Devoted to God

1 Samuel 1:19-28 

    19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”
    21 Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the LORD and remain there forever.”
    23 So Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the LORD establish His word.” Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
    24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.

After hearing God’s favor to answer Hannah’s prayer for a child by the word of the LORD through Eli the priest, she and her husband returned home to Ramah.  The LORD did as He does, and faithfully answered the prayer with conception.  She progressed to term and delivered a son who she named Samuel, meaning “Heard by God.”  He was her answer to prayer.  Afterwards she nursed him until he ate solid food and was weaned, about two years old or so.  Then she waited to go to the yearly sacrifice where she had promised her son to be dedicated and devoted to the LORD and to leave him there permanently as she had vowed by an unbreakable promise to God with the promise of God to establish his word to her for him.  After Samuel was weaned she took him and sacrificed to the LORD in Shiloh, a city in Ephraim which was a temporary home of the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle, where worship and sacrifices were made before the temple in Jerusalem.  Hannah then handed him over to Eli as promised to be the LORD’s, devoted to serve Him in the temple with Eli.  Then they worshipped there, gratefully and humbly bowing down to acknowledge the majesty of God and their thankfulness for His grace and blessing of the child and His dedication of service.  We learn from this example that God is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9, Hebrews 10:23) and worthy to be praised (2 Samuel 22:4, Psalm 18:3, Hebrews 13:15).  The song of Hannah in the next chapter expresses her joy In worshipful thanksgiving and exaltation of the name of the LORD in response, a guide for our own response to His devoting His Son for the sacrifice of our salvation that we might in turn devote our new lives to His service which is reasonable and vowed to Him as our Lord and Master (Romans 12:1, 1 Corinthians 6:20).  We should be devoted to God in Christ in worshipful service as called and promised in response in our salvation.