“Hannah is not the primary character in the story. Nor is Samuel. Pivotal to the whole story, the central cohesive element, the linchpin, is God himself. Everything else—Hannah’s barrenness, Hannah’s prayer, Samuel’s birth—is the working out of God’s eternal agenda.”¹
In I Samuel 3:1 we read,” In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.” God needed a prophet to communicate His heart to the Israelites. Hannah longed to give birth to a son. However, in I Samuel 1:5, 6, we read, “the Lord closed Hannah’s womb.” Hannah prayed, asking God to give her a son for several years. Hannah felt hopeless, God was not answering her prayer, but God had a plan. When she reached the point of desperation, she made this vow: “O Lord Almighty, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime” (I Samuel 1:11).
After Hannah returned home, her prayer was answered; God opened her womb, she conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Samuel. Hannah asked for a son and God gave her a prophet. God answered more abundantly than she asked when her heart and God’s heart became a perfect match.
God was working according to His plan He was not at a loss. We read in I Samuel 2:35, “I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind.” It appears that when Hannah found herself in this hopeless situation, in reality God was working out His plan. If Hannah’s prayer for a son had been answered immediately, she may not have given him to the Lord as she did. Hannah’s prayer for a child began in the heart of God. Samuel became a mighty warrior in the battlefield and in the prayer closet. God used Samuel in a mighty way.
This is a good lesson to learn in praying for our grandchildren. When challenges come into their lives and they are not answered according to their or our agenda God may be working out His agenda, which is far greater. When praying for your grandchildren, pray for God to work His agenda in their lives.
“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” (Joshua 3:5).
¹ 2003 The Praying Life, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, Waiting on God. P 98
© 20111 Lillian Penner
I understand God’s plan for Samuel completely. There’s a question that keeps coming to my mind: why Samuel had to be separated from his mother so early in life?
Simone,
You raise an interesting question, and not an unimportant one. Any mother would likely struggle with Hannah’s decision to give up the very child she had prayed for at such a young age for the rest of her life. Even today there are mothers who give up their children at even younger ages for less noble reasons. Hannah gave up her child for a much greater reason, and one that I am sure was difficult to do. Remember, it was Hannah who asked the Lord to give her a son, and in exchange she vowed to give her son back to the Lord for all his days, offering the vow of a Nazarite (no razor will touch his head) as a remember and proof of her intent to keep that vow.
Why would she do that? I can only conclude the reason was her undivided heart for God and trust in His Sovereign purposes in her life and the life of her son. She believed God to be faithful to those who are faithful to Him. Read her song in chapter 2 if you want to see her heart for God and understanding of who He is. This guided her prayer for a son and belief God would honor her prayer. In exchange she expressed her gratitude in the presentation of her son back to the Lord for His purposes, and her confidence that God would continue to bless her, which He did. And all this was in the Providence of God to accomplish His Grand Plan for the coming Messiah. It’s hard to wrap our minds around the mysteries of God, isn’t it? But here is a story of a woman who understood the God she served and worshiped better than the priest at that time. She did not view her son as hers, but God’s. She knew it was all about God and His purposes. And that, I believe Hannah would want us all to understand today. Our children do not belong to us. They belong to God. He has simply entrusted these young lives to us to prepare them for God’s purposes.
I hope that was helpful. Thanks for being willing to ask the question.
Cavin Harper
President
There was an exact upbringing that was needed for Samuel, for him to actually be useful to God. I am sure that Hannah had never had the spiritual intelligence and growth to have provided that discipline.
Also, I am sure that Samuel’s home wouldn’t have been a perfect environment for him to have been raised for the purpose for which he wa called.
For instance, when Samuel had the voice of the Lord for the first time, I believe strongly that if he was at home, there wouldn’t have been anybody with the experience to explain what had happened to the little child.
It must have been a tough decision for Hannah, I guess that is why God rewarded her with four other children.
Also, for the greater good, sacrifices have to be made, sometimes, very tough sacrifices.
Why a sin and not just a child?
An excellent commentary!
Thank you.
very very true comments i am planning to speak tomorrow in our church love to give this examaple
Thank you for sharing.