Poor in Spirit - Hannah’s Prayer

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew five three. Heavenly Father, we are reminded of the beauty of humility and the necessity of recognizing our spiritual poverty before you in a world that often prizes self sufficiency and worldly achievements. Teach us the value of being poor in spirit. Teach us the importance of understanding our need for your guidance and grace in every aspect of our lives. Lord, help us to embrace this blessed state of humility, knowing that it opens the door to the Kingdom of heaven. May we always seek you first, relying not on our own wisdom or strength, but on your endless love and mercy. Fill our heart with the peace and joy that comes from surrendering to you, and let our lives be a testament to the riches that are found in living fully in You. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. This is the Jesus Podcast, the Gospel Brought to life. Remain here for stories inspired by the Sermon on the Mount. If this podcast has blessed you, share it with a friend that small act helps us tremendously, thanks for making the mission possible. The afternoon sun hung high above the rolling hills of Galilee. A soft breeze whistled from the sea, signaling the beginning of something new, fresh alive with springtime, and the lilies of the field were in full blow. Jesus stood in the vibrant green grass, soaking in the sunlight. He opened his eyes and scanned the crowd waiting below the slope. It was a diverse crowd. He saw men and women, eyes beaming with anticipation. He saw children laughing and tickling each other as they sat beside their parents. He saw the old, the young, the sick, and the healthy. A few Roman soldiers stood at attention in the back. Beggars sat with their legs crossed a few yards away. There were also enemies, pharisees determined to strike him down, and scribes meticulously searching for flaws in his words. He loved every one of them. The gentle winds beat the leaves of the sycamore trees. The grassy slope stretched wide. People sat there, patiently waiting to hear him speak. Jesus considered Psalm twenty three. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside gentle waters. He restores my soul. That is what Jesus desired to do. He desired to lead his sheep to green pastures and still waters. He desired to restore their weary and anxious souls. He was their shepherd, and he loved his sheep. Jesus looked at the people down below and drew a deep breath. Standing on the mount, with the sea at his back and the wind carrying his words to eager hearts, he began the greatest sermon ever preached. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 00:04:24 Speaker 2: Everybody wants to feel important, powerful and prominent. Our world elevates the loudest, proudest, and most ambitious people, but the Kingdom of God weighs success on a different scale, a scale of humility, compassion, and prayer. This is the Jesus Podcast. I'm Ethan from pray dot Com. Welcome to a new series exploring the most iconic sermon ever told, the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount was Jesus's impactful sermon outlining what it meant to thrive in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus's humble ethic contrasted sharply with Rome's prideful rule and with the Jewish religious system of the time. While Rome valued power, Jesus valued service to others. While the Jewish leaders preached love your neighbor and hate your enemy, Jesus preached loving your enemies as yourself. For the next few weeks, we'll follow the Sermon on the Mound and connect it to other stories in the Bible. We'll travel to a time before Jesus with David Solomon and the Garden of Eden, will jump forward past the Gospels to stories from the early Church. The goal is to connect the Sermon on the Mount to the rest of the Biblical narrative and to discover how it relates to us today. Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with what's often referred to as the Beatitudes. Jesus lays out what it means to be blessed, though we often consider blessed to mean filled with bliss, but Jesus has a deeper meaning of the word. Today will explore what it means to be poor, in spirit by looking at the story of Hannah. Her story is the precursor to the great prophet and judge Samuel. 00:06:18 Speaker 1: It was an age of restlessness and terror. The great judges had fallen, and the united tribes of Israel were hanging by a threat. Enemy kingdoms threatened their borders, and corrupt war lords salivated like ravenous wolves at the sight of God's flock. Israel was vulnerable. They needed another hero. Yet the age of heroes seemed to be over. Fickle hearts replaced faithfulness. Compromise reigned where courage once ruled. Would God's people fall? Would they be consumed and forgotten in the annals of history? No, God stood over his people like a faithful shepherd. He was the watchman, prepared to send help when they needed it most. However, the salvation of God wouldn't be beckoned by the sound of trumpets or war drums. His help wouldn't be summoned through alchemy, magic, or ritual. No, the Lord's divine plan would be set in motion by the pure and humble prayers of a single woman. Her name was Hannah. The rocky hills of Shiloh were arrayed with newly bloomed wild flowers. The tall grass danced in the wind as el Cana marched up with his family. El Cana visited Shilah every year to make a sacrifice to God. He was among the few faithful left in a country ravaged by idolatry. El Cana had two wives, Hannah and Panina. Panina had blessed el Cana with children. She ensured his legacy was secure for the next generation. Hannah, however, was barren. She pined after a child, but her desires and prayers were unanswered. Although she had not given el Cana a child, he loved her most. Her gentle spirit and tender heart drew the best out of el Cana. His favor toward her wasn't hidden. This caused rifts in the family. Panina lived without the undivided love of her husband. She hated Hannah cause of it. The family reached the summit of Mount Shiloh. There, Eli and his sons presided over the sacrifice. They went through all the rituals according to the law and held a feast honoring the Lord. Torch light warmed the tents where il Cana and his family ate. El Cana gave portions to Panina and her children, but to Hannah, a double portion was given. It was an offering of love and affection. But to Hannah it felt like consolation, because the true desires of her heart hadn't been given. She was childless, devoid of purpose. A cacophony of laughter and singing filled the air as the family dined. However, each moment of bliss was undercut by a spiteful jab from Panina. 00:10:01 Speaker 3: Oh, isn't that interesting. I'm the one with children, yet you're the one to get a double portion. I guess it's fair. Our husband pities you. It's like handing out food to the poor dogs begging on the road. Sometimes you just can't help yourself. 00:10:19 Speaker 1: Banina brought her youngest son in close and sat him on her lap. 00:10:23 Speaker 3: I have mouths to feed, but sure, go ahead and enjoy the pity meal from our husband. 00:10:29 Speaker 1: Hannah stood up and left the tent. She paced in frustration, quiet and flustered. Tears fell from her cheeks and onto the dirt below. She uttered a brief and annoying wail and threw a stone down the hill. El Caana emerged from the tent and hugged Hannah from behind. Why do you weep my laugh? 00:10:53 Speaker 3: Why don't you eat and enjoy the blessings of our table? 00:10:58 Speaker 4: You know why? 00:11:00 Speaker 1: Hannah wiped her tears with her sleeve, her lips pursed inward. 00:11:04 Speaker 3: Why is your heart so troubled by this? Am I not more to you than ten sons? 00:11:10 Speaker 1: Hannah looked down and shook her head. You don't understand. The depths of her sorrow didn't come from a lack of love, but from a lack of purpose. To a woman of that time, child bearing was a mark of identity. Anna felt deprived, poor, and devoid of purpose. El Caana gave her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder and retreated into the tent to finish eating with the others. Anna wandered up the dirt path leading to the temple. Annina's obnoxious laughter slowly faded as she approached the large wooden doors. She slowly entered. The stone floors were cold against her bare feet. A few candles flickered near the altar. Everything was quiet, still and peaceful. With each step, Hannah's heart ached all the more, her hands shook, and her knees gave out from under her. She fell before the Lord distressed and alone. Her bitter tears darkened the stone floor. Her raw and broken cries filled the empty room. They were mournful melodies, rising like incense to God's ears. O, Lord of Hosts, Maker of heaven and earth, hear me, hear my broken cries. 00:12:50 Speaker 3: I ask that you would look after my affliction and remember me. Don't forget me. If you hear my cries and give me a sun, I promise to return him to you. He will be dedicated to you all the days of his life. 00:13:07 Speaker 1: Leaning against the wall of the temple was Eli. He couldn't hear Hannah's prayer, but he saw her mouth moved. He saw her quivering jaw, pursed lips and shaking head. 00:13:20 Speaker 4: This woman is drunk, he. 00:13:23 Speaker 1: Murmured, rubbing his temples. He approached Hannah, ready to kick her out of God's house. 00:13:30 Speaker 4: All right, get up. I can't have a drunkard knocking over the candles. Honestly, how long were you planning on being here like this? Put the wine away and sleep. 00:13:44 Speaker 1: Eli's grumpy demeanor quickly shifted when he saw Hannah's earnest eyes. They were swollen from tears, But sober Hannah stood up and wiped her eyes. She was embarrassed. 00:13:59 Speaker 3: Oh I'm not drunk, my Lord, I'm troubled. I haven't slipped wine all night. 00:14:06 Speaker 1: I've been Anna paused. She looked at the altar and the flickering flames of the candles. She sighed and turned to Eli again. 00:14:18 Speaker 3: I've been pouring out my soul to the Lord. I've been praying seeking answers. Please don't regard me as a worthless woman. I'm not drunk, I'm not anxious. I'm frustrated. I'm poor in spirit. 00:14:35 Speaker 1: Eli stared at Hannah for a while. He could sense her brokenness. She felt a great deal of lack in her life. But in the midst of it all, Eli sensed something else. He discerned a work of God was coming, something miraculous. With a gentle and fatherly voice, Eli replied, go. 00:15:02 Speaker 4: In peace, my child. May the God of Israel grant the petition you've made to him. 00:15:09 Speaker 3: Thank you. I'm sorry for the interruption of your evening. May your servant find favor in your eyes. 00:15:16 Speaker 1: Hannah left, still broken, but reassured that God hadn't forgotten her. She left the temple and walked the path down to the tent Elkena and the others were still eating and celebrating. Hannah didn't show her grief on her face. Instead, she smiled and returned to the table. 00:15:39 Speaker 2: Where'd you run off to? 00:15:41 Speaker 1: Hannah kissed him on the cheek and smiled. She didn't answer. Instead, she chose joy. She chose to be present and hopeful that God would move on her behalf. The following morning, the family worshiped again at the altar of the Lord. They sang hymns of thanksgiving and joy. They made petitions and asked for blessings. All the while, Hannah maintained her posture of humility before God. Although she lacked something important, she knew that God would provide. Hannah embraced her husband When the family arrived at rama the next day. They knew each other intimately, and their love conceived a child. The Lord had remembered her. Nine months later, Hannah held the new born babe in her arms. He was a symbol of God's remembrance and favor. 00:16:55 Speaker 3: His name will be Samuel, for I have asked the Lord for him, and he answered. 00:17:01 Speaker 1: Hannah held her child, trusting that God would be faithful to do great things through him. She dedicated him to the temple where Eli ministered. Hannah knew God would be faithful, but she would never have guessed that Samuel would be the greatest judge Israel had ever known. He would usher in a great era, a man of God who would anoint Israel's great king, David. Jesus begins the Beatitudes with a powerful statement, Blessed of the poor inspirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. To be poor in spirit is to recognize our own spiritual poverty and our need for God's grace. It's an acknowledgment on our own we are insufficient, but with God we find our true worth and our strength. This verse encapsulates Jesus's vision of the Kingdom of Heaven, the place where humility, dependence on God, and a contrite heart are valued above all else. A citizen of Heaven is one who lives with a deep awareness of their need for God. This isn't a false humility where we try and find things wrong with us to feel bad about ourselves. It's a self awareness that only comes when we've done a deep inventory of our own hearts. We've explored the depths of our souls looking for righteousness, and we found only darkness and lack. Then, in humility we turn to Jesus, knowing that he alone is sufficient to raise us up to a place of prominence. Let's now turn to the story of Hannah, found in First Samuel chapter one, verses ten through twenty. Hannah's story is a profound illustration of what it means to be poor in spirit. Hannah was a woman deeply troubled by her inability to conceive a child. In her distress, she turns to God with fervent prayer and weeping. In First Samuel chapter one, verses ten through eleven, it says, in her deep anguish, Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly, and she made a vow, saying, Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant, but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head. In First Samuel chapter one, verses ten and eleven, it says, in her deep anguish, Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly, and she made a vow saying Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your surface vinces misery and remember me, and not forget your servant, but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no raisor will ever be used on his head. Hannah's prayer is a powerful demonstration of being poor in spirit. She recognizes her helplessness and turns to God entirely, relying on his mercy and his grace. Her humility and faithfulness and her supplication highlight the attributes of a heavenly citizen. Her humility and faithfulness and her supplication highlight the attributes of a heavenly citizen. When God answers her prayer and gives her a son, Samuel, she keeps her promise and dedicates him to the Lord, showing her continued reliance upon and her gratitude to God. So how can we, like Hannah live out the value of being poor in spirit in our everyday lives. First, we must acknowledge our deep need for God. It seems simple, right, of course, many of us would say out loud that we need God, but we don't live like it. In the daily grind of life. We live like self made men and women whose success only hinges upon our own hard work. Prideful people don't want to think of themselves as blessed by God or lucky. They want to think that all that they have has been earned. Therefore, all that they have is what they're entitled to. Pride blocks gratitude, which leads to a lack of connection to God. Just as Hannah turned to God in her time of need, we must recognize our own deep need of Him in all aspects of our lives. In that light, the second thing we're considering is practicing humility. Being poor in spirit is about humility. We should strive for humility in all of our interactions, recognizing that every good thing comes from God and that we are called to serve others with the love of Christ. To be humble doesn't mean to hate yourself or to denigrate your talents. To be humble doesn't mean to hate yourself or to denigrate your talents. It's often said that humility isn't thinking less of yourself, but thinking about yourself less. I love the word of worship in the Old Testament Shaka, it means to be prostrate, to bow down low. This is an excellent mindset to have when we worship the Lord, it places God high above us. Hannah waited patiently and trusted in God's timing. In our fast paced world, we often want immediate results, but living as a citizen of Heaven means true that God's timing is perfect and that He knows what is best for us. Next, we must express gratitude. When God answers our prayers. We must remember to thank Him and, like Hannah, continue to dedicate our blessings back to Him. This can be through our time, our talents, resources, acknowledging that everything that we have is a gift from God. Think about all the times you've prayed earnestly for something day and night. We ask God for this one thing, then when God answers, we move on to the next thing. Gratitude is about pausing long enough to consider the weight of what God has done for us as we reflect on Jesus' words, Blessed are the poor and spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven and the story of Hannah's heartfelt prayer. Let us strive to live with a humble spirit, only relying upon God. May we embody the character of a heavenly citizen, recognizing our need for God's grace and sharing his love and mercy with those around us. Let us pray together that we may grow in humility and dependence upon our Lord, trusting in his perfect plan for our lives. Thanks again for joining us on the Jesus Podcast. Tomorrow, we'll continue our journey through the Sermon on the Mount. Next is Blessed are those who mourn. To showcase that truth. We'll dive into the lives of two women who were caught up in a storm of dysfunction and backbiting. Through it all, God brought comfort