Unlikely Hero: Hannah

 

Series Summary

David has been described as a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). But as we read through the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, as David enters the narrative of Israel's history, David was unknown. He was young. He was a shepherd. He was overlooked. He was unlikely. But God pointed him out to Samuel and said, "David is my choice. He's the next king. And he's the one I will use to build the family line from which the Messiah will one day come." But David was a very unlikely choice. He failed, and he failed often. Bathsheba... Absalom... The census... And yet God describes him as a man after his own heart. Why? David was chosen by God because of his character. Character doesn’t mean perfection. David was far from perfect. But David always pursued the Lord. David maintained his character, no matter what. All the way to the point of repentance when necessary. This summer, we will look at several events that take place in the life of David: His calling. His victories. His friendships. His failures. His legacy. We will look at the life of David. But David is not the main character. The main character is Jesus. What we will see in David is a life that foreshadows Christ. And we will see how we can better reflect Christ in our own character, and in our own lives.

Sermon Summary

For Mother's Day, we're taking a break from the life of David, but not from the books of 1 & 2 Samuel. We're backing up to 1 Samuel 1, and taking a look at the example of Hannah, who prayed to God for a son. Her prayer was heard, Samuel was born, and he led the nation of Israel for years, eventually anointing both Saul and then David as king. Hannah's example as a mother is clearly seen in how she took her desires to God, and how she responded when he answered those prayers. Her example of faith is something that all of us can follow, whether we're mothers or not.