Sermon preached on Sunday, May 12, 2013 at Garden Valley Chapel during our Sunday morning service based on 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10.

We live in a corrupt society - to say the least.

One in which has an extreme amount of influence over the home, even the church. Behind the corruption is "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph 2:2), Satan.

He influences society toward evil by exploiting people´s tendencies to conform to the opinions, ideologies, and trends set forth by the news, advertising, and entertainment media.

It is no wonder that we are called to guard against needless entertainment and as Scripture reminds us to take "every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor 10:5).

Yet, Achan´s sin is still dominant today. He "saw...coveted...took" (Joshua 7:21). This is what our society is enamored with: what is "pleasing to the sight" or what the Apostle John calls the "lust of the eyes" (1 Jn 2:16).

You need not watch too much of the media to see that the focus is on appearance - what is visible to the naked eye.

Any influential force of communication exposes this focus (i.e. on the radio, in print, on TV).

Women suffer the most from this influence and focus. What color should their hair be, what type of make-up should they wear, what dress looks the best, and above all the right shoes that match.

Whenever our society wants to address the deeper issues of life, all you have to do is listen to your favorite talk show host, read the latest blog, or turn to your favorite drama show. Yet the focus is almost always superficial or external, never internal or spiritual.

When it comes to celebrating Mother´s Day, the world has a different view of the role of women in the home than what is found in God´s Word.

The definition of a mom has changed drastically from 1914 when Mother´s Day was first instituted.

Today, the role of a mother has been distorted. Mother´s especially with little children are being influenced to satisfy their own personal desires - that of a career, that of recreation, or that of materialism and not their God-given role and duty as a mom.

It is said that 85% of a child´s personality is formed in the first six (6) years of age. This is a crucial and fundamental time for parents.

This society is in desperate need of moms who will live according to the principles and standards of God´s Word.

In general, we need godly women in the home, in society, in the world, and in the church.

Q: Why?
A: Because of the opportunity to leave a powerful imprint upon society through her role as a mother.

Q: Where can we go to find a godly woman?
A: We need not turn to the mass media, but to turn to God´s Word.

If you have your Bible, I invite you to turn to 1st Samuel chapter one. I thought it would be appropriate to look at the marks of a godly mother on a day in which we celebrate the role of women in the home.

Though the nation of Israel was at a low point spiritually, 1 Samuel begins with a most excellent woman on the brinks of impacting a whole nation.

It has been said that this woman "set in motion a chain of events that would ultimately usher in a profound spiritual awakening at the dawn of the Davidic dynasty."

Her name is Hannah - which means "grace." Her name is befitting as she was crowned with much grace in her life. It is grace that is needed as a mother. In fact, we are all in need of grace, the grace that comes from God.
Read 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10.

Hannah becomes the mother of Samuel - one of the godliest men in all of Scripture. It is through the godly influence of Samuel that the nation of Israel is led to reject idolatry and embrace true worship.

Yet this is not how the context of 1 Samuel begins. Judges 21:25 -


25In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

There was no king…there was no prophet…and the people were deviating from the course…forgetting both God and His Word.

“To do what is right in your own eyes” was a most self-centered approach, totally contrary to a most self-less attitude we see in Hannah. 

In the exposition of God’s Word this day, we will see the marks of a godly mother. What are those three marks?

A godly mother is…

Devoted to Her Husband (vv. 1-8)
Devoted to Her God (vv. 9-18, 2:1-10)
Devoted to Her Home (vv. 19-28)