1 Samuel 2:1-11
Here are two challenging questions:
- Why are you here today? 2. Whom do you want to be in the presence of the most?
We learn several lessons throughout God’s Word about worship. Most importantly, we learn that the most wise, the true followers of God, took time to reflect in the majesty and glory of God through the worship of Him. God has placed in our hearts the desire to worship something greater than ourselves. When we look deeply into the meaning of life and find that life, humanity, and the Author of life naturally belong together, we worship God! What is worship? Worship is our glad response to the goodness of God. Unfortunately we bring the right kind of worship to the wrong kind of god? I’m a huge football fan, I believe it’s ok to be a fan, but what if we put as much emphasis on the game of football as we did the worship of Christ? We put a lot of our effort and energy into that which is temporal, not in the eternal things of Jesus Christ! Hannah expressed her worship of the one true God and we can learn a lot from her wisdom as to how we too should worship God.
Hannah was transformed wasn’t she? How do we know this? Let me recap a little. She was in a battle! She battled others– Remember Peninnah, always rubbing it in that Hannah couldn’t have children, but that Peninnah could. We’ll face these battles with others want we?
She battled herself– I’m sure she felt like she wasn’t worth anything. She had anxiety and depression. She had an internal battle.
She battled God– You can’t tell me that she didn’t question God! I’m sure she did as she might have said: “why have you made me this way when my desire is to serve you Lord?” Can you picture her saying that can’t you?
But she worshipped even before Samuel came! We must see this! The great truth in this passage we are going to examine today and throughout God’s Word is that we are to worship even when we don’t feel like it. Feelings are important, but completely unreliable in matters of faith. Eugene Peterson states in his book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction that “Worship is an act that develops feelings for God, not a feeling for God that is expressed in an act of worship. When we obey the command to praise God in our worship, our deep, essential need to be in a relationship with God is nurtured.” What lessons of wisdom can we learn from Hannah’s worship?
Worship Begins with Praise (1 Sam. 2:1-2)
She is praising God! Hannah is giving God His due worth. She mentions enemies in verse 1. Naturally we assume this is referring to Peninnah, but in reality it’s about all enemies of God. We are going to be hurt! What do we do when we’re hurt? You WORSHIP CHRIST! The only healer of hurt! The Old Testament uses the word horn in verse 2. The word horn is a reference to strength! God is our strength. When you feel bad, worship God our strength, rock, and refuge!
Worship Boost in God’s Power, Presence, and Peace (1 Sam. 2:3-7)
Hannah acknowledges that she is hopeless and helpless without the power of Almighty God, the only One who can bring peace! The beginning of wisdom is disciplining oneself to worship!
What does God do? Look at the first three lines of verse 3. Do you think she was angry? Sure, this very well could have been directed toward Peninnah! But God has the final word. “By Him actions are weighed.” Hannah notes in this statement of here song that God is not dependent on us! He does according to His pleasure, for our good and His glory! When we’re attacked, God is all powerful!
You will need to tuck this away! Remember this and worship Christ! Why? Because when you live for God, you will be attacked! 1 Peter 4:12-14 tells us: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”
Don’t we often seek God in our suffering? At our end is when Christ begins! When we are truly hungry for Christ we worship Him! In Matthew 5:3-11 Jesus gives us the Beatitudes or also known as the attitudes Christians should be. Can you see that God is all powerful?
Worship Should Become Personal (1 Samuel 2:8)
When you sing of the cross, do you realize that it’s you that deserves this pain that Christ glady took upon Himself? I want you to hear this; it’s personal, but worship is not always private. We are always to proclaim the glory and goodness of God. Hannah reflected on the goodness of God. We are to reflect on the goodness of God in our own life! Hannah sees here story in God’s story! He cares deeply for us. He is a personal God. He sent Jesus, so that we could have a personal relationship with God! God loves you personally! We love because He first loved us!
Worship Because of God’s Promise (1 Samuel 2:9-10)
What is the promise here? Verse 9 is all about the promise of salvation for those who trust in the Messiah. We see this from verse 10. Those who do not trust Christ will not have eternal life! Lastly, it’s not by man’s power, but by God’s promise that anyone will be saved from Hell. Only through a relationship with Jesus Christ do we have the promise of eternal life! Many Hebrew scholars translate “his anointed” to mean the Messiah.
Worshipping God is the pathway to transformation! When you reflect upon the power of God, the peace He brings, how personal He is, and the promises He has given us, you can’t help but be transformed!
Here are two challenging questions:
- Why are you here today?
- Whom do you want to be in the presence of the most?
This will determine Whom you worship and why you worship