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1 Samuel 1:19–28
So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord” (v. 20).
Elkanah and his family, having worshiped one last time at Shiloh, return to their home. There, “in the process of time,” God “remembers” Hannah—He acts on her behalf and causes her to bear a male child, just as she asked. She, in turn, names the boy Samuel. She will always remember pouring out her heart before God at Shiloh in the year of her deepest sorrow. Now, each time she speaks or hears the name of the son God has given, she will be reminded that her cry was “Heard by God,” for that is what the name Samuel means. “She designed by [this name] to perpetuate the remembrance of God’s favor to her in answering her prayers,” Matthew Henry writes. “Thus she designed, upon every mention of his name, to take the comfort to herself and to give God the glory of that gracious condescension.”
Having devoted Samuel to God, Hannah devotes herself to him, nursing him herself and watching over him with the closest attention. Elkanah continues to make his annual pilgrimage to Shiloh with his entire household in order to make the required sacrifices and to fulfill a vow he himself has made. But Hannah stays behind during the years of Samuel’s infancy. Perhaps the journey is too difficult with a baby, or perhaps Hannah does not wish to take Samuel to Shiloh until she can leave him. In any case, she determines to take him to the tabernacle once he is weaned, probably around 3 years of age. Elkanah agrees to this timetable, saying, ” ‘Let the Lord establish His word.’ ” Some manuscripts substitute the word your for His, in which case Elkanah is asking God to give Hannah strength to keep her vow.
He does. When Samuel is weaned, though still quite “young” (v. 24), Hannah takes him to Shiloh. She also takes along the articles for a sacrifice upon completion of a vow, but she takes more of each item than the Word of God prescribes. Once the sacrifice is complete, she identifies herself to Eli as the woman who prayed silently and presents Samuel as the answer to her prayer that day. Then she most willingly surrenders him to God’s service. ” ‘I also have lent him to the Lord,’ ” she declares. She is making a play on words, noting that God “granted” her prayer for Samuel, and so she is “granting” Samuel back to God as she said she would. Then, having seen the working of God’s hand, she and her family, including Samuel, worship God together.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Few, if any, Christian parents are called to give their very young children to God as Hannah did. And yet, all Christian parents should desire that God will make their children His own. They should be willing to surrender their children to His service. Pray for a willingness to give back to God any children He has given or will give you.
For Further Study
- Deut. 7:13; 28:4
- Ps. 127:3–5
- Prov. 17:6