Read 1 Samuel 1.
The times of the Judges in Israel were repeatedly labeled as
"everyone did what was right in their own eyes" (Judges 21:25). Yet, the Bible provides occasional stories of
those who stood in contrast to their culture and who followed the LORD
wholeheartedly. One was Ruth. Now, we learn about the last Judge of Israel,
Samuel.
Elkanah and his family worshipped God. Hannah knew her husband loved her, but the
emptiness she felt from having no children became excruciatingly painful. To add insult to injury, the other wife
proved fertile and used it to emotionally and verbally abuse Hannah.
As a godly woman, Hannah went to be alone with the Lord and pour
out her heart to Him. In her prayer, she
made a vow. If He would grant her
a son, she would dedicate him to God's service with a Nazarite vow. Samson was dedicated before birth with the
same vow. The High Priest, Eli, saw her
in such distress but heard no sound. He
thought she was drunk. When he realized
his error, he gave assurance that she would receive the answer to her prayer.
By the next year when Elkanah's family arrived for the
annual sacrifice, God had given them a son.
It is believed that Samuel was probably three years of age by the time
Hannah presented him to Eli.
While it is difficult for us to even think about giving up a
child, especially at such a young age, Hannah's statement in verse 27 is on the hearts of every
Christian parent. "For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him."
1. Believing parents pray for their children even before
they are born.
2. The LORD grants children to parents. They are not biological accidents. They belong to God.
Psalm 127:3-"Behold, children are a heritage from the
LORD, the fruit of the womb is his reward."
3. The LORD lends children to a mother and father as a
stewardship.
Ephesians 6:4-"Fathers, do not provoke your children to
anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
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