen to what that one thing that is in common on those two prayers and how we might include it in our prayer life as well.
The Bible tells us a lot about prayer. It tells us to bring in prayer everything. It tells us to pray without ceasing.
It tells us to don't know how to pray as the disciples asked Jesus. He gave instructions on how to pray. Today I want to take a look at two prayers by a woman named Hannah. Hopefully it will instruct us and how we should pray. And I'm emphasizing how we should pray. And so if you have your Bibles and you should turn to 1 Samuel chapter 1.
It's found right after Ruth 2 Samuel. And so it says this. Now there was a certain man from Raphim, Zulfim, from the hill country of Ephraim. And his name was Elkina. The son of Gerald Ham, the son of Aliu, the son of Toku, Zuf, and an Ephraimite.
So he was from the hill country of Ephraim, a descendant of Joseph. And he had two wives. The name of one was Hannah and the name of the other was Pinanah. And Pinanah had children, but Hannah had no children. Order of this, but my suspicion is that he married Hannah first. And we'll see later that he loved Hannah.
But I suspect because he was wealthy and had no children from Hannah. He decided to marry another so that he might have children just like Abraham had said, what doesn't matter if you bless me Lord, if I have no one to in my household to leave it to. So I think he was concerned about his descendants. And so he married a second woman. And so he was born with that. Is it always creates other problems? Now this man could go up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Huffney, were priest to the Lord there.
Now it tells us that he would go yearly. And the first testament in the scriptures tell that every man was to go at least three times to resent himself before the Lord. And at this time the Tabernacle was pitched in Shiloh.
And so he would go there. So there he would take his families, we will see and provide gifts for his family. Also what's interesting is Eli's two sons, Huffney and Phineas. Those are Egyptian names. It may not tell us everything. It does tell us something.
And so they were priests to the Lord. And when the day came that Echana sacrificed, he would give portions to Phineas, his wife, and to all of her sons, and to her daughters. But to Hanna he would give her a double portion for he loved Hanna, but the Lord had closed for womb. So notice he still continued to love her and showed her that love by giving her twice as much as he gave to the other family because he wanted that love. But notice it wasn't Hanna's fault if you had no children. It was if you will, God's fault, if you call it fault, because God was the one who had closed her womb. And her rival, however, would provoke her to irritate her because the Lord had closed her womb.
And it happened year after year as often as they went up to the house of the Lord, she would provoke her so she wept and would not eat. And so our families may not be so dissimilar in this situation. Sometimes the people who hurt us and provoked us the most are people who are supposed to be on our side. They're supposed to be understanding. They're supposed to be sympathetic. But instead of her being sympathetic and rather than praising God, their God had allowed children. She decided that she would provoke Hanna who had no children. Like I said, maybe it would have been better if he just married the one and not had kids.
And then he said to her, Hanna, why do you weave and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons? Now, I identify with him. When my wife was there were things that happened in our lives that caused her insecurity and raised and she felt rejected by someone she loved.
And it bothered me now. I would never tell her this, but it bothered me because I kept thinking, how come my for you isn't sufficient even in this situation? And while I phrase Lord, I didn't put that on her when she went to be with the Lord in my grief, I discovered something. And I love and my goodness and your love and your goodness and kindness will never reach equilibrium.
What do I mean by that? No matter how much love I had for her, it would not overflow into the rejection and hurt she felt in the other situation. It wasn't what was wrong with me. Now fortunately, because she's in the presence of the Lord, God's love is so overwhelming, it comes like a flood that it breaks down all those insecurities and rejection. Now, the tears have been wiped from her eyes and she is loved supremely. Therefore, the love that I had for her and the love that you have for those that you love is never going to be sufficient. But Christ's love is.
Now, I'm going to chase the ravage here because I don't know the next time I'll have an opportunity if I ever will have an opportunity to talk about marriage. You will have heard it say and you'll say, and I've said it myself, you need to work at your marriage. That's wrong.
You need to play at your marriage. I didn't say play house. I said, play at your marriage. What do I mean by that? Take the sports arena. I'm going to take football and basketball.
You notice no one ever works football or basketball. They play football and basketball. Doesn't mean that they don't train. Doesn't mean that they don't work or faster or work on their techniques. It doesn't mean that there's not effort put into it, but they do what they do because they love playing the game.
They love the competition. They love the camaraderie of the team. Whatever it is or just the passion of doing it. They love the sport. And as a matter of fact, people are being drafted. There have been some criticism of some perspective players. Why they dropped in the draft because people will say, I don't know if he loves the game. I'm telling you what you should do is love your marriage.
You should love being married. Working out and making your marriage better because you love it. Not because you have to work at it. We do the same thing when people talk about careers. What do they say? They don't say, well, choose a job that you can work at. They say, choose a job that you enjoy because you'll never work another day in your life. Well, that applies to your career.
Why should they not apply to your marriage? That you do it because you love it. And you work out and you make it better. Not because you're working, but because you love it so much.
Now, I'm, they're in the game. I'm single. But I didn't discover this. I could tilt again through my grief.
But even though I'm no longer in the game, I enjoy watching the game. I enjoy watching my two grandsons play football. I enjoy. I wish I could go out there and play. I'm not young enough. And unfortunately, I'm not in the shape of a ought to be.
But I enjoy them watching them play. I also enjoy watching married couples holding hands, showing the world that they love each other. So often people who are dating and are infatuated with each other, they're holding hands and they're hugging and doing whatever. And we're usually, we say, you get a room. They're expressing their, their, their love or lust or whatever it is for each other.
But it seems like when people get. They stop holding hands. Or what I particularly enjoy because my wife and I did this early in our marriage. I can't remember a time we did into it, even after we had children, we would sit on the same side of the table when we would go out to a restaurant, even after we had kids because we are a couple. We are together. So when I see that at a restaurant, I rejoice because it makes me think back how I loved being married. To her. Now, if you're not married.
My advice to you. It's not only to find someone that you love and that you can enjoy being married, but that person that you're finding. Love you and enjoys wanting to be in that relationship. Not because you're going to be wealthy or whatever it's because they enjoy being with you. So my advice in this little detour. It's play in short.
I'm not married. Again, doesn't mean you don't train. You don't work at the skills that's required. Don't think of it as work. Think of it as play. Now I've gone off with that rabbit. We'll go on. He said, aren't I better than 10 sons and that reality is he's right.
Because 10 sons will grow up and have 10 wives and them will walk and they'll be concerned about their wife. Don't forget about your mom because they've got their own problems. So yes, he's more of a, but she doesn't care.
Her affliction is she has no children. Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in childhood. Now Eli, the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.
And she being Hannah, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord. So I want you to notice that Hannah is praying with great passion because she doesn't just want something for the Lord. She needs something from the Lord and she is passionately because she's greatly distressed at it. And bitterly as she prays. And she made a vow instead of Lord of host. If you will indeed look on you, the afflictions of your base servant. And remember me and not forget your base servant, but will give your mates a servant. Then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life and a razor will never come on his head.
So we see this passion is so great. That she says, if you give me a son, I'll give him right back to you. And I'll make him a Nazarene. Holy to you. And so Lord, you give him to me.
I'll give him back to you. She makes a vow. Unfortunately, there are a number of people throughout the ages who we talk about like foxhole confessions because of the fear of death and fear of death is a great. They would promise God anything. Lord, if you just get me through this, then I will do X, I'll be a pastor. I'll be this.
I'll be that. Unfortunately, the vast number of people who make those vows don't follow through. But the Lord is better not to vow than to vow and not pay. That expression is not found once, but several times in the scriptures. Because the Lord has experienced people who make vows. You don't pay.
So she's made a vow. If the Lord will hear her plea. Now, it came about as she continued praying before the Lord that Eli was watching her mouth. In addition, sometimes when you think you're in the most intimate situation, pouring your heart out to God, somebody's observing you. So he's watching her, not praying with her, watching her and comes to the wrong conclusion. As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard.
So Eli thought she was drunk. Because she is so desperate, she's pouring out her words in her heart, but only in her mouth is just lip or making the sounds of the words. Now, you've probably heard this story. I had an uncle named Uncle James. A hard working man. He worked for an iron furnace factory. And he would work hard.
And he would come home. And for relaxation, he would go out and hand wax his car. He was a strong man. Yet he was a quiet man. But he had a meal at his house. He would pray.
But when he prayed, he mumbled. Now, fortunately, as a young child, I heard this story before. What one of my cousins earlier had made as a mistake. As my uncle James was praying and mumbling, goes, Uncle James, I can't understand it when you pray.
My uncle, this quiet man said, because I'm not talking to you. And that did not affect him because I never remember ever hearing Uncle James pray understood it. Because he wasn't talking to me. He was talking to God. Now, Hannah, because of the rejection and other things, it's taken a personal.
So we'll see what happens. And Eli said to her, how long will you make yourself drunk? Now remember, she wasn't eating or drinking because she was so distressed. But Hannah replied, no, my Lord, I'm a woman of Preston spirit.
I have drugged neither wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. Notice, Hannah, because, front of by, when a man, a God said, no, you misjudged me. Uncle James just said, I don't care, not talking to you. So, you know, I guess Hannah could have said, I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to God. But she wants him to understand that it's her distress, passion for her prayer is why she appears this way. Do not consider your mate servant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.
Because you gotta remember, a woman in that century and in that culture was considered to be judged by God as some worthless person because she did not have children. And somehow God was judging her harshly because she had no children. And in essence, in that society also, her social security, they were to provide for you in your old age. And she said, no, my co-life has been making, mocking me. I'm in distress and provocation. That is why I'm here. I'm right out my soul to God. Then Eli answered and said, go on in peace and may the God, a visual grant your petition that you have asked them to.
He goes, whatever that deeply, that passionately, that you're weeping in your conversation with God may grant. She said, let your space servant find favor in your sight. So the woman in her face was no longer said. She believed at the word of Eli that God was going to answer her petition that she would have a child, that she would have a son. Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord and reached to their house in Ramah. And Elkana had relations with Hannah, his wife, and the Lord remembered her.
Remember, when she prayed, it was the Lord who had closed her womb. Notice in her prayer, it wasn't, God, I blame you. God, it's your fault.
God is the situation. I don't fault you, but I find answers in security and salvation in you. So the Lord remembered her, which means he's going to act. It's not like he forgot about her.
About a new time, Hannah had conceived and she gave birth to a son and she named him Samuel, same because I have asked of him of the Lord. So every time you pronounce Samuel's name, you're going, I ask God for him. I ask God for him. I ask God for him.
Did the man, Elkana, went up to all of his house to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow? But Hannah did not go up where she said to her husband, I will not go up until this child is weaned, then I will bring him here before the Lord and stay there forever. So in that time, generally a child was not weaned until two or three years. So let's assume it's three years. So she's going to say for three years, he's going to be there. But in essence, as a toddler, I'm going to release him back to God. But she's until until I can pay my vow, I'm not going.
Elkana, her husband said to her, do what seems best to you, remain until you have weaned him. Only made the Lord to firm his word and remained and nourished her son until she was weaned. So the father says, I will allow you this because this is what you have vowed and I will allow you to do what you say.
Now, when she had weaned him with her with a three year old bull and one eighth of a flower, now jug of wine and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shailah. Although the child was young, I think it's significant as to three year old because I think the child is three years. And so she and as I say, this bull was born at the time my son was born and I'm going to sacrifice him to you, the bull to you and the bill offering and drink offering. And then I'm going to give you my son. And then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to you. She said, oh, my Lord, as your soul lives, may my Lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, frame to the Lord.
So she's trying to remind him of the situation for those boy I pray and the Lord has given me my petition, which I ask of him. So I have also dedicated him to the Lord as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the Lord and he worship the Lord there. So God answers, tennis prayer.
She weans the boy and then presents him very. She could have said, well, I'm going to give him, but let's let's educate him first. Let's let's let's at least let him be a teenager. No, she goes, even as a toddler, I'm going to follow my vow and give him to the Lord. First prayer, she was passionate and distressed and poured out her soul and her tears to the Lord that he might hear. Here's her second prayer. And then first Samuel chapter.
I'm only going to read the first five verses there are 12 verses. I encourage you to read the rest of the prayer, but it says this. Then Hannah prayed and said, my heart, exalts in the Lord. My horn is exalts it in the Lord.
My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies because I rejoice. There's no one holy like the Lord. Indeed, there is no one beside you. Nor is there any rock like our God. Both no more. So very proudly do not let arrogance come out of your mouth for the Lord is a God of knowledge.
Actions are weighed. The cows of the mighty, the bows of the mighty are shattered, but the feeble girl on strength. Those who are full higher themselves out the bread, but those who were hungry, ceased even the bearing gives birth to seven, but she who was as many children languishes. She is praising God, giving him total praise and thanksgiving for what he has done for her, but then telling others that they should rejoice and that he hears those who are afflicted, that he satisfies the hungry and those who are arrogant, not so much. Notice the passion here in her second prayer. It is a passion and a passion of praise. Now this is why I brought this prayer up.
In our society, we teach our children good manners. So when somebody does something for our children, you say, thank you. And it doesn't matter how much that person may do, we just say, thank you. However, when it comes to when God gives us what we've prayed for, sometimes we're not even courteous. We're not going to go on with our lives for getting that he answered our prayer.
Or if we've grateful enough that we say, thank you, God, we think we've satisfied the scriptures and everything that gets thanks. Well, thank you, God. I did.
The very same passion she had for her prayer that God deliver her, she gives in his praise and thanksgiving. When God answers our prayer, we should be as passionate and the response to saying, thank you, God, praise you. Hey, declare it to others just like Hannah did. He was not content to say, well, thank you, Lord, whatever. It's, I'm not only going to say thank you, God, and not only I'm going to praise you, but I'm going to tell others about you. How you care even a lot that everybody made fun of, but you heard me and you're going to hear other people for in similar circumstances. So we should rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say rejoice.
When God answered, we should rejoice. When God tells us, no, we should rejoice. When God says, wait a minute. We should rejoice. We should be passionate in our response to God and his mercy because maybe when he said, no, maybe it's because it's the best for us. Let's say maybe she prayed, but instead of saying, God, I'm going to give him to you. God, I just want to son. And God gives her a son.
And that son gives her more heartache and grief that if she would have been barren. So maybe sometimes God, when he tells us, no, cruel and mean, but be passionate, I mean, compassionate and merciful. So even in the nose, we should say, Hallelujah, what a savior. What a God. For what my problem is, my fight and my battle is in prayer because the battle belongs to God.
And I'll God's people said. Thank you.