Wednesday Dec 23: Hannah Dedicates Samuel

1 Samuel 1:19-28

19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20 In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.”

21 The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the Lord, and remain there forever; I will offer him as a nazirite for all time.” 23 Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only—may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. 

24 When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.”

Written by Anna Muhm

Anna is the Office Administrator of Samuel UCC and a friend of the congregation.

Hannah is a woman who touches my heart in many ways.  I didn’t even know her story until two years ago and now I find her to be one of the people in the bible I most connect with.  Hannah struggles with infertility, and oh how her story hits home with me. 

My husband and I waited 7 very long years to be blessed with a child, and it only happened through the miracle of medical science.  Without that science, I too, would still be weeping as Hannah does in verses 1-18.  I too made bargains with God.  “If only you will bless me, I will…” was a prayer I prayed for 84 months.  I wonder how often Hannah prayed that prayer before she conceived.

But to me, the most amazing thing about these verses, is not what Hannah prayed, but what she did.  She kept her promise and gives Samuel to the Lord.   “After he is weaned” is the phrasing.  That means, that Samuel would have been sent off around the same age as my son is now - about 4 years old.  I cannot image her pain – her emotional anguish.  She cleaned his diapers – just as we did for our son.  She taught him to walk and talk – as we did.  She held him when he was sick – just as we did.  She rocked him to sleep, sang him songs, kissed his bruises, made him clothes, bathed him, held him, comforted him – just as we did.  He probably made her laugh and cry and worry, just as our son makes us laugh, and cry and worry. 

Hannah takes this special child – the one she thought she’d never have – the one she prayed for and begged for and bargained for… and she keeps her end of the bargain.  I cannot remember what I promised God I would do if I were blessed with a child the month I conceived…the joy of having him has made me forgetful.  Hannah not only remembered, she kept her promise and gives Samuel up.  Just the thought makes want to run and hug him tightly and never let him go.  I cannot imagine giving up my child for any reason.  It makes me wonder: what other bargains have I made with God?   And was I able to keep that promise?  I think that the answer is mostly “no”.

Prayer: 

Oh Lord, help me to keep my promises – not only to you but to those around me.