Title Page. Lesson Seven I Samuel 1:9-10 9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and...

Title Page

Lesson Seven

I Samuel 1:9-10

I Samuel 1:9-109 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

I Samuel 1:11-13I Samuel 1:11-1311 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

I Samuel 1:14-16

I Samuel 1:14-1614 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

I Samuel 1:17-18

I Samuel 1:17-1817 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

I Samuel 1:25-28

I Samuel 1:25-2825 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

Focus Verse

I Samuel 1:11

And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the

affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine

handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his

life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

Focus Thought

Samuel was a wanted child. Hannah prayed to the Lord to

have a son and vowed to give him to the service of the Lord. Samuel

also dedicated himself and fulfilled God’s will for his life.

IntroductionIntroduction

Living at the end of the time of the judges and the beginning of the reign of Israel’s monarchs, the prophet Samuel’s life was one of the most extraordinary lives of those recorded in the Bible. Samuel anointed the first two kings and personally witnessed this transitional era.

IntroductionSamuel was a special man for a difficult time in Israel’s history. If the statement is true that “a man should be judged according to the time in which he lived,” then Samuel took on a much greater honor than many individuals. The judges were men and women who delivered Israel from the product of their own backsliding and sin.

IntroductionThe Book of Judges began with honorable people who wanted to do right before God. However, the end of the book describes judges who began doing God’s work for increasingly selfish reasons. For these later judges, their service to God and His people appears to have been more an afterthought than a motivator.

IntroductionFor example, consider the lives of Samson and Samuel, two of the later judges in the Book of Judges. They had much in common, but the pureness of their motivation was starkly different. Both Samson’s and Samuel’s mothers were unable to have children. God intervened in both of these women for them to be able to have sons. Both Samson and Samuel had the call of God on their lives for a special time and purpose.

IntroductionBoth were to be Nazarites from their mother’s womb, and both were to live under the Nazarite code all of their lives. They both had great favor with God and possessed God-given strength—Samson in physical strength, and Samuel in strength of character. Because of his yielding to sin, Samson did not reach his potential in God. On the other hand, Samuel was obedient and fulfilled God’s will in his life.

IntroductionSamuel was the last of the line of judges, but he also was a prophet. He broke the downward trend of the judges and was truly motivated by his love for God and His people. More like the early judges, Samuel’s selflessness was truly refreshing.

IntroductionSamuel fulfilled many roles throughout his life. Because he was from the Levitical family of Kohath, he was able to consistently offer sacrifices. Samuel’s grandchildren are listed as singers in David’s Tabernacle (I Chronicles 6:26-35).

I. Samuel—A Wanted Child A

Samuel—A Wanted Child

A. Hannah Was Barren

Women in Old Testament times were expected to produce an heir. If a woman was not able to do this, both society at large and her family in particular looked down on her. Because of her barrenness, her husband often would seek another woman to bear him children. He was permitted to have another wife, or an informal wife called a concubine.


The first Book of Samuel begins with the story of such a situation. It appears that Hannah was the love of Elkanah’s life. However, because she was unable to produce children, he took a second wife. Such practices were incongruent with the nature and plan of God, and throughout the Bible wherever there was more than one wife, there were divisions and problems. Elkanah’s home was no exception.


Elkanah’s other wife was named Peninnah, who constantly caused trouble because she was unhappy with her role of only producing children for Elkanah. Every year when the family went to Shiloh to sacrifice, she upset Hannah by reminding her of her barrenness. On the other hand, Elkanah would try to calm Hannah by reassuring her of his love. Apparently, year after year the same scenario played out.

I. Samuel—A Wanted Child B

B. Hannah Prayed

Hannah began doing something constructive about how she felt and decided to go to the house of the Lord to pray. Near the altar, she began pouring out her soul to God and began to intercede regarding her plight. She promised God that if He would give her a male child, she would in turn give him back to the Lord. By so doing, she was giving him to the Nazarite pledge, which would set him apart from the rest of his peers.

I. Samuel—A Wanted Child BPerhaps Eli, the high priest, was so

accustomed to performing the duties of the Tabernacle that he did not recognize what was happening with Hannah. He possibly suspected she was one of the women who stayed around the Tabernacle only to associate with his sons.

I. Samuel—A Wanted Child BAs he closely watched Hannah’s mouth,

he noticed that her lips moved but she spoke no words, and he presumed she was drunk. In his righteous anger he accused her of being drunk, but Hannah assured him that she was not a “daughter of Belial” and that she was not drunk.

I. Samuel—A Wanted Child BWhen Eli observed the sincerity and

desperation of her soul, he assured Hannah that God would grant her request, and she went home full of faith, her sadness gone. True faith brings the joy of expectancy as individuals anticipate the work of God. Rejoicing faith motivates us to say, “I don’t know when, but I know that God is moving on my behalf.”

I. Samuel—A Wanted Child BHannah went home a different person

than she had been when she went to prayer. The best thing we can do in our dark hours of disappointment is to look to the eternal light of the Lord through prayer and supplication. He will answer our cry to Him!

I. Samuel—A Wanted Child C

C. Hannah Received a Son

What great joy Hannah must have felt as she finally held the desire of her heart in her arms! Only those who have been unable to have children would understand this kind of joy. Hannah’s heart was lifted up to the Lord for His great and merciful work. So great was her joy she composed and sang a song in typical poetic style.

I. Samuel—A Wanted Child CIt was common at times of great victory

for people to compose a song or poem about how God had brought them victory. We note this in the lives of Miriam, Deborah, Moses, David, Hezekiah, and Mary the mother of Jesus. In fact, Hannah’s song was much like the one that Mary sang in Luke 1:46-55.

Luke 1:46-50II Timothy 2:2“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my

Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for,

behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to

me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that

fear him from generation to generation.

Luke 1:51-55II Timothy 2:2“He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He

hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low

degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath

holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham,

and to his seed for ever” (Luke 1:46-55).

II. Samuel—A Dedicated Child A

Samuel—A Dedicated Child

A. A Vow to the Lord

Hannah had promised God that she would dedicate Samuel to the Nazarite vow. The Nazarite lived a very different life from others. (See Numbers 6:1-21.) He was forbidden to drink any kind of wine, vinegar, or strong drink. Further, he could eat or drink nothing that came from any kind of grapes or fruit of any type of vine.

II. Samuel—A Dedicated Child A

The yeast on the skin of grapes caused them to be unclean. A Nazarite was not to go near a dead person or animal, and he was to allow his hair to grow long to set him apart from others. In the Scripture text, Hannah mentioned several of these conditions of the Nazarite vow in relation to her dedication of Samuel to the Lord.

II. Samuel—A Dedicated Child B

B. A Vow Executed

Samuel lived with his mother and father only as long as it took for Hannah to wean him. As soon as it was possible, Hannah took the child Samuel to the Tabernacle to present him to Eli for the service of the Lord.

II. Samuel—A Dedicated Child C

C. A Mother’s Heart

Every year when Hannah went to Shiloh to worship, she took to Samuel a “little robe” or outer garment. She was demonstrating to Samuel that she had not abandoned him, but she had given him back to the God who had given him to her. His life was special, and his mother diligently taught him that he belonged to God. Although others may not have acknowledged Samuel’s calling as a gift from God, Hannah conveyed to Samuel that the house and call of God were special.

II. Samuel—A Dedicated Child CThe little robe that his mother had given

him must have been very important to Samuel. It continually reminded him both of his beloved mother and also of his life’s calling. His mother greatly influenced Samuel through these garments every day of his life.

II. Samuel—A Dedicated Child CFurther, in the two or three years before

Hannah brought Samuel to the Tabernacle to stay, she put into him principles that he never forgot. The symbol of Hannah’s motherly influence with her son was in his garments. Certainly, the things that Hannah taught Samuel stayed with him throughout his life.

II. Samuel—A Dedicated Child D

D. A Growing Samuel

Samuel grew up working in the Tabernacle under the ministry of Eli the high priest. This was a time of learning and training in which Eli mentored him. It is vital that individuals allow other leaders to mentor them and that they in turn mentor those who come behind them.


True mentor relationships require a degree of mutual accountability. For example, as his mentor, Eli made himself accountable to Samuel in his work as a high priest. Clearly, Samuel also was accountable to Eli with regard to his apprenticeship within the Tabernacle.

II. Samuel—A Dedicated Child DWe learn more by watching others live

than we do by only hearing what they say. The eye is a much better teacher than the ear. A mentor may verbalize a set of principles to the one he is mentoring, and the learner may still misunderstand. However, he will have little doubt when he observes the mentor demonstrating by personal action the principles he has taught.


Samuel’s ministry advanced to the stage of applying the principles Eli had passed to him. He earned the right to wear the garment of the priest, the linen ephod. (See I Samuel 2:18.) The ephod was a covering of white linen over the undergarments. This achievement demonstrated that Samuel was able and responsible enough to perform the service of the priest without direct supervision. He could begin to fulfill his duties with little oversight.

II. Samuel—A Dedicated Child DAt this point in their training, many

people make the mistake of thinking they are ready to do everything on their own. However, we always should defer to the guidance of people who are more experienced than we. The person who arrives at this stage of mentoring and refuses to continue to learn and receive further training eventually will self-destruct.

II. Samuel—A Dedicated Child DSamuel probably matured at a faster

rate than most of his peers, driving him to excel while in his youth. Many people make the mistake of thinking that years of life equal experience. Unfortunately, years do not necessarily translate into experience. Sadly, many people never mature emotionally or they mature very slowly.

II. Samuel—A Dedicated Child DThe chronological age of a person has

little to do with his emotional or mental maturity. Samuel may have been a child by age, but he was quickly maturing mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Perhaps what made this possible was his willingness to be taught. A teachable spirit is essential for every individual who would exercise any role of leadership within the kingdom of God.

II. Samuel—A Dedicated Child DSamuel was such a help to Eli that Eli

blessed Hannah and Elkanah, which resulted in their having more children. Giving to God always opens the door for Him to give to us and trust us with more than we ever had before.

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child A

Samuel—A Consecrated Child

A. Served the Lordin the House of the Lord

As Samuel continued to grow and mature in leadership, others began to notice his life of service (I Samuel 2:26).

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child AOur concern about what others think of

us is good to a point, for it motivates us to prepare spiritually and inwardly before endeavoring to perform public service. Jesus declared that God will openly reward us for what we do in our private devotion to Him. (See Matthew 6:4, 6, 18.)

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child AOur concern about receiving credit for

what we do only sours our work for the kingdom of God. God sees what we do, and He rewards us His way in His time.

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child APeople who are obsessed with trying to

impress others usually do not impress God. The Lord’s favor in our lives is more important than anything mankind could bestow on us or what they think of us. Therefore, we should seek God’s favor above that of all others.

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child B

B. Served Eli

Samuel continued to grow spiritually as he served God through his service to Eli. Apparently, God was not ready to use Samuel as a prophet before he first exercised faithfulness in his work at the Tabernacle. As he performed his duties faithfully, God was preparing him to be used in a greater fashion.

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child BSadly, Eli had disappointed God by not

standing against sin, especially within his own home. God desires the ministry to be pure and to stand against sin. When the minister speaks as God’s voice, the people need to have confidence that he is living above reproach.

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child C

C. Sensitive to the Voice of God

Samuel began to hear the voice of God for himself. God spoke to Samuel during the night, but Samuel thought Eli was speaking to him. Although Samuel did not immediately recognize the voice of the Lord, he learned to respect God’s voice despite Eli’s sons’ total irreverence for the things of God.


God can use people for His work only when they exercise proper respect for authority. Further, when a person lacks respect for authority on one level, he usually finds it difficult to respect authority at all levels. When a person lacks respect for human and spiritual authority, he ultimately will have no respect for God’s authority. God places authority in our lives for our own good. (See Romans 13.)


In I Corinthians 11:1-16, Paul revealed that one way we demonstrate our respect for spiritual leadership and authority is by the outward expression or symbol of hair. Paul plainly taught that for a man to wear his hair long is symbolic of a lack of respect for his spiritual head of authority, Jesus Christ.


For a man to have long hair demonstrates rebellion against God’s spiritual authority. On the other hand, when a woman cuts her hair, she signals both to God and to man her disrespect for the authority God has placed over her life. (Paul’s teaching is not in conflict with the Nazarite vow as practiced by Samuel, since the Nazarite vow was not mentioned nor practiced in the New Testament.)


Conversely, when the man and the woman respect God’s divine order, they both reflect God’s image and derive “glory,” or respect and dignity, from God. All authority derives from God, and when men and women operate within the authority structure designed by God, they are blessed, productive, and profitable in the kingdom of God.


Paul used several interesting and revealing words in his discourse on authority in I Corinthians 11:1-16. While the fundamental topic of his discourse involves submission to the various levels of authority God has ordained for our lives, Paul also revealed that a man or woman’s hair is a symbol of their submission to authority.

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child CIt would take an entire lesson to fully

consider the many aspects of this discussion, but some of the Greek words in Paul’s text reveal much about God’s design for authority in our lives.

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child CPaul said for a man to have long hair is

“a shame” (verse 14). He used the Greek word atimia, which means “infamy, i.e. (subj.) comparative indignity, (obj.) disgrace” (Strong’s Concordance). The King James translators translated the word as “dishonour,” “reproach,” “shame,” and “vile” (Strong’s Concordance).

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child CPaul used the Greek verb komao to say

that a woman should “have long hair” (I Corinthians 11:15). Strong’s Concordance indicates that the word means “to wear tresses of hair:—have long hair.” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon indicates the verb komao means “to let the hair grow, have long hair.” Consequently, to cut the hair disqualifies it from aligning with Paul’s definition of “have long hair.”

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child CGod told Samuel that he soon would

judge the house of Eli for its sin. He further told Samuel that He would use him as the next spiritual leader of His people. The real test for Samuel would be in his waiting on God’s timing for this to occur. Would Samuel dethrone Eli as his mentor and begin treating him with less than the respect he deserved? This step of Samuel’s development was vital.

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child CIf God is to use an individual as His

mouthpiece, it is essential that the person exercise respect for authority, even if his mentor has failed to live up to God’s plan. Samuel continued in his service at the Tabernacle and to Eli as he waited for the fulfillment of God’s purpose for his life. His proper response revealed an outstanding attitude toward authority in his life. We can never grow higher than a proper attitude will take us.

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child CSamuel did not want to tell Eli what God

had spoken to him. The next morning when Eli asked Samuel what God had said, Samuel tried not to tell him. Eli encouraged him to relate what God had told him, and that whatever he held back would happen to Samuel and his family. Only then did Samuel tell the bad news to his mentor.

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child CSamuel passed the test of grieving over

those whom God is about to allow to reap the consequences of their own actions. When we rejoice over the failing of others, we demonstrate our lack of a proper relationship with God and a lack of respect for authority. Children often laugh at each other when they are punished, yet the child who laughs and rejoices may soon find himself in trouble. The same is true in God’s kingdom as well.

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child D

D. Served as Prophetof the Lord

Israel came to view and respect Samuel as a prophet of God and spiritual leader for their nation. He earned the right to be a leader among them by his faithfulness to all God called him to do. At this point in his life, Samuel could have thought he had “arrived” and needed no further development. However, a true leader in God’s kingdom should continuously exercise passion for personal growth.

III. Samuel—A Consecrated Child D

There should never be a time when we begin living off the past instead of reaching for greater spiritual and mental growth. No matter how old we are and regardless of our length of service, we should continue to study and learn. Anything that is not growing is decaying. The people of God should forever reach to maintain a strong spiritual hunger and thirst for the Lord and spiritual growth in His kingdom.

ReflectionsSamuel’s life depicts what happens when people give themselves completely to God. In a tough time in her life, Hannah turned to God instead of becoming bitter at her circumstances. She had a good attitude and God came through for her by answering her prayers. If we keep the right attitude in the various aspects of our lives, God will work everything out to help us achieve our best in life.

ReflectionsSamuel had a great family background; however, the fact that his family lived for and served God did not mean that he would serve God. Hannah did her part by dedicating Samuel to the service of the Lord and by placing him in the house of God.

ReflectionsSamuel soon began noticing that not everyone who served in the Tabernacle lived righteously, but he continued to retain his integrity before God. Even when his mentor failed to please God, Samuel continued to exercise faithfulness in every area of his life. His example shows us we can live victoriously in any negative situation.

ReflectionsSamuel became one of the most powerful men in the Bible, and his ministry changed the course of Israel’s history. He anointed the first two kings of Israel, and he was a peaceful influence in the middle of a stormy part of Israel’s history. All of this was not by accident. Samuel lived with a passion to be the best he could be in a nation that was clearly not at its best.

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