What role does sacrifice play in worship according to 1 Samuel 1:25? Setting of 1 Samuel 1:25 After years of barrenness, Hannah vowed that if the LORD granted her a son, she would give him back to the LORD all his days. When Samuel was weaned, she, Elkanah, and the family traveled to Shiloh to fulfill that vow. Text of the Verse “And when they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli.” (1 Samuel 1:25) Key Observations • The act of slaughtering the bull precedes presenting Samuel to Eli. • The sacrifice is not incidental; it is the threshold through which the family enters worship in God’s house. • Worship, vow-keeping, and sacrifice are inseparably linked in the narrative. Sacrifice in Old Testament Worship • Access to God—Leviticus 1:3-4 shows the burnt offering providing “acceptance” for the worshiper. • Substitution—Life is given in place of the worshiper’s life (Leviticus 17:11). • Dedication—A costly gift signals complete surrender (2 Samuel 24:24). • Thanksgiving—Peace offerings express gratitude (Leviticus 7:11-15). Specific Role Evident in 1 Samuel 1:25 • Gateway to Vow Fulfillment – The bull’s death opens the way for Hannah to present living Samuel, underscoring that dedication must be accompanied by a life-yielding offering (compare Romans 12:1). • Expression of Costly Devotion – A three-year-old bull (1 Samuel 1:24) represents significant wealth; worship is never cheap. • Act of Substitution and Consecration – The bull’s life is given, and Samuel is symbolically set apart, indicating that true worship involves both substitutionary sacrifice and personal consecration. • Communal Participation – Elkanah’s family, priest Eli, and the gathered worshipers witness the sacrifice, showing that worship is a shared act centered on God’s prescribed altar. Implications for Our Worship Today • Approach God through the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 10:19-22). • Recognize worship as costly surrender—time, resources, obedience (Philippians 3:7-8). • Join sacrifice with dedication: offer yourself wholly, not partially (Luke 9:23). • Keep vows promptly and reverently, anchoring promises in the finished work of the cross (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). Related Scriptures • 1 Samuel 1:24—“When she had weaned him, she took him up with her…” • Psalm 50:14—“Sacrifice a thank offering to God and fulfill your vows to the Most High.” • Hebrews 13:15—“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise…” |
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