1 Samuel 2:1-19.
Hannah’s prayer recorded here is most beautiful. Her whole confidence and boast was in the Lord alone, and she, by her prayer, rebuked the proud, and spoke of how the Lord knows all. She said, “The Lord is a God of knowledge, and ‘w Him actions are weighed.” We are inclined to forget this at times. Hannah might have been discouraged by the condition of things in the house of God at Shiloh, but she knew that the Lord is a God of knowledge. It may seem as though Christians “get by” with things at times, but they do not, for the Lord knows all, and He deals with them in His own time.
Hannah also acknowledged that life is in the hands of God, and she rejoiced in this. This is particularly interesting when we consider how long she had waited before the Lord gave her a son.
She spoke of how the Lord lifted up the poor from the dunghill and set them among princes, and made them to inherit the throne of glory. Truly this was our position in our sins, and how high we have been lifted by His grace. We are now risen with Christ and seated in heavenly places in Him, soon to be glorified together with Him (Ephesians 1). May we be found praising Him more!
Hannah then spoke of God’s keeping grace, and how precious this is! “He will keep the feet of His saints.” Surely we need this in this dark scene, “for by strength shall no man prevail.”
We now come to the prophecy of a coming king, though as yet there was none. Truly “the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him,” Psalm 25:14, and it is to the humble and weak instruments He makes known His mind, while the wise and mighty of earth cannot understand His Word, or see the purposes of God. May we learn to walk in humility before the Lord, thus growing “in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18.
Little Samuel then started to serve the Lord. If there is a child reading this, may it be an encouragement to you, for even a child, if saved, can do little things to please the Lord, as Samuel did. This is not the way of salvation, which is only by faith in the Lord Jesus who bore our sins upon the cross, but those of us who are saved always want to please the Lord, according to the measure we are enjoying His love in our souls.
It was not long, however, until Samuel found out about the careless and evil ways of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, but apparently he did not follow them at all. It is a great thing for even children to learn to serve the Lord, and not to copy the sins of others, not even those of their friends from Christian homes. We are told to be followers of God as dear children.” Ephesians 5:1. Let us all remember this, both young and old. There is too much of copying others today, and when some Christian does a wrong thing, then others make it an excuse to do the same. It is nice to see the faithfulness of little Samuel, though brought up in such surroundings.
Each year Samuel’s mother brought up a little coat to Shiloh for him. She made provision for his growth. It is nice when we see spiritual, as well as physical, growth with our children each year. Let us look for it!
ML 04/11/1954