SATURDAY May 14, 2022

Dedicating Our Children to the Lord

Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow. 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.”
1 Samuel 1:21-22

In the book of Samuel, we read of Hannah’s sorrow and anguish because she was unable to conceive a child. However, one year when she went to the temple in Shiloh, she poured out her heart to the Lord asking Him for a male child. If God granted her petition, she promised that she would dedicate him back to the Lord. Hannah, in bitterness of soul, made this solemn vow to God:

[Hannah] prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head” (1 Samuel 1:10-11).

In her prayer, Hannah vowed that no razor would come upon the child’s head. This was in reference to a vow of a Nazarite, which meant the child would be separated and consecrated to God. She would refrain from cutting his hair. God granted Hannah’s petition and gave her a male child. When Hannah weaned her child, as soon as he was able to stand, walk and speak, she took him to the temple and delivered him to the priest. Samuel’s mother left him in the house of the Lord for the rest of his life. Hannah kept her promise and dedicated Samuel back to the Lord.

This is a beautiful picture of parents dedicating their children to the Lord. Remember, they are not our children or grandchildren; they are God’s children. Dedicate them to God and pray for them always.

The impression that a praying mother leaves upon her children is life-long. Perhaps when you are dead and gone your prayers will be answered.
~D. L. Moody~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!