God Calls the Child Samuel
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He would grant her the gift of a son to train for Him. And she made a
vow that if her request were granted she would dedicate her child to
God from its birth.
Hannah had drawn near to the entrance of the tabernacle and in
the anguish of her spirit “prayed, ... and wept sore.” In those evil
times, such scenes of worship were rarely witnessed. Eli the high
priest, observing Hannah, supposed that she was overcome with wine.
Thinking to administer a deserved rebuke, he said sternly, “How long
wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.”
Pained and startled, Hannah answered gently, “No, my lord, I am
a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong
drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Count not thine
handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my
complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.”
The high priest was deeply moved, for he was a man of God. In
place of rebuke he uttered a blessing: “Go in peace: and the God of
Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of Him.”
Hannah Gives Samuel to God
Hannah received the gift which she had earnestly entreated. As she
looked upon the child, she called him Samuel—“asked of God.” As
soon as the little one was old enough to be separated from his mother,
she fulfilled her vow. He was her only son, the special gift of Heaven;
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but she had received him as a treasure consecrated to God, and she
would not withhold from the Giver His own.
Hannah journeyed with her husband to Shiloh and presented to
the priest her precious gift, saying, “For this child I prayed; and the
Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him: therefore also I
have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the
Lord.” Eli, himself an overindulgent father, was awed and humbled as
he beheld this mother’s great sacrifice in parting with her only child,
that she might devote him to the service of God. He felt reproved for
his own selfish love, and in humiliation and reverence bowed before
the Lord and worshiped. The mother’s heart was filled with joy and
praise, and she poured forth her gratitude to God.
From Shiloh, Hannah returned to her home at Ramah, leaving
Samuel to be trained for service in the house of God. From the earliest