Not-So-Quiet-Time: 1 Samuel 1

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 4/26

Day 1: Verses 1-8
Choosing not to follow God’s design leads to pain and heartache. In this passage, we see a man with two wives. And we see weeping, rivalry, conflict, and disappointment. After all, in Genesis 2:24, God said, “A man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” From the start, God had always intended that families would be built from one husband and one wife. It is crucial for us to seek to follow God’s plan; it is the way to joy! And at the same time, it is important to know that God continues to work in the lives of imperfect people. Ask God to give you the strength to follow his commands and principles even when it is hard.

Day 2: Verses 9-11
Hannah took her disappointment to the Lord. She brought Him her honest emotions and longings. Hannah did not come pretending to have her life organized perfectly. She did not come with perfect words and counterfeit contentment. She came with her real pain. And this kind of truth-telling prayer pleases God. We don’t need to pretend when we come before Him. He is ready to hear what is really on our hearts. What is on your heart that you need to bring before the Lord today? 

Day 3: Verses 12-18
At first, Eli didn’t understand Hannah’s prayer. However, when he took time to understand, he was able to encourage her and pray for her. This was a clear encouragement to Hannah in her distress. Eli couldn’t answer Hannah’s prayer, but he could pray with her. And when she went away, “her face was no longer sad” (18). Who can you serve today through encouragement and prayer?

Day 4: Verses 19-20
Hannah’s worship did not require God to give her what she wanted. She went and worshiped the Lord before He had answered her prayer. This is an important lesson for us today: God is worthy of our praise regardless of our situation. We may be distressed and disappointed, but He is still good. As you pray today, list some things that give you reason to praise and thank God. He is worthy of worship every day, no matter what. 

Day 5: Verses 21-28
Hannah brought her son back to the tabernacle when the time was right. She gave back to God what He had given to her. And her worship was pleasing in the sight of God. And, it was also a gift to her son. Did you notice the last verse of the chapter? “And he worshiped the Lord there” (28). The son saw his mom’s worship and it taught him about the Lord and how to respond rightly to the King of kings. 

Catechism Connection: 98-99
The Westminster Shorter Catechism gives a beautiful definition of prayer: “Prayer is offering up our desires to God for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and with thankful acknowledgment of his mercies” (WSC 98). We offer our desires to God—pouring out our hearts to Him—in trust, with confession, out of thanksgiving. And we trust Him no matter what.

Monthly Memory: Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.