It is recommended that you read from Deuteronomy 28:7–11 and Judges 13:1–7 together with your reading from 1 Samuel 1:1–20.
Introduction
Context: explain the context for Samuel. Try to help people get an idea of what life was like in the time of the judges.
Covenant curses in response to sin
Explain: why did Elkanah take a second wife? Why was Hannah barren?
Explain: how does Hannah’s vow confirm that her infertility is tied to the plight of Israel as a nation?
Explain: what does it mean for Hannah to give her son to the Lord? What does this show about what she hopes her son will achieve?
A deliverer that deals with the cause and not just the symptoms
Explain: what did the judges typically do? Did they lead the people back to the Lord?
Explain: what does the fact that Eli thinks Hannah is drunk show about the general spiritual condition in Israel? What kind of deliverer is needed?
Explain: how does Samuel's work of deliverance fall short of what is required? How does this point us forward to the Lord Jesus Christ?
The Lord who sees the affliction of his people
Explain: when will suffering and sin finally come to an end?
Explain/Apply: does faith in God mean we will never experience hardship and pain?
Apply: how should we respond when trouble comes our way? How are we tempted to follow the example of Elkanah and sidestep suffering?
1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.