The Birth of Great Things
1 Samuel 1:1–2:11

Paul J. Bucknell

Hannah’s anguish becomes the setting for a major turning point in Israel’s history as she carries her grief to the Lord and learns to trust Him with what she holds most precious.

Introduction to 1 Samuel

Although Israel did not cry out as in the days of the Judges, God used the sincere prayers that did exist to pour out His extraordinary grace on His people. Why are people not crying out to God for our society and the church, but instead seeking only their own desires? Hannah showed great maturity when she recognized God’s higher purposes during her personal crisis and later dedicated Samuel to God.

We would expect the nation to cry out to God when the pain caused by its sin increased, but that cry seems to have been faint or absent—even in a country known for God. Sin, like hidden cancer, had infected the priesthood. In many cases, what we learn about Israel is happening in our own countries. The nation had become morally and financially bankrupt. Ridiculous debates and policies focused on issues that even five-year-olds could have resolved. People had become foolish because they no longer sought God and His revealed truth.

“(For the choir director. A Psalm of David.) The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good” (Ps 14:1).

“For a fool speaks nonsense, And his heart inclines toward wickedness” (Isa 32:6).

1 Samuel demonstrates that God’s patience is boundless. Even when the stubborn resist, God does not want anyone to perish. Because of this, the entire books of 1 and 2 Samuel emphasize this truth. These books are not just simple historical records but a thoughtful depiction of how God acts during desperate times—when His people have lost their true identity.

This is not merely a one-time event that reveals God’s specific actions during that period, but part of a long-term plan to bring about a profound transformation in God’s people. The new Jewish nation, which began so powerfully with the great Exodus, had fallen into spiritual decline. The impressive miracles experienced during the conquest of the land, along with the establishment of the priesthood, the Levites’ role, and the division of land among the twelve tribes, have mostly lost their impact.

This deadening syndrome also affects us. Even though we have inherited God’s words and works, a tragic forgetfulness—a dullness to God’s purposes—has blinded us. While God started many of the early churches, some are now best described as large museums. To understand the Book of 1 Samuel, or Christianity as it is viewed around the world, one must recognize that every expression of God’s people will be tested by compromise and corruption.

This simple introduction to 1 Samuel is not unlike what we see today with couples who cannot have children, no matter how hard they have tried. Something much more is happening behind the scenes. Look deeper and longer. God is still at work even when His people no longer seek Him. God embeds a ray of hope through the tears of a broken woman.

A Few Questions on 1 Samuel

A few questions come to mind: Why has God taken so long? Why do God’s people fall into such moral decline? Is this the best God can do?

God’s questions, however, take precedence over ours: Why do God’s people seldom cry out? Shouldn’t God’s people obey the Lord? God’s greatness is revealed in His magnificent redemptive plan.

What does it take to get a little pure maple syrup? We often take for granted what we treasure most. I remember my mom having me put taps and buckets on the maple trees around our property to gather sap. We collected several buckets, but after the water was evaporated by steam, we ended up with very little syrup. Experts say it can take about fifty gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup.

The point is that God will do a great work through His people, but what if His people do not care about His work? What if they are too involved in their daily affairs? The Lord sometimes has to burn off many distractions through difficult circumstances so that His people focus on His work and discover that seed of faith to which they can respond. Hannah was one such person.

Israel, despite facing oppression and distress, did not cry out as in Judges. However, God uses even sincere prayers to fulfill His greater purposes. Why are people not crying out to God for spiritual renewal now, but instead only pursuing their own desires? Hannah showed great maturity by recognizing God’s broader plans through her stressful situation when she later dedicated Samuel to God.

In 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11, Hannah’s anguish sets the stage for a major turning point in Israel’s history. She faces infertility, provocation, misunderstanding, and deep suffering, yet she takes her grief to the LORD. Through prayer, faith, a costly vow, and joyful praise, Hannah learns to trust God with what she holds dearest. The birth of Samuel demonstrates that God is present in dark times and uses personal trials to accomplish His larger redemptive plans.

This section explores four scenes in Hannah’s story: a tough crisis, a desperate cry, a demanding sacrifice, and a joyful faith. The message urges believers to bring every trouble to the Lord, trust Him with the unknown, carefully fulfill vows, and see how personal faith connects with God’s mission over time.

The nation did not cry out as in Judges, but God uses sincere prayers to accomplish His great work. Why aren’t people crying out to God for our society and church, but only for their desires? Hannah demonstrated great maturity by recognizing God’s larger purposes through this when she later dedicated Samuel to God.