Hannah    1 Samuel 1:11

This post concerns Hannah and her child.

Hannah—one of two wives of Elkanah—suffered greatly because she had no children. The other wife, Peninnah with children, taunted Hannah about her barrenness. 1 Samuel 1:6. “And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.”  However, the Lord would use Hannah in her future.

At a yearly worship at Shiloh, Hannah—taunted by Peninnah—cried and then prayed, 1 Samuel 1:11. “And she vowed a vow …“O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life…”

Hannah vowed to give her child to the service of the Lord.

Then, in an answer to her prayer, she conceived and gave birth to a son, Samuel, destined to be the last of the judges and the first of the oral prophets.

So, after weaning Samuel, Hannah kept her vow and presented him to Eli to serve in the tabernacle, 1 Samuel 1:24-28. “And when she had weaned him, …she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh…And she said… For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition… I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives…”

Note, Hannah’s concern for pleasing God resulted in the birth of a future, godly servant of the Lord.

Consider Samuel. Hannah must have taught him about God early in his life.

1.God had blessed his mother with this birth.

2.She had promised him as a servant of the Lord.

3.He was to serve Eli the priest.

4.He would see her once a year when she came to worship and brought him a new suit of clothing.

Thus, Hannah deserves commendation for what she accomplished at that early age.

We would do well to likewise teach our children to know and serve God while they are young.

So, what did we learn?

1.Hannah vowed that her child would serve God before conception.

2.She kept her vow and gave Samuel to the service of God.

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