What role does Hannah's faith play in God's blessing in 1 Samuel 2:21? Setting the Scene: Longing Meets the Lord 1 Samuel 2:21: “And the LORD attended to Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.” • The verse closes the loop begun in 1 Samuel 1, where Hannah, barren and ridiculed, cried out to the LORD at Shiloh. • Her plea was not a momentary wish but a vow of consecration: if God granted a son, she would give him back to God (1 Samuel 1:11). • After Samuel’s birth, Hannah fulfilled that vow (1 Samuel 1:27-28), demonstrating that her faith was tied to obedience. Hannah’s Faith on Display • Persistent Prayer – “She continued praying before the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:12). – Faith refuses to quit asking (Luke 18:1-8). • Vow of Surrender – She offered the very blessing she desired (Romans 12:1). • Immediate Obedience – Once Samuel was weaned, she brought him to the tabernacle (1 Samuel 1:24-28). – Faith without works is dead (James 2:17). • Ongoing Worship – Her song in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 exalts God’s sovereignty and reversals, revealing a heart that trusts God’s character beyond personal gain. God’s Gracious Response • “The LORD attended to Hannah” — literally, “visited.” In Scripture, when God “visits,” He acts decisively (Genesis 21:1). • Multiplication of Blessing – Three additional sons and two daughters followed Samuel, illustrating Ephesians 3:20: God “is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine.” • Elevation of Her Firstborn – Samuel “grew up in the presence of the LORD,” becoming a prophet who would anoint Israel’s first two kings. Hannah’s faith therefore influenced national history. Patterns Echoed Elsewhere in Scripture • Faith leading to fruitfulness: – Abraham believed, and Isaac was born (Genesis 21:1-3; Romans 4:20-21). – Elizabeth’s barrenness ended with John the Baptist’s birth (Luke 1:13-25). • Vow-keeping honored by God: – Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 28:20-22; 35:1-7). • The principle of sowing and reaping: – “Give, and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:38). Hannah “gave” Samuel and received five more children. Lessons for Today • God hears heartfelt, Scripture-aligned petitions—faith prays specifically. • Genuine faith yields obedience; obedience positions us for further blessing. • Surrendering treasured desires to God often opens the door to greater, multiplied gifts. • What God gives through faith, He sustains for His larger purposes, just as He sustained Samuel “in the presence of the LORD.” |
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