Study 2: 1 Samuel 1: 21-28: Trent Evans

This study walks through 1 Samuel 1, highlighting the emotional and spiritual depth of Hannah’s story and what it teaches us about surrender, obedience, and trust in God. Through her anguish and prayer, Hannah models a posture of grace that doesn’t always look victorious on the outside but is deeply rooted in faith. Her vow to dedicate her future son to the Lord reveals a powerful intersection between personal desire and divine purpose—God was not only answering her cry but fulfilling His plan for Israel through Samuel. The study emphasizes that real worship is costly, obedience is often proven outside of public view, and trust in God is tested most when we have to let go. Ultimately, the story points us to God's faithfulness, the integrity of our commitments to Him, and how our lives can lead others to worship. This podcast invites listeners to dig deeper into Scripture with a heart ready to be challenged and changed by the Word.

Sermon Outline

Chapter 1: Introduction & Context

Timestamp: 00:00–02:17

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1; Book overview

Key Points:

• Transition from Judges to Kings

• Samuel's role as prophet, priest, and judge

• Foundation for Israel's future spiritual leadership

Chapter 2: Two Wives, One Painful Reality

Timestamp: 02:17–04:54

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1–6

Key Points:

• Elkanah, Hannah (means grace), and Peninnah (means pearl)

• Peninnah torments Hannah because of her barrenness

• The Bible doesn’t hide painful or messy stories—this gives it credibility

Chapter 3: Pouring Out the Heart in Prayer

Timestamp: 04:54–06:49

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:10–16

Key Points:

• Hannah prays with deep anguish; misjudged by Eli as being drunk

• People may misinterpret your worship, but God sees the heart

• Encouragement: God is not limited by man's perception

Chapter 4: Grace in the Midst of Grief

Timestamp: 06:49–08:54

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:10, 16

Key Points:

• Grace doesn’t always look like joy—sometimes it looks like anguish

• God is at work in painful seasons

• Hannah wants a son, but God is calling a prophet

Chapter 5: The Power of a Vow

Timestamp: 09:15–11:11

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:11, 20

Key Points:

• Hannah vows to dedicate her son to the Lord if He gives her one

• Samuel means "heard by God"

• God honors both the prayer and the vow

• Personal application: God remembers the words we say to Him

Chapter 6: Obedience in Marriage

Timestamp: 13:12–18:29

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:21–23; Numbers 30:10–12

Key Points:

• Elkanah and Hannah pursue God individually and together

• Elkanah supports Hannah’s vow—Old Testament law gave him authority to nullify it, but he didn’t

• Application: personal responsibility in spiritual obedience

Chapter 7: Real Trust, Real Cost

Timestamp: 19:01–27:38

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:24–28

Key Points:

• Hannah prepares to leave Samuel at the tabernacle

• Eli’s sons were corrupt (1 Samuel 2:12)

• Trusting God meant surrendering her child into a flawed system—but ultimately into God's hands

• Real worship is costly

Chapter 8: Private Words, Public Faith

Timestamp: 28:53–32:34

Key Points:

• Elkanah references a private word from God

• Not every word from God is meant to be shared

• Sometimes, obedience looks like quietly walking out what God told you

Chapter 9: A Sacrifice Fulfilled

Timestamp: 34:59–38:07

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:27–28

Key Points:

• Hannah brings Samuel to Eli, saying “I prayed for this child”

• She fulfills her vow with full trust in God's faithfulness

• Elkanah and Hannah’s act leads Eli to worship—obedience can spark worship in others

Chapter 10: A Joyful Surrender & Prophetic Praise

Timestamp: 46:08–49:30

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:1–11

Key Points:

• Hannah’s response is praise, not grief

• She declares God's sovereignty and makes the first recorded prophetic reference to the coming Messiah (1 Samuel 2:10)

• Real obedience is consummated when we walk it out beyond the altar—when we make the long trip home

Scripture References

Numbers 30:10–12

🕒 16:05–17:34

Context: This passage was referenced to explain Elkanah’s silent agreement with Hannah’s vow. According to Old Testament law, a husband had the authority to nullify his wife's vow. Since Elkanah did not, it affirmed his support and obedience.

James 5:12 (Implied)

🕒 12:14–12:32

Context: When discussing how God remembers the vows and words we make to Him, the teaching aligns with James' instruction to let our “yes” be yes and our “no” be no. It stresses integrity and follow-through in commitments made before God.

Matthew 7:6 (Implied)

🕒 32:08–32:23“Do not cast your pearls before swine.”

Context: When explaining how not all words from God are meant to be shared publicly, the speaker warns against exposing sacred revelations to ridicule, echoing this principle from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

Romans 12:1 (Implied)

🕒 34:59–35:11“Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice...”

Context: As Hannah brings Samuel with elements of worship to the tabernacle, the message emphasized that true worship always costs something. This directly echoes Paul's urging to present our lives as sacrificial worship.

Matthew 5:16

🕒 53:14–53:53“Let your light shine before men...”

Context: Concluding the study, this verse is used as a call to action—encouraging believers to live in such a way that others see their good works and glorify God. It reinforces the theme of obedience as a lifestyle.

John 1:41 / Daniel 7:13–14 / Psalm 2:2 (Implied Messianic Prophecies)

🕒 46:42–48:13

Context: As Hannah prays and unknowingly prophesies the coming of the Messiah in 1 Samuel 2:10, the speaker connects this to broader Messianic prophecy, noting her use of the word “anointed one” (Mashiach). While not quoted directly, the theological implications align with Messianic expectations found throughout Scripture.

Word Study

שָׁמוּאֵל (Shĕmûʾēl / Samuel) 1. חֵן (Ḥēn) – “Grace”

• Referenced in: Discussion of Hannah (Hebrew: חַנָּה, Channah), whose name means "grace"

• Tied to: 1 Samuel 1:2; 1:10

• Study Insight:The name Hannah embodies unmerited favor or kindness from God. While her circumstances were filled with pain and barrenness, her posture of prayer and surrender highlights the essence of true grace—not always visible in comfort, but present in humility and dependence on God.

  🔑 Grace doesn't always look like victory, but it lays the foundation for it.

2. תְּפִלָּה (Tĕphillah / Prayer)2. גָּמַל (Gāmal) – “Wean / Ripen / Deal fully with”

• Explicitly mentioned in: Discussion of weaning Samuel

• Tied to: 1 Samuel 1:23–24

• Study Insight:The Hebrew word used for "wean" in this context is more than just the cessation of nursing. Gāmal refers to the full development or preparation of a child (or even a spiritual truth). The deeper meaning here is that both Hannah and Samuel were being prepared—he for service, and she for surrender.

  🔑 Weaning is a process of readiness—for both the one sent and the one letting go.

3. חֵן (Chen / Favor or Grace)3. מָשִׁיחַ (Mashiach) – “Anointed One / Messiah”

• Explicitly referenced in: Hannah’s prophetic prayer (1 Samuel 2:10)

• Tied to: The future promise of a king; Messianic prophecy

• Study Insight:This is the first time in Scripture the term Mashiach is used prophetically to refer to the coming king—the one who would ultimately be fulfilled in Jesus. Though Israel had no king yet, Hannah's Spirit-inspired prayer points ahead to God's plan to exalt His chosen one.

  🔑 Even in personal sacrifice, God is unfolding a redemptive plan much bigger than we can see.

1. Hupsos (ὕψος) – "High Position"

Scripture Reference: James 1:9 – “Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.”

• Definition: Hupsos refers to elevation, height, or exaltation. In this context, it symbolizes a spiritual elevation that comes from being in Christ, regardless of earthly circumstances.

• Sermon Context: The sermon contrasts the "high position" of believers with their humble circumstances, emphasizing that their identity and value are rooted in their relationship with Christ, not in worldly wealth or status.

• Application: Believers are called to rejoice in their spiritual status in Christ, which is unshaken by external trials or material losses.

2. Tapinosis (ταπείνωσις) – "Humiliation" or "Low Condition"

Scripture Reference: James 1:10 – “But the rich should take pride in their humiliation…”

• Definition: Tapinosis refers to being brought low, humility, or a state of abasement. In the sermon, it is tied to the temporary and fleeting nature of worldly riches.

• Sermon Context: The rich are reminded to find humility in the reality that material wealth fades, and only a relationship with Christ offers eternal significance.

• Application: This word underscores the importance of spiritual humility, urging believers to shift their focus from temporary wealth to eternal treasures in Christ.

3. Peirasmos (πειρασμός) – "Trial" or "Temptation"

Scripture Reference: James 1:2-3, 1:13 – “Consider it pure joy... when you face trials...” / “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’”

• Definition: Peirasmos can mean either a trial (testing of faith) or a temptation (enticement to sin), depending on the context.

• Sermon Context: The sermon differentiates between trials, which God allows to refine and strengthen faith, and temptations, which arise from personal desires and lead to sin.

• Application: Believers are encouraged to endure trials with joy and to resist temptation by seeking wisdom and strength from God.