Sermon by Neil Earle
1 Samuel 3:19: "The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground."
Today we are celebrating Mother's Day. In a time of social and moral chaos and confusion in Israel, God intervened to save the nation. He intervened in a way no one expected in the form of a mother. The mother's name was Hannah and the son's name was Samuel. You can read the first 16 chapters of 1 Samuel for that account. Faith is transferable. Faith is catchable. We can go from faith to faith. We see this is a woman of God – Hannah the mother of Samuel.
1 Samuel 1:1-20: "There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah… Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard… So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, 'Because I asked the LORD for him.'"
Here is how God decides to work and clean up the nation of Israel and get it ready for the next change in Israel. Faith is a social thing. We do not know what the future holds. We know the One who knows the future.
Ecclesiastes 11:5: "As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things."
We do not know all the works of God.
Ecclesiastes 8:16-17: "When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe man’s labor on earth – his eyes not seeing sleep day or night – then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it."
We do not know everything. God allows change. Many things are negative. We should be a fool for Christ. We should be God's people. Faith is transferable. We should be aware of negative instruction. We should be prepared for a lot of change as we go through life. Be easy on yourself as teachers and mothers. Do not despair. Be easy on yourself. God is always there for all of us.
Proverbs 23:17-18: "Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."
The life of Samuel teaches us many things. Do not despair.
Sermon summary prepared by local Glendora church member Charlie Schreiner.