CALL TO CONFESSION

Colossians 3:1-5

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Almighty God, we have come before you to worship you, but as we speak words of worship and sing songs of praise, we are reminded by your Word that we are to have no other gods before you. We have fallen woefully short of keeping this great command. Our worship of you is neither consistent nor wholehearted. You have called us to set our minds on things above, yet we habitually allow our minds to slip back toward things of earth: the fleeting pleasures that this world offers us in food, sexual immorality, and entertainment; the seeming glory it grants us in reputation, success, and money.

Lord Jesus Christ, we have often doubted that you could rescue our souls. Some of us have learned to live in blindness toward the sin that so easily ensnares us, assuming that we are better than we are and smugly satisfied that we are not like other sinners. Others of us have established rituals of self-loathing to cope with the sin that we find in our hearts, hoping that if we just work hard enough, you might find it possible to forgive our insidious and constant sins. None of us sees our sin clearly. Instead we make too much or too little of it, and thereby obscure our view of your cross.

Holy Spirit, lead us back to the good news of the gospel: that all our sin has been put to death, fully and finally, by Christ on the cross. Help us to see the reality of our justification: we have been raised with Christ, and our relationship with God has been secured as beloved children. Help us to put to death the remaining sin in our hearts, but give us the confidence to admit that our struggle with sin is ongoing, and will be so until you glorify us. Give us bold faith that lingers at the cross longer than we linger over our sins. Clear our spiritual vision, we pray, that we might see our souls as hidden with Christ on high, our Savior and our God. In his name we pray, amen.

“Take a few moments to personally confess your sins to the Lord.”

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

“Hear these words of comfort and assurance.” 

Isaiah 12:1-3

1 You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.

2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

• We often treat our relationship with God like a transaction at a cosmic vending machine. 
• We put in our ‘quarters’: a little bit of prayer, a decent moral life, regular church attendance, and we expect God to dispense the exact blessing we selected.  
• But what happens when the machine doesn't dispense what we asked for?
• What happens when you do everything right, like Hannah and you still end up barren? 
• If your relationship with God is transactional, you will get angry when your pre-selected blessing doesn’t drop.
• But the rhythm of the Christian life isn’t a transaction; it’s a transformation.  
• It is a rhythm of two inseparable movements: dedication and doxology. 
• Dedication is the painful act of surrender. 
• Doxology is the result of that surrender. 
• As we walk through our text today, we will see that when we release what we love most to the God who owns it all, we don’t lose, we gain a greater vision of his glory and goodness that changes everything.

1 Samuel 1:21-28

The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” 23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 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. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 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.

• After the birth of Samuel, Elkanah goes up for his annual journey to Shiloh but Hannah tells him that she won’t be going up until the child is weaned. 
• Now recall, Hannah made a vow to the Lord that If God remembered her and looked upon her affliction, and gave to her a son, she would in turn give her son to the Lord in lifelong service. 
• She had not forgotten her vow. She says, “As soon as he is weaned I will bring him to appear before the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” 
• And Elkanah affirms her vow. "May the Lord establish his word."
• We know that the Lord’s answer to Hannah’s prayer is part of a greater purpose for God’s people.
• Hannah nursed her son until he was weaned and on the next trip to Shiloh she took Samuel up with her. 
• And notice, they did not go empty-handed. They bring an extravagant sacrifice: a three-year old bull, roughly 36 pounds of flour,  a skin of choice wine, and of course, young Samuel. 

• How many of us could let go of something we know God has blessed us with? 
• But Hannah recognized what every parent needs to recognize, everything we have, including our children, belongs to the Lord.  
• Whatever has come our way, including our children, is by his providence. 

• They present their sacrifice, the bull is slaughtered, and then the child is brought to Eli, the priest. 
• Hannah uses a play on words in v28, to show that the son she ‘asked for’ from the Lord is now being ‘lent’ or ‘granted’ back to the Lord. 
• It foreshadows a day when Israel would ask for a king. 
• Don’t misunderstand the word ‘lent’; she is not loaning Samuel to the Lord. 
• She is acknowledging that Samuel was always the Lord’s. She is returning a “loan” to its rightful owner.

• Parents, how do you view your children, as on loan from God or do you see yourself as the owner?
• Do you understand that your children belong to the Lord and that they have been given to you to steward?
• When we view our children as our possession, we believe their purpose is to fulfill our needs, reflect our image, and secure our legacy. 
• But when we view them as the Lord’s, it changes everything about how we parent them. 

POSSESSION VS STEWARDSHIP MINDSET

• When you treat your children as “possessions” rather than “stewardships”, you move from being parents to acting like owners. This leads to dangerous pitfalls. 
• Contrast these mindsets in your heart today.
• Identity: The possession mindset says, “My child’s success is my trophy.” The stewardship mindset says, “My child is God’s project, not mine.” You plant the seeds and trust God to give the growth. 
• Ask yourself, "Am I training my child to be impressive to the world or useful to the kingdom?"
• The Center: The possession mindset makes the child the “sun” around which the family revolves. The stewardship mindset makes Christ the center and the child is a member of the body, not the head of the home. 
• Ask yourself, "Is Christ the center of my home or does everything revolve around my child’s schedule, whims, and hobbies?"
• The Control: The possession mindset is the “helicopter” parent that swoops in to remove all risk and trial, controlling every outcome because they don’t trust God with their child’s mistakes and pains. The stewardship mindset is an open hand that says, “Lord, I trust in your providence more than my ability to protect my child.” 
• If you live for your child’s success, you’ve made them an idol that will eventually crush you both. 
• But if you give them to the Lord, you place them in the only hands that are truly safe.
• Our task is not to raise children just for our own legacy, but to train them for the Lord’s service. 
• Ultimately, dedication is the act of releasing our grip on our children’s futures, acknowledging that they are safest when they are surrendered to the hands of the One who created them. 

• You can have a possession mindset when it comes to your career, viewing it as your source of security and identity. The stewardship mindset sees one’s career, resources, influence, reputation and position not for self, but for the mission of God. 
• If you’re single, or in a unique season of life where there's no immediate demands of a family pressing upon you, you have a gift of time that is a profound stewardship. The possession mindset uses that freedom for self cultivation and comfort, the stewardship mindset views that freedom as something to be used in service of the Lord and his people. 
• What do you need to bring in dedication to the Lord? Your life? Your children? Your career? Your time? Your resources? Open your hands! 

• The story of Samuel's dedication concludes with young Samuel worshiping the Lord at Shiloh.
• We need to be reminded again, that Hannah’s prayer was granted because God cared for Hannah and his care for her was his care for Israel. 

• What follows is a prayer expressed in song from Hannah. 
• It’s a remarkable song that is the theological heart behind the dedication of Samuel to the Lord. 

1 Samuel 2:1-11

1 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.

2 “There is none holy like the Lord:

    for there is none besides you;

    there is no rock like our God.

3 Talk no more so very proudly,

    let not arrogance come from your mouth;

for the Lord is a God of knowledge,

    and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty are broken,

    but the feeble bind on strength.

5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,

    but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.

The barren has borne seven,

    but she who has many children is forlorn.

6 The Lord kills and brings to life;

    he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;

    he brings low and he exalts.

8 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.

9 “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.

10 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.”

11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.

THE GOD LIKE NO OTHER (vv 1-2)

• The last time Hannah prayed she was deeply distressed, broken by her barrenness and the taunts of her rival. 
• Now, she expresses the difference the Lord has made in her life, specifically in her heart, strength and speech. 
• Before her heart was deeply troubled, her soul was distressed.
• Now her heart bursts with joy and praise. “My heart rejoices in the Lord!” 
• Before, her rival would taunt her and provoke her. 
• Now she says, “my horn is exalted in the Lord.” 'Horn' is an ancient symbol of strength.
• Before she prayed out of her vexation and anxiety. 
• Now she speaks differently, her mouth derides her enemies. What more can her rival say?
• She “rejoices in God’s salvation.”
• In what sense was the birth of Samuel a sign of God’s salvation? 
• Well, Hannah is echoing the language of Israel and the occasions in which God delivered them from their affliction. 
• God’s goodness to her was in a way a representation of God’s goodness to Israel. 

• Vv2-3 Hannah expresses God’s absolute uniqueness and incomparability. 
• There is no one, there is no thing, there is no power that compares to the Lord. 
• Is 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God;
• God is holy, that means he stands apart.  
• There is no rock like our God. He is the only stable thing in a shifting world. He is immovable and unshakeable. 
• There is no other option in which one should place their hope and confidence.

• V3 The Lord is a God of knowledge who weighs actions. 
• There is nothing hidden from him, there is nothing unknown to him. He is omniscient. 
• God knows all, God sees all, he knows what’s in the heart, he can’t be deceived, he can’t be fooled by outward piety, so human arrogance and pride must cease. 
• Hannah’s rival, Peninnah and her hateful cruelty, her vicious taunts, were seen by the Lord. 
• Everything that leads to pride and self-confidence: human achievements, triumphs, successes, when they are weighed by the God of knowledge, the arrogant mouth is silenced. 
• There is a judgment, all of humanity will have to give account to the God of knowledge.
• Hebrews 4:13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
• Do you believe in God like Hannah believed in God?

THE GOD OF REVERSALS (vv 4-5)

• Hannah catalogs a series of reversals where human pride is upended when the God of knowledge is taken into account. 
• The mighty who rely on their strength, will be broken while the weak are strengthened. 
• Those who have plenty will be impoverished while the hungry will be satisfied. 
• Those who have many children will not have security in them while the barren will bear sevenfold.
• Vv6-8 Hannah presses the reversals the Lord makes. He is the main character in this song. He is sovereign over all. 
• There is a shift in the song that moves it beyond Hannah’s own personal experience to the experience of God’s people. 
• The things that humans place their trust, confidence, and hope in, to give them security, safety, power, control, and comfort, really don’t provide any of that.  
• People live and act as if they are in control.  
• But we do not live independent of God. 
• “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.”
• He is Creator. He established the world and sustains all of its existence. 
• Everything belongs to God and we are utterly dependent on him in every way. 
• Do you see why these foundational truths of God’s sovereignty and omniscience are so important? 
• Especially when we see evil winning, and the wicked prospering, and those who boast in their power and might and wealth and success. 
• Hannah’s song reminds us that the current state of affairs in the world is not the final state of affairs. 
• Our God is sovereign over all, he is the God of knowledge and reversals. 

THE GOD OF ULTIMATE VICTORY (vv 9-10)

• As Hannah nears the end of her song, the tone shifts. 
• Look at v9 and the beginning of v10. 
• The winners in the end will not be the strong and powerful. Human might will not be the last word. 
• God will triumph over all his enemies. 
• He will judge the ends of the earth! He is the God of knowledge by whom all actions are weighed. 

• The last line is shocking. “He will give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
• Remember, there was no king in Israel at this time. The people were ruled by judges and there was a massive leadership crisis. 
• But, Hannah, through the Holy Spirit, is looking past her toddler son, and even past the future King David. 
• She is looking to the Messiah--and that is Jesus!

• A thousand years later, another young girl stood in the hill country of Judea. Her name was Mary. She too, had experienced a miracle of birth, not from a barren womb, but from a virgin one. 
• She also breaks out in a doxological song called The Magnificat. (Luke 1)
• And her song almost perfectly mirrors Hannah’s song.
• Hannah sang: “My heart rejoices in the Lord.” 
• Mary sang: “My soul magnifies the Lord.”
• Hannah sang: “He brings down the mighty and lifts the poor.”
• Mary sang: “He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate.” 
• Mary recognized that what God began in the house of Elkanah, he was completing in her womb. 
• Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the God of reversals. 
• He was the rich one who became poor for our sake, that we might be rich in him. 
• He was the Mighty One who became a helpless infant, so we could have His strength. 
• He was the Living one, who went down to the dust of death, so that we who were poor and needy, dead in our sin, could be raised up to sit with princes in glory. 

CONCLUSION

• Hannah walked away from Shiloh with empty arms, but a full heart. 
• Many of us are holding on to things too tightly today. 
• We have clench fists around our children’s futures, our careers, our reputations, or our right to a life free of suffering. 
• We’ve been acting like owners.
• But look at the end of Hannah’s song. She’s pointing us to a King. 
• She knew that God is the One who brings life out of death and strength out of weakness. 
• Where are you today? Is God calling you to let go of something and dedicate it to him?
• If so, you’re not losing, you're being invited into the rhythm of God’s kingdom 
• When you dedicate your life to him, you don’t lose it, you find it. 
• This week, I challenge you to identify one thing you have been treating as a possession.
• And open your fist. Release it to the Lord in dedication. 
• And as you do, watch how the Spirit turns your mourning into doxology. 
• He is the God who raises the poor from the dust. 
• He is the God who makes the barren sing. 
• And he is the King who has already won the victory for you. 

APPLICATION AND REFLECTION

In light of today's message....

• What did I learn about the gospel?
• How can I apply what I learned about the gospel to my life?
• With whom can I share the gospel this week?