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Point of Grace International
PGI - January 08, 2022 Sunday Service
In our church we aim to make it feel like a home, where strangers feel they are part of the family, where smiles are overflowing and hugs are natural, because we believe that life is a journey, and that we are simply channel of blessings. In our church we value three things, gratitude because it's the proper response to God, excellence because God expects nothing less, and grace because we all need it.
Locations & Times
Point of Grace Church
15601 Sheridan St, Davie, FL 33331, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
https://www.facebook.com/PGIFortLauderdale
LYRICS FOR TODAY'S SONGS
CCLI License # 1613304
CCLI License # 1613304
Sermon Notes
1 Samuel 1:21-2:11 ISG
Literary Analysis
The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow.
But Hannah did not go up…And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her… and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh… and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD.”
And he worshiped the LORD there.
And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
“There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts… He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and on them he has set the world. “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven.
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest.
The Text in Context
The judges’ period was a low point in Israel’s history. God’s people, without effective leadership, hit rock bottom morally, ethically, and spiritually. The final chapters of Judges contain alarming accounts of gang rape, civil war, mass slaughter of entire tribes and cities, and kidnapping. The book ends by declaring, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (Judg. 21:25).
In her song of praise following Samuel’s birth, Hannah declares that the Lord is incomparable to all other so-called gods. Living at a time when many are worshiping the fertility god Baal (cf. Judg. 2:11–13; 6:25–32; 8:33; 10:6, 10; 1 Sam. 7:4), Hannah could be tempted to look to this popular god to deliver her from her childless condition. But she remains faithful to the Lord and is vindicated. She affirms that the Lord is sovereign, challenging the Canaanite belief that Baal is the incomparable king who ensures fertility. In contrast to Baal, who periodically succumbs to the god of death, the Lord both kills and makes alive. The Lord, not Baal, is the one who thunders in the storm.
Excerpt From: Robert B. Chisholm. “1 & 2 Samuel.” Apple Books.
Historical and Cultural Background
The Canaanites (neighbors of ancient Israel) worshiped the fertility god Baal, believing him to be a mighty warrior king who controlled the elements of the storm. They counted Baal as responsible for both agricultural and human fertility. Baal’s quest for kingship, under the ultimate authority of the high god El, is the main theme of their mythological texts. He defeats Yamm, the god of the unruly, threatening sea, but must then face the challenge of Mot, the god of the underworld and death. Mot initially defeats Baal, much to the dismay of El and the other gods. But then Baal returns to life and eventually engages in a violent conflict with Mot. Baal wins, but one suspects that the struggle for power is not over. The myth reflected the realities of nature. When the rains arrived at the proper time and the crops grew, Baal was in control. But when drought interrupted the natural cycle and brought starvation, Mot had defeated Baal.
Excerpt From: Robert B. Chisholm. “1 & 2 Samuel.” Apple Books.
Theological Insights
Samuel’s birth is a turning point in Israel’s history. As Hannah acknowledges in her song of praise, her deliverance from her oppressed condition foreshadows what God will do for the nation in the years that immediately follow (2:10). Through Hannah’s son, Samuel, God will once again reveal his word to his people, give them military victory over hostile enemies, and establish a king who will lead the nation to previously unrealized heights. The final canonical context of the Former Prophets is the exile (2 Kings 25). The exiles are enduring the consequences of their ancestors’ and their own rebellious deeds and suffering oppression under foreign rule, but they can find hope in the realization that the Lord is just and eventually vindicates those who are loyal to him. They can confidently look to the future, anticipating God’s intervention in the life of the covenant community and the arrival of an ideal Davidic king, through whom God will bring about the fulfillment of his ancient covenant promises.
Excerpt From: Robert B. Chisholm. “1 & 2 Samuel.” Apple Books.
1 Samuel 1:21-2:11 ISG
Literary Analysis
The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow.
But Hannah did not go up…And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her… and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh… and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD.”
And he worshiped the LORD there.
And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
“There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts… He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and on them he has set the world. “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven.
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest.
The Text in Context
The judges’ period was a low point in Israel’s history. God’s people, without effective leadership, hit rock bottom morally, ethically, and spiritually. The final chapters of Judges contain alarming accounts of gang rape, civil war, mass slaughter of entire tribes and cities, and kidnapping. The book ends by declaring, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (Judg. 21:25).
In her song of praise following Samuel’s birth, Hannah declares that the Lord is incomparable to all other so-called gods. Living at a time when many are worshiping the fertility god Baal (cf. Judg. 2:11–13; 6:25–32; 8:33; 10:6, 10; 1 Sam. 7:4), Hannah could be tempted to look to this popular god to deliver her from her childless condition. But she remains faithful to the Lord and is vindicated. She affirms that the Lord is sovereign, challenging the Canaanite belief that Baal is the incomparable king who ensures fertility. In contrast to Baal, who periodically succumbs to the god of death, the Lord both kills and makes alive. The Lord, not Baal, is the one who thunders in the storm.
Excerpt From: Robert B. Chisholm. “1 & 2 Samuel.” Apple Books.
Historical and Cultural Background
The Canaanites (neighbors of ancient Israel) worshiped the fertility god Baal, believing him to be a mighty warrior king who controlled the elements of the storm. They counted Baal as responsible for both agricultural and human fertility. Baal’s quest for kingship, under the ultimate authority of the high god El, is the main theme of their mythological texts. He defeats Yamm, the god of the unruly, threatening sea, but must then face the challenge of Mot, the god of the underworld and death. Mot initially defeats Baal, much to the dismay of El and the other gods. But then Baal returns to life and eventually engages in a violent conflict with Mot. Baal wins, but one suspects that the struggle for power is not over. The myth reflected the realities of nature. When the rains arrived at the proper time and the crops grew, Baal was in control. But when drought interrupted the natural cycle and brought starvation, Mot had defeated Baal.
Excerpt From: Robert B. Chisholm. “1 & 2 Samuel.” Apple Books.
Theological Insights
Samuel’s birth is a turning point in Israel’s history. As Hannah acknowledges in her song of praise, her deliverance from her oppressed condition foreshadows what God will do for the nation in the years that immediately follow (2:10). Through Hannah’s son, Samuel, God will once again reveal his word to his people, give them military victory over hostile enemies, and establish a king who will lead the nation to previously unrealized heights. The final canonical context of the Former Prophets is the exile (2 Kings 25). The exiles are enduring the consequences of their ancestors’ and their own rebellious deeds and suffering oppression under foreign rule, but they can find hope in the realization that the Lord is just and eventually vindicates those who are loyal to him. They can confidently look to the future, anticipating God’s intervention in the life of the covenant community and the arrival of an ideal Davidic king, through whom God will bring about the fulfillment of his ancient covenant promises.
Excerpt From: Robert B. Chisholm. “1 & 2 Samuel.” Apple Books.
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Study & Reflection Guide
1. Picking up the narrative from 1:20, The LORD remembers. This word, “remember” points to the covenant in Deuteronomy regarding fertility blessings to Israel (Deuteronomy 7:14). Why do you think God deliberately closed Hannah’s womb? (1:5-6) If you read this story prophetically, will you come to the conclusion that Hannah is the representative of faithful Israel?
2. Comparing the texts 1:9-11 and 1:21-23, does this give you an impression that Hannah rushed to vow? What do you think is the reason why she wanted to have a child only to give him back to God? How does this idea square with Hannah’s prayer of “salvation” in 2:1?
3. Survey the passage in 2:2-10 and identify who and what the LORD is? What does this passage tell you of God in comparison to other gods in the world today?
4. In literary fashion, compare passages side by side and identify the possible similarities and contrast of 1 Samuel 2:2-10 and Matthew 5:2-12. What does this tell you about God reversing the fortunes of the righteous?
5. Based on our text, how does your understanding of God bringing “shalom” to the world relate to our prayer, “his kingdom come, his will be done”?
Study & Reflection Guide
1. Picking up the narrative from 1:20, The LORD remembers. This word, “remember” points to the covenant in Deuteronomy regarding fertility blessings to Israel (Deuteronomy 7:14). Why do you think God deliberately closed Hannah’s womb? (1:5-6) If you read this story prophetically, will you come to the conclusion that Hannah is the representative of faithful Israel?
2. Comparing the texts 1:9-11 and 1:21-23, does this give you an impression that Hannah rushed to vow? What do you think is the reason why she wanted to have a child only to give him back to God? How does this idea square with Hannah’s prayer of “salvation” in 2:1?
3. Survey the passage in 2:2-10 and identify who and what the LORD is? What does this passage tell you of God in comparison to other gods in the world today?
4. In literary fashion, compare passages side by side and identify the possible similarities and contrast of 1 Samuel 2:2-10 and Matthew 5:2-12. What does this tell you about God reversing the fortunes of the righteous?
5. Based on our text, how does your understanding of God bringing “shalom” to the world relate to our prayer, “his kingdom come, his will be done”?