Good afternoon friends,
We
read yesterday about Hannah's prayer for a son; today we see that
prayer fulfilled. Hannah in tern fulfills her promise to God. As soon as
she weans her son, Samuel, she brings him to the temple in Shiloh and
leaves him with Eli, the priest. It's hard to imagine giving a child to
someone who is almost a stranger to raise and care for. It's hard to
imagine wanting a child so badly and then trusting him to someone else.
But somehow, that is how God's story continues. What can we learn from
Hannah about loving a child and loving God?
God bless,
Sam
1 Samuel 1:19-28
19They
rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went
back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the
Lord remembered her. 20In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.” 21The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. 22But
Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the
child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of
the Lord, and remain there forever; I will offer him as a nazirite for
all time.” 23Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Do what seems
best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only—may the Lord establish
his word.”
So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. 24When
she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a
three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought
him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was young. 25Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. 28Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.” She left him there for the Lord.
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