Know Kings: The Books of 1 and 2 Samuel

Forget Hollywood’s version of “losing yourself.” Hannah’s radical commitment to God shows us what it truly means to live out our divine calling.

Our text in this study is: 1 Samuel 1:19-28

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Welcome to our ongoing verse-by-verse Bible study through the Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Samuel. In this message, titled Bye Bye Baby, we look closely at the beautiful and challenging account found in 1 Samuel 1:19-28.

The focus of our study is Hannah, a woman who knew the deep heartache of barrenness and the pain of being provoked by her rival. When we left her in our previous study, she had poured out her soul before the Lord at Shiloh, making a solemn vow that if God gave her a son, she would give him back to the Lord for his entire life. In this passage, we see God answer her prayer. Hannah conceives and gives birth to a son, naming him Samuel because she asked him of the Lord.

But the heart of this text centers on what happens next. When the child is weaned, Hannah does not flinch or make excuses. She packs up the offerings, travels back to Shiloh, and presents young Samuel to Eli the priest. Her response to God’s blessing is radical commitment and worship. Rather than keeping the gift for herself, she surrenders her miracle back to the Giver. As she explicitly reminds Eli, she is the very woman who stood there praying, and because Yahweh answered her petition, she gives the boy to Yahweh for as long as he lives.

As we study the text from a Calvary Chapel perspective, we are reminded of the character, faithfulness, and grace of God. Hannah’s testimony is simple yet incredibly clear: it centers entirely on the Lord. In just three short sentences, she uses the covenant name of God, Yahweh, four times. This is not a story about her own righteousness or her personal sacrifice; it is a testimony about the faithfulness of God. For those who want to study the Bible and understand the history of Israel, this transition from the chaotic days of the Judges to the Monarchy shows that God is always in control, even in our weakest moments.

Whether you are looking for solid Christian teachings, interested in spirituality and Jesus, or specifically searching for verse-by-verse Calvary Chapel videos, this message will encourage your faith. Let’s look at how Hannah trades her years of sorrow for a lifestyle of worship, showing us what it truly means to trust God with the things we love the most.

When everything is falling apart and society is a mess, the book of Samuel reminds us that God is still in charge and He loves to use our weakest moments as His starting point.

Our text in this study is: 1 Samuel 1:1-18

Find the rest of the series at https://calvaryhanford.com/knowkings

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Welcome to our verse by verse study of 1 Samuel as we begin a new series in the Old Testament. In this message, titled Squall In The Family, we look at the opening verses of 1 Samuel 1 and find ourselves in a period of significant transition for the nation of Israel. The era of the Judges was coming to a close—a time marked by spiritual confusion and social chaos where everyone did what was right in their own eyes. As the world moved from the Late Bronze Age to the Iron Age, Israel began to look for stability in a human king, yet God had a different story to tell through the life of a brokenhearted woman named Hannah.

We begin by meeting Elkanah and his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. While Elkanah was a faithful man who traveled to Shiloh yearly to worship the Lord of Armies, his home was a place of deep friction. Hannah dealt with the heavy burden of barrenness and the constant taunts of her rival, Peninnah. Her husband tried to comfort her, but he couldn’t truly understand the depth of her sorrow. Many of us know what it feels like to face heartache within our own families or to feel misunderstood by those closest to us.

In her distress, Hannah did the only thing a believer can do: she poured out her soul before the Lord. Even though the high priest Eli mistook her silent, fervent prayer for drunkenness, Hannah remained focused on God. She recognized Him as the Lord of Hosts—the true King who sits enthroned over all creation. Her story reminds us that God often makes our total inability His starting point. He is the one who sees our tears and hears our cries when we feel most alone.

This study explores why the book of Samuel starts with a family drama rather than a political decree. We see that God is more interested in our hearts and our submission to His rule than in our earthly institutions. Through Hannah’s eventual song of praise, we catch a glimpse of the Gospel. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. He is the Rock who changes our fortunes and points us toward the ultimate Messiah, Jesus Christ. Whether you are navigating difficult family dynamics or seeking to understand God’s sovereignty in a changing world, this teaching from 1 Samuel 1:1-18 offers hope and perspective on the King who is in charge right now.