Hannah was the second wife of Elkanah, and she had no children. The first wife had kids, and she wasn't exactly empathetic with Hannah's sorrow; in fact, she was mean. Elkanah loved Hannah and favored her. He didn't seem the least bit upset that she hadn't produced progeny. But, Hannah wanted a baby so much so that when the family made their annual trip to the house of the Lord, she "wept bitterly" before the Lord, promising if God would give her a son that she would give him back, as soon as he was weaned, to serve God all the days of his life. Eli the priest saw her praying and accused her of being drunk. When she set him straight and explained her "complaint" before the Lord, Eli sent her away with these words, "...and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition...." Hannah ceased from her grieving, she ate, and her countenance was no longer sad (I Samuel 1:18). Her actions imply that she had faith that God would answer her prayer.
Sure enough, Hannah had a son, Samuel, and she kept her part of the bargain. As soon as Samuel was weaned, Hannah put together all the makings for a great offering to the Lord, packed up Samuel, and headed to the temple and Eli, the priest. They worshiped the Lord, and she left her son to serve God all his life.
Okay, really, how many of us could leave behind our toddler to be raised by a stranger? But Hannah's prayer to the Lord as she's leaving Samuel behind is amazing! She was rejoicing:
Every year, Hannah would make the journey with the family and take Samuel a new coat, and no where is there any indication that she ever regretted or wanted to break her covenant, and God, in His beautiful way, honored Hannah by giving her five more children.
Samuel had a calling on his life. From before his birth, he was dedicated to the Lord, and as soon as he was old enough to be separated from his mother, he was "in training" for that moment when God would call him into service.
I Samuel 2 tells how the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli the priest, that he grew before the Lord, and found favor with both the Lord and men. Interestingly, this was happening while all around him Eli's sons, who were of the priesthood, were dishonoring God and bringing down His judgment on their family.
When the time came for Samuel to fill the purpose for which he had been called, he was ready.
Most of us dedicate our young children to the Lord, but I wonder if we realize the full importance of that ceremony. I'm not sure I did when we dedicated our girls before the church congregation. I understood it was a solemn and sacred occasion, I knew that I wanted my girls to belong to the Lord, but I am certain I didn't reflect as deeply on the full meaning of my actions.
When Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord, she wasn't just giving her child away and placing responsibility for his nurturing on someone else. She invested in the life of her child to ensure that he would be ready to answer when God called and would respond willingly. She remained faithful to her God and to her promise and demonstrated her commitment by placing Samuel where he would learn from a young age how to serve God and how to know His voice. She believed God to do His part.
When we dedicate our children to God, we aren't just saying, "God, here they are. I promise to bring them to church and teach them right from wrong." We are entering a covenant with God to teach them to know Him and how to serve Him, to learn to sense His presence and to know His voice, to understand from an early age that they have a calling on their lives and that at the God-appointed moment, He will call them.
God will do His part; we must do ours. Giving our children away to God may mean giving up our plans and purposes. It certainly requires that we choose to live our lives sacrificially and according to God's Word because we are the stewards of the children we have dedicated into His service.
Heavenly Father, parenting is a sacred calling, and when we stop to think about the full weight of the responsibility, it's a little frightening. But, You are our example, your Word is our standard, and your Holy Spirit is our teacher and guide. You don't call us without equipping us for service.
As we dedicate our children to You, we want to dedicate ourselves as well and be willing to be sacrificial in serving our children. Let us be like You.
We pray these things, in your name. Amen.
