Ever stopped to ponder how you felt, or would feel, at the time of recognizing God’s answer to your diligent prayers? Ever thought you could hand deliver your 2-year old son to a temple or to a minister of the gospel so he could be trained in the ministry from a very young age? Meditate with me as we look at the difference between our usual selfish decisions and that of Hannah in our Bible story.

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-10-08
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BY: Ed Algreen

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Samuel 1:25-28
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 25 After the sacrifice they took the child to Eli.
26 “Sir, do you remember me?” Hannah asked him. “I am the woman who stood here that time praying to the Lord! 27 I asked him to give me this child, and he has given me my request; 28 and now I am giving him to the Lord for as long as he lives.” So she left him there at the Tabernacle for the Lord to use.

APPLICATION: How many times has Satan caused you to look at your tithe check and question yourself about all that you could use that extra money on? Don’t be pious, for I know it happens. It’s the same way with non-tithers who Satan convinces that they own it all and there is no reason for them to give it up for those at the church to use and/or abuse. However, this application today really impacted me deeply. We tend to pray and pray about something that we want, or think that we must have. Often God will bless us with our request, but then life just goes on – as normal – without us returning to the altar in thanksgiving to God, much less returning the gift/blessing, or a portion thereof to God. Hannah was mocked and poked fun at for being childless for so many years. But when visiting the temple, she became so engrossed in intense prayer about the matter, that the temple priest, Eli, thought she must have been drunk to just kneel at the altar with her lips moving. Hannah cleared up the matter with Eli, and respectfully thanked him for his concern. Hannah made a promise to God that she would dedicate her son to the work of the Lord, if she could be blessed to give birth to one. Within two years Hannah had given birth to a son and felt like Samuel was ready to be left with Eli. She and her husband dedicated their only child to the Lord, and left him at the temple, as promised. It’s at this point that we should stop and ponder how we would have felt parting from our only child at such a tender age. But friends, we must also consider what could possibly have given cause for us to reconsider what we promised to the Lord. Any other reason, would have given cause for us to tell God that we were only kidding and didn’t really mean what we promised, or stand boldly before God and say ‘no matter what I promised back when I was desperate, I cannot proceed with my promise.’ I believe this Scripture should inspire us to give unto God all that we ever promised, and all that the Bible teaches we should give to Him. There is nothing too good for God, and we serve such an awesome God that He is constantly looking for ways to bless us tenfold for our commitment to give to Him sacrificially, gladly and with a humble heart. Please remember that God gives us everything we have, so giving back to Him is just offering some of His own gifts right back to Him. Samuel grew into a very powerful and good judge, and Hannah was blessed with more kids to take the place of the one she gave back to God. Don’t you know that God will also bless you immensely in return for your giving to Him?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: A promise was made, and a promise was kept, even though it resulted in a couple surrendering their only child up to the Lord at under 2 years of age. The child, Samson, and his parents, Hannah and Elkanah were each blessed for their sacrifice. You can’t out-give God!

PRAYER: Lord, may my readers and I be blessed with giving hearts like Hannah and Elkanah. We are quick to ask you for every little thing, but I pray that we will never forget to follow through on our promises, and that we will always give generously to You in return for all that we are blessed to receive. Thank You for giving, up to and including, Your very own Son to save us from our sin. May we always be an appreciative people who gives back to You out of our sincere love. AMEN!