20 So in the course of time (Pregnant but Waiting) Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, (Means, ‘Heard by God’) saying, ‘Because I asked the Lord for him.’ 1 Samuel 1
We noted that the June 21 was the Summer Solstice, the Longest Day and then a subtle change happened in the heavens. Hannah wept before the Lord for a son and made a vow to Him and that prayer and vow was to affect the entire nation of Israel.
21 When the man Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfil his vow, 22 Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, ‘AFTER THE BOY IS WEANED, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always.’
The infant Samuel’s welfare assumed priority over his dedication at the Tabernacle of the Lord in Shiloh. There may be times when practical considerations mean a brief pause before fulfilling our commitment.
Elkanah agreed that Hannah should, ‘Do what seems best to you’. The care of a mother was best for the infant Samuel until he was able to eat solid food by himself.
24 After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, YOUNG AS HE WAS, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. 25 When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli,
Consider Hannah’s Offering to the Lord;
WHEN was Her Offering of Samuel made? There was a time of preparation and no doubt the mother and child had bonded, which would have made her sacrifice greater, but she didn’t delay. (A Crucial Time/Window to keep our vow, DON’T DELAY) She presented her son, ‘Young as he was’, to Eli, before the Lord.
WHAT did she sacrifice? Her only son that she’d pled to God for. Hannah didn’t offer something trivial to God, Samuel, the answer to her intercessory prayer, was the best she had to give. God was merciful to her and more children followed later, but Samuel was her only child up to that time.
HOW was Samuel brought to God’s Tabernacle and Eli? She made the sacrifice required by the Law of Moses. She showed honour and respect for the place of God’s worship and the priesthood.
28 ‘So now I give him to the Lord. FOR HIS WHOLE LIFE HE SHALL BE GIVEN OVER TO THE LORD.’ And he worshipped the Lord there.
OUR SACRIFICES TO GOD WILL BE TESTED and if they’re not sincere they will fail. Old Testament sacrifices were put through the Fire and our decisions today will similarly be tested by the circumstances of this life and also the enemies of God’s people. Hannah fulfilled her vow to God and He had a man to serve Him and lead His people for many years. May we be as sincere as this sweet woman of God as we live out our lives before Him.
24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6