The Ideal Mother

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The Ideal Mother
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The Ideal Mother

• Hannah, who lived during the close of the period
  of judges, was the favored of two wives of a man
  named Elkanah.

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1 Samuel 11

• Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim,
  of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was
  Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the
  son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

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1 Samuel 12-3

• And he had two wives the name of one was Hannah,
  and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had
  children, but Hannah had no children.
• This man went up from his city yearly to worship
  and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh.
  Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas,
  the priests of the Lord, were there.

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1 Samuel 14-5

• And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an
  offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his
  wife and to all her sons and daughters.
• But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for
  he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her
  womb.

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The Ideal Mother

• Though childless for years, she became the mother
  of Samuel, and personified ideal motherhood under
  Old Testament law.
• Many lessons can be illustrated by events in her
  life.

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Hannah Was a Godly Woman.

• She went yearly to Shiloh, which only the men
  were required to do.

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Exodus 3423

• "Three times in the year all your men shall
  appear before the Lord, the Lord God of Israel."

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Hannah Was a Godly Woman.

• She went yearly to Shiloh, which only men were
  required to do.
• She prayed earnestly.

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1 Samuel 19-10

• So Hannah arose after they had finished eating
  and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was
  sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the
  tabernacle of the Lord.
• And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to
  the Lord and wept in anguish.

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Hannah Desired to Be a Mother.

• Her heart grieved for a son.

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1 Samuel 16-8

• And her rival also provoked her severely, to make
  her miserable, because the Lord had closed her
  womb.
• So it was, year by year, when she went up to the
  house of the Lord, that she provoked her
  therefore she wept and did not eat.
• Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah,
  why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is
  your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than
  ten sons?"

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Hannah Desired to Be a Mother.

• Her heart grieved for a son.
• Many married women, today, do not want the
  bother of bearing and raising children.
• One purpose of marriage is to fill the earth by
  bringing forth children.

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Genesis 128

• Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be
  fruitful and multiply fill the earth and subdue
  it have dominion over the fish of the sea, over
  the birds of the air, and over every living thing
  that moves on the earth."

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Hannah Dedicated Her Son to God.

• She realized her son was a gift from God.

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1 Samuel 112-14

• And it happened, as she continued praying before
  the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth.
• Now Hannah spoke in her heart only her lips
  moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli
  thought she was drunk.
• So Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk?
  Put your wine away from you!"

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1 Samuel 115-17

• And Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am
  a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither
  wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out
  my soul before the Lord. Do not consider your
  maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the
  abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken
  until now.
• Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and the
  God of Israel grant your petition which you have
  asked of Him."

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1 Samuel 118-19

• And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in
  your sight." So the woman went her way and ate,
  and her face was no longer sad.
• Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped
  before the Lord, and returned and came to their
  house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife,
  and the Lord remembered her.

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1 Samuel 120

• So it came to pass in the process of time that
  Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his
  name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for
  him from the Lord."

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Psalm 1273-5

• Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
  The fruit of the womb is a reward.
• Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the
  children of one's youth.
• Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them
  They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with
  their enemies in the gate.

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Hannah Dedicated Her Son to God.

• She realized her son was a gift from God.
• She brought him to the house of God after weaning
  him.

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1 Samuel 121-22

• Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to
  offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his
  vow.
• But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her
  husband, "Not until the child is weaned then I
  will take him, that he may appear before the Lord
  and remain there forever."

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1 Samuel 123-24

• And Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what
  seems best to you wait until you have weaned
  him. Only let the Lord establish His word."
• So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she
  had weaned him.
• Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with
  her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a
  skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the
  Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young.

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1 Samuel 125-28

• Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the
  child to Eli.
• And she said, "O my lord! As your soul lives, my
  lord, I am the woman who stood by you here,
  praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and
  the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked
  of Him.
• Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord as
  long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord."
  So they worshiped the Lord there.

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2 Chronicles 3116

• Besides those males from three years old and up
  who were written in the genealogy, they
  distributed to everyone who entered the house of
  the Lord his daily portion for the work of his
  service, by his division,

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2 Chronicles 3117-18

• and to the priests who were written in the
  genealogy according to their father's house, and
  to the Levites from twenty years old and up
  according to their work, by their divisions, and
  to all who were written in the genealogy--their
  little ones and their wives, their sons and
  daughters, the whole company of them--for in
  their faithfulness they sanctified themselves in
  holiness.

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Hannah Rejoiced in Her Motherhood.

• She praised God for His salvation.

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1 Samuel 21

• And Hannah prayed and said "My heart rejoices in
  the Lord My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile
  at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your
  salvation."

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Hannah Rejoiced in Her Motherhood.

• She praised God for His salvation.
• True religion makes a soul happy in his
  relationship to God.

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Isaiah 123

• Therefore with joy you will draw water From the
  wells of salvation.

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Hannah Rejoiced in Her Motherhood

• She praised God for His salvation.
• True religion makes a soul happy in his
  relationship to God.
• Consider the beatitudes.

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Matthew 51-5

• And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a
  mountain, and when He was seated His disciples
  came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught
  them, saying
• "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is
  the kingdom of heaven.
• "Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be
  comforted.
• "Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the
  earth.

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Matthew 56-9

• "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
  righteousness, For they shall be filled.
• "Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain
  mercy.
• "Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall
  see God.
• "Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be
  called sons of God.

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Matthew 510-12

• "Blessed are those who are persecuted for
  righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of
  heaven.
• "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute
  you, and say all kinds of evil against you
  falsely for My sake.
• "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is
  your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the
  prophets who were before you."

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Lessons Illustrated in the Life of Hannah

• Long years of meekly enduring trials may be the
  divine training ground for higher spiritual ends.
• Fervent prayer is, indeed, powerful.
• Great things can come out of a not so ideal
  home situation.

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Conclusion

• We certainly need to be as dedicated to God as
  Hannah was.
• We need to pour out our needs to God in prayer on
  a regular basis as Hannah did.

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The Hand that Rocks the Cradle

• Rules the World!

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Proverbs 3110-14

• Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is
  far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely
  trusts her so he will have no lack of gain. She
  does him good and not evil all the days of her
  life. She seeks wool and flax, and willingly
  works with her hands. She is like the merchant
  ships, she brings her food from afar.

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Proverbs 3115-18

• She also rises while it is yet night, and
  provides food for her household, and a portion
  for her maidservants. She considers a field and
  buys it from her profits she plants a vineyard.
  She girds herself with strength, and strengthens
  her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is
  good, and her lamp does not go out by night.

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Proverbs 3119-22

• She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and
  her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand
  to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to
  the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her
  household, for all her household is clothed with
  scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself her
  clothing is fine linen and purple.

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Proverbs 3123-27

• Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits
  among the elders of the land. She makes linen
  garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for
  the merchants. Strength and honor are her
  clothing she shall rejoice in time to come. She
  opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is
  the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of
  her household, and does not eat the bread of
  idleness.

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Proverbs 3128-31

• Her children rise up and call her blessed her
  husband also, and he praises her "Many daughters
  have done well, but you excel them all." Charm is
  deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who
  fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of
  the fruit of her hands, and let her own works
  praise her in the gates.