Samuel Dedicated to God, Part 1

Dedicated to the Lord even before he was conceived, the prophet Samuel was, as a child, brought to the temple to serve for the rest of his life. He was a miracle for his barren mother, Hannah, who had prayed desperately to God for him. True to her word, Hannah, as soon as she was able, gave Samuel to be trained in the priesthood under the tutelage of Eli, the high priest.

He was an obedient boy, hardworking and respectful. He did his duties willingly, even when those around him did not. In the temple he stood in stark contrast to Eli’s own sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were themselves priests. Hophni and Phinehas abused their office for their own selfish gains; they were corrupt, licentious, and blasphemous (1 Samuel 2:12–16, 22). “Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord” (v. 17).

It must have been difficult for Hannah and Elkanah, her husband, to let another raise their son. The behavior of Eli’s sons was well-known throughout the land; it would not have been unreasonable for Samuel’s parents to fear that their own son could likely suffer from the same parenting. Samuel was the youngest. It would have been natural for him to look up to the sons of the high priest, to adopt their ways and character.

And Hannah and Elkanah did not see Samuel but once a year at “the yearly sacrifice” (v. 19). While Hannah took the care to visit her firstborn, no doubt imparting to him all the guidance she could, what was one day compared to years of daily exposure to such wickedness? Would it not eventually take its toll on so young and impressionable a mind?

But there was something different about Samuel. He wanted to know the Lord, to love the Lord; and as the years passed, he was “in favor both with the Lord and men” (v. 26). Samuel, in spite of all that was around him, dedicated himself to serving God.

Reflect: Do you find yourself in places where you are tempted to forsake God and His ways? Think of Samuel, Daniel, or Joseph and how they remained faithful to God in the midst of evil.

Key Bible Texts

And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. (1 Samuel 1:11 KJV)