1 Samuel 3:1-21

The story of Samuel is one of the outstanding messages of the Bible. His father’s name was Elkanah. His mother’s name was Hannah. Elkanah went up, from year to year, to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of Hosts in Shiloh. Hannah went also, but she went with a heavy heart. She was in bitterness of soul, and she prayed unto the Lord, and wept sorely. Then she vowed a vow and said, “‘O Lord of Hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life’” (1 Samuel 1:11).

So it was that Hannah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, for Eli the high priest answered and said to her, “‘Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him’” (v. 17).

Then Hannah rose up and worshiped and her countenance was no longer sad. From this we learn several important things.

• Samuel was a son of prayer.

So many children are brought into this world without prayer and without seeking the will of the Lord. With Hannah it was altogether different. She prayed for a son, that she might bring him to God and dedicate him to His service.

• Samuel was the son of a pledge.

Hannah promised the Lord that if He would give her a son, she would bring her son to Him as an offering for service. How many great and noble men there have been, through the ages, who were born in answer to prayer, and who were promised to God before they were born. We believe that the influence of noble parents, devout and prayerful, holy and righteous, is the greatest possible heritage which can be given a child.

• Samuel was a son dedicated unto God.

In fulfillment of her pledge, Hannah brought her son as soon as he was old enough, and said to Eli, “‘For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; aa long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord’” (vv. 27, 28).

We believe that every parent should dedicate their little ones to God and then bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

• Samuel was the son of exultant praise.

When Hannah had dedicated her son to God, she did not return to her home groaning and complaining. Rather, she praised God. Her magnificat, which is recorded in 1 Samuel 2, is a thing of beauty and of glory. Hannah said, “‘My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God’” (2:1, 2).

With many other words Hannah praised and blessed God, and then with her husband she departed, leaving the child Samuel to minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest.

• Samuel was a son who early ministered before the Lord.

He began his service as a little lad, girded with a linen ephod. Once more we have a model before us, which childhood would do well to follow. Let children not think that they must grow up to years of maturity before they enter into service for their Lord. Many of God’s greatest servants are those who began in the days of their youth.

“Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the Lord” (2 Samuel 2:21).

“For He is our childhood’s pattern,

Day by day like us He grew:

He was little, weak, and helpless,

Tears and smiles like us He knew

And He feeleth for our sadness

And He shareth in our gladness.”

Guard your heart. Teach your children. Watch and pray.