Are We Thankful For Our Children? - 1 Samuel, Part 3

1 Samuel 1:21–28 (ESV)

There is the appearance of a loving and supportive marriage between Elkanah and Hannah.  The account already reflects his affection for her.  In this passage we see that he also entered into the vow she made before the Lord. The vow is now revealed before us: Samuel was to be “lent” to the LORD as long as he lives, “so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.”^[1]  Wisely Hannah would wait to fulfill this vow after Samuel is weaned.

So about two to three years later she went to the Temple to fulfill the vow. Along with the boy, she took an offering. “According to Numbers 15:8–10, a bull, flour, and wine were to be sacrificed in fulfillment of a vow. Hannah brought all 3 in larger measure than required.”^[2] “Elkanah apparently was a prosperous man who was able to afford an expensive offering of a bull or bulls and large amounts of grain and wine.”^[3]  These stipulations in Numbers 15 recognized the thanksgiving offered to God for His bountiful provision when Israel entered the land.  The land was symbolic of abundance and prosperity including a promised posterity.

Hannah fulfilled her promise.  Young Samuel was left with the priest, Eli.  She “lent” her son to the Lord – forever! The Hebrew word that the ESV translates “lent” is probably a poor choice. “The Hiphil of שָׁאַל (shaʾal) might mean “to loan,” or “to treat as requested”.”[4] I think the NIV is a better rendering: “So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.” (1 Samuel 1:28, NIV).  “The son Hannah requested God had given, and she gives her gift back to the Giver.”^[5]

“And he worshiped the Lord there.”^[6]  Who is the “he”?  The EBC thinks it to be Eli. “Eli responded to Hannah's brief remarks by worshiping the God whom they both served (v.28).”[7]  Some might think it to be Elkanah; but it very well may have been Samuel.  If so, this reflects Samuel’s ready and willing cooperation with the will of his parents. 

The fulfillment of Hannah’s vow and the dedication of her son to the Lord, for his lifetime, was accompanied by a generous thank offering.  Later Paul was to say, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1, ESV).  In Numbers 15 Israel was also called to continually offer thanks to God for the provision of his abundance.  In a very practical way, those of us who have received the gift of children, what better response would it be to dedicate them to the Lord in thanks for his gift to us? 

Interestingly the book of Proverbs calls us who are parents to a similar response.  Proverbs 22:6 (ESV) commands, “⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” The Hebrew verb translated “train” occurs three other times in the Bible. In each of these, it refers to “dedicating” houses, either a person’s house of God’s house.  “To train up a child in the way he should go means to dedicate him or her toward the right goal, or stated otherwise: “train him or her as God would”.  This calls for parents to actively devote or commit their youth to a certain way – a certain path. 

When we as parents daily dedicate our children to the Lord, we affirm that we don’t own them, God does. Therefore, we need to seek the assistance to raise them to know the Lord.  Therefore, we rest on God’s Word, His Holy Spirit and the influence of God’s people.  We must raise them as if God was raising them.

As parents of a dedicated child, they don’t have the right to just pass down their personal opinions and the wisdom and values of this world. We must pass to them the values of God’s Word, the Gospel and holy living that relies on the power of Christ.  

The consequence of Proverbs 22:6 implies that the parents’ intentional Christ-centered, Gospel-centered shaping in the early years may have a permanent effect on their child for good. This statement is not a hard-and-fast promise to parents, however, for the rest of the book makes clear that the power of the youth’s future depends not only on the parents’ guidance but also very much on the choices he or she makes.

Parents don’t have to take their children to a church building and leave them there.  No, they can daily bring their children to Christ and nurture them as Christ would in the truth of God’s Word through the glorious Gospel.   This is how we express our gratitude.

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^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Sa 1:22). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

^[2] MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 378). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.

^[3] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 492). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[4] NET Bible note. https://netbible.org/bible/1+Samuel+1

^[5] MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 378). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.

^[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Sa 1:28). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[7] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:1 and 2 Samuel/Exposition of First Samuel/I. Prelude to Monarchy in Israel (1:1-7:17)/A. The Childhood of Samuel (1:1-4:1a)/1. The birth and dedication of Samuel (1:1-28), Book Version: 4.0.2

Transforming Your Countenance - 1 Samuel Part 2

1 Samuel 1:9–20 (ESV)

The distraught and discouraged Hannah, grieving her barrenness; seemingly ignoring her husband’s reminder of his love, gets up and leaves the fellowship/peace meal.  Hannah stands out in the Old Testament.  No other woman specifically is recorded in the Old Testament going to the House of God and no other woman is recorded to have made and kept a vow to God.^[1]

Hannah pledged to give her son to God in exchange for God’s gift of that son.  She calls upon God, the LORD of Hosts. The capitalized LORD in our Bible indicates that the author is referring to Jehovah, the eternal, self-existent God who saves.  “Hosts” is the Hebrew word Sabaoth (Those familiar with Martin Luther’s hymn, A Mighty Fortress, will recognize this.) meaning “God of the armies of heaven” or simply translated LORD Almighty.  Only Jehovah Sabaoth can give this troubled woman a child. 

She prayed, “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, and no razor shall touch his head.”^[2]  Although not specified this is undoubtedly a reference to the Nazarite vow (Numbers 6:4f).  This vow, often taken for a specific period of time is offered by Hannah for a lifetime commitment.  Samson is specifically called a Nazirite (Judges 13:7) and it is possible that Paul may have participated in something like the Nazirite vow (Acts 21:23–27).^[3]

Eli, the priest mistakenly took Hannah to be drunk as she lips were moving, but she was praying in her heart. She responded to his rebuke with humility and Eli answered her, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”” (1 Samuel 1:17, ESV).  The narrative concludes with the recorded answer to that promise: “And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”” (1 Samuel 1:20, ESV)

There are several cautionary notes that must be considered.  Although God showed grace to Hannah and answered her prayer, this in no means permits us to bargain with God.  And certainly, women today cannot claim by faith that God will give them a child because of their piety. All this was done in Hannah and God is to be glorified.  One of the contemporary lessons for us is found in verse 18: “Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.”^[4]  Why the sudden change from “distraught” to “cheerful”?  

Matthew Henry correctly affirms: “She had by prayer committed her case to God and left it with him, and now she was no more perplexed about it.”^[5] Someone has said that prayer changes things.  In this case prayer changed the petitioner. As Paul would later write: “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7, ESV).   The loved hymn of Joseph Scriven[6] comes to mind, particularly the first stanza:

Verse 1

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer

O what peace we often forfeit

O what needless pain we bear

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer [emphasis mine]

There is nothing like humble, believing prayer to transform the countenance.  True and confident faith can only come from the promises of God.  For every need there is a promise.  For the “Hannahs” of this world there is a promise: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!” (Psalm 84:11–12, ESV)

For all Christians, anywhere and anytime, we can affirm: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV)

And “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3, ESV)

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The first of this series is found HERE!

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^[1] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (1 Sa 1:9). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

^[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Sa 1:11). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

^[3] Franklin, J. C. (2016). Nazirite. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

^[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Sa 1:18). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

^[5] Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 382). Peabody: Hendrickson.

[6] What A Friend We Have In Jesus, Charles Crozat Converse | Joseph Medlicott Scriven, © Words: Public Domain

The Lord Saves Not With Sword and Spear - 1 Samuel, Part 1

The key verse in 1 Samuel is found in Chapter 2:7-8:

“The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.”^[1]

1 Samuel is a book of transition between the times of the Judges and the beginning of Israel’s monarchy.  The prophet Samuel is a link between these two economies.  Like the Book of Ruth, the author opens with a real life story in an Israelite home.  Like Ruth, the story is a microcosm of the bigger story of Israel. It’s a story of universal implications: God exalts the weak and humbles the proud. 

The story opens with a man named Elkanah who probably married the love of his life: Hannah.  She couldn’t have children.  Twice we learn that it is God who has prohibited her from having children. In order to raise up a seed Elkanah marries another women who gives birth to several sons and daughters. On the surface it is obvious which women is the honored one and which is not – which is the weak and which is the lofty.

The story also portrays the journey of a husband and wife toward significance and a sense of accomplishment and worth.  The husband’s sincere love for this woman and his lavish treatment of her causes him to expect that she considers him “more to you than ten sons?”^[2]  Ten sons! The perfect family! But unknown to Elkanah, he cannot satisfy the longing of her heart, alone.  She too is torn by abusive and provoking actions by the “other woman”.  She too is torn by the cultural, and yes, the religious passion to “go forth and multiply.” 

Hannah’s name means “Grace”.  It is surely grace that she needs more than her husband’s honest and heartfelt affection.  It is surely grace that she needs more than acceptance in her peer community.  It is certainly grace that she needs, more than becoming a mother. 

Israel needs grace.  It will become apparent that they will seek it by means other than God’s ideal.  As Peter would later write:

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.”^[3]

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^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Sa 2:7–8). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

^[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Sa 1:8). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

^[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Pe 5:5–6). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

He Is Able

The recurring New Testament phrase, “He is able”, is a fear-crushing, faith-building phrase.  It is one word in the original language”: δύναμαι, pronounced, ‘doo·nam·ahee’.  Strong defines it in such ways as: “to have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or to be capable, strong and powerful.”^[1]  Note the “ability” of God and be encouraged:

Romans 4:20–21 (ESV)

²⁰ No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, ²¹ fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Romans 14:4 (ESV)

⁴ Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Romans 16:25 (ESV)

²⁵ Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV)

⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Ephesians 3:20 (ESV)

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.

2 Timothy 1:12 (ESV)

¹² which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

Hebrews 2:18 (ESV)

¹⁸ For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 7:25 (ESV)

²⁵ Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Jude 24 (ESV)

²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.

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^[1] Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.