Lesson 200 - Junior
Memory Verse
"The LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I" (I Samuel 3:4).
Notes
A Praise for Answered Prayer
Hannah's prayer was a song of thanksgiving. Her heart was filled with praise to God because He had answered her prayer. Some time before, she had gone with her husband to Shiloh "to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts." Hannah had wanted something precious and dear to her heart to give to the Lord. She had no children, but she prayed that God would give her a son. In turn, she promised that she would consecrate that son to the Lord and to His service. As she had wept and consecrated before the Lord, she had prayed from her heart. "Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard."
Consecrated to God
In answer to that prayer, God gave Hannah a son who she called Samuel. When he was yet young, his mother took him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. To pay her vow, she took her son -" her only child at that time -" that he might be consecrated to God. Eli was in charge of the house of the Lord. Hannah left Samuel with him that her son might learn the ways of the Lord and be in His service.
Praise to the Giver
Hannah's song was the prayer of her heart when Samuel was consecrated. She was rejoicing and happy because of the great things God had done for her. How differently some people pray when they try to tell God how much they do for Him and give to Him! Hannah did not even mention the special gift of a song that God gave her. Nor did she prophesy that her son would be a great man and do good things. Hannah exalted God, the Giver -" not Samuel the gift. She said, "I rejoice in thy salvation... there is none beside thee."
Hannah's song of thanksgiving was very much like David's song of victory: "I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised" (Psalm 18:1-3).
Hannah worshiped God for His holiness and for His wisdom. As she testified of God's power and faithfulness she spoke of the things that she had experienced. Men often like to take credit to themselves for any good in their lives. But Hannah knew that God gives strength, riches, position, and every blessing in our lives. "The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up."
Prophecies
Hannah told not only what God had done in the past but she also spoke of the future. God's faithfulness in the past gave her faith for the future. In looking forward to victories by the help of the Lord, Hannah included all of God's people. "He will keep the feet of his saints." These wonderful words show faith and confidence in God. They are also a promise to His people, for God inspired Hannah to speak them. God's people need only to believe, obey, and trust Him.
"By strength shall no man prevail." God will keep and give victory to those who depend upon Him. Gideon is a good example that the victory does not depend upon the strength of great numbers of people. We have learned about Gideon and his band of 300 warriors who routed and destroyed the army of the Midianites, which was so large that both they and their camels were without number (
).The adversaries of the Lord are those who are opposed to Him. They are His enemies. Hannah said that they "shall be broken to pieces." Such had been the experience in the days of the Children of Israel, and continued in the days that followed Hannah's prophecy. Down through the years, God has protected and delivered His people while His enemies have been destroyed. So it shall be until the last enemy is destroyed ([1CO:15:25-26]) and Christ rules for ever and ever ([REV:11:15]).
This beautiful prayer of Hannah has many lessons for us. May we learn to mingle praise and thanksgiving in our prayers! May we exalt the God of our salvation, and realise that we shall have the joy that Hannah had when we give unto the Lord that which is near and dear to our hearts, and when we pay our vows, even those we made when in trouble ([PS:66:13-14])!
Samuel
What happened to the little boy Samuel whom Hannah "lent" unto the Lord? She did not forget him nor feel that her responsibilities to him were over. Each year she made a little coat and took to him when she went to Shiloh for the yearly sacrifice. No doubt, each time she saw Samuel, Hannah was reminded of God's great faithfulness in answering her prayer.
Service unto God
Samuel continued to grow. He was in favour with God and man. He was industrious and "ministered unto the LORD before Eli." Some people may think that there is no work in the Gospel for a child. There was work for Samuel " and he was young. Perhaps he ran errands for Eli and helped to keep the house of the Lord in order. He was not influenced by the bad example of Eli's sons who were disobedient and did as they pleased. Samuel was willing to fill the place to which his mother had consecrated him. She said, "As long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD."
A Personal Call
It was not enough to be consecrated by his mother. God gave a personal call to Samuel, too. Most fortunate is the child who is consecrated to the Lord by his parents. Perhaps you have been so "lent" by your parents, but God wants you to consecrate your life to Him and His service. God wants you to answer His personal call to you. God wants willing workers -" those who will willingly fill the place that He gives them.
Answering God's Call
God revealed Himself to Samuel in a most unusual manner. One night after Eli had gone to bed, and Samuel lay down to sleep, Samuel heard his name called. Thinking that Eli wanted him, Samuel dutifully ran to Eli's room. But Eli said that he had not called, and sent him back to bed. Three times this happened, until finally Eli realised that the Lord was calling Samuel. Eli told Samuel to answer when the voice of God called him.
Once more Samuel lay down, perhaps wondering if God would call again since he had not answered when God had called before. Samuel prepared to listen for the voice of God. It was a great privilege as well as a duty for Samuel to know the will of God. The Lord came, and stood, and called, "Samuel, Samuel," He answered, "Speak; for thy servant heareth."
The Call of God
God's call to you may not be just like His call to Samuel. God could call you by name as He did Samuel, but He may not. Sometimes God does speak in an audible voice. More often He talks to the heart. He shows one that thee is sin in the heart and life. God shows one his need of a Saviour. Perhaps you have felt an urge to pray and to ask God to forgive your sins. Perhaps you have longed to be a Christian and to know that you are right with God. That is God's call to you. Maybe you did not recognise it before. From this time forth, you will know that God wants you to answer like Samuel did -" "Speak; for thy servant heareth." Even after one is saved, God may give a call to a definite work, to do something special for Him. May your love to the Lord and for His work prompt you to answer Him, "Here am I."
The Message to Samuel
God had a message for Samuel. It was not concerning Samuel himself. God did not say that He would make Samuel a great man nor that Samuel would do great things. God's first message to Samuel was short; it was sad; and it was for another person. The message was concerning the house of Eli.
Before this time, God had warned Eli that he was not a faithful priest and that he honoured his sons more than he honoured God. Eli knew that his sons wee wicked. He had been told that both hi sons would die in one day, and that God would raise up a faithful priest. Eli and his sons did not ask God to forgive them. Instead, they did as they had done before, not heeding the warning of God.
This time, Eli humbled himself to ask Samuel, a child and his servant, about the message from God. Eli was not envious nor begrudging that God had talked to Samuel instead of him. Eli acted honestly even though it meant disgrace for him. Samuel told Eli all the message. He held nothing back. He did not take pleasure in delivering an evil report to Eli, but Samuel was faithful and obedient to God.
No Repentance
The message that God sent was to the effect that He would not forgive the sins of Eli's sons. This judgement was severe but it was just, for man cannot expect to do ill and fare well. They had not given heed to the warning of God, nor to the reproof of Eli ([1SM:2:24-25]). They despised the offering of the Lord ([1SM:2:15-17]). They were followers of Satan and knew not God ([1SM:2:12]). They continued to sin until God gave them no more chance to repent ([GEN:6:3]; [PRO:29:1]). Eli suffered disgrace and poverty because he failed in his duty. He did reprove his sons, but he did not punish them when he knew of their iniquity and when he was responsible for their conduct in the house of the Lord.
Honour to Samuel
God fulfilled the message that Samuel delivered to Eli. This brought honour to Samuel, and established him in the sight of all Israel that he was to be a prophet of the Lord. God was with Samuel. The presence of the Lord brought an increase in wisdom and grace for Samuel just as the presence of the Lord will bring for us today.
Questions
1. Why was Hannah's prayer filled with praise and thanksgiving?
2. Why did she "lend" Samuel to the Lord?
3. Why was it necessary for Hannah to consecrate Samuel to the Lord?
4. What kind of man was Eli?
5. Why did not Samuel answer the Lord the first time?
6. What did Samuel answer when he knew that God called him?
7. For whom was the message that God gave Samuel?
8. Why did not God forgive Eli's sons?