Topical Bible: Children: Dedicated to God in Infancy: Samuel

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Samuel, a significant figure in the Old Testament, serves as a profound example of a child dedicated to God from infancy. His account is primarily found in the book of 1 Samuel, where his life and ministry are detailed. Samuel's dedication to God begins even before his birth, through the fervent prayers and vows of his mother, Hannah.

Hannah's Vow and Samuel's Birth

Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, was deeply distressed by her inability to bear children. In her anguish, she prayed earnestly to the LORD at the tabernacle in Shiloh, making a solemn vow: "O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head" (1 Samuel 1:11). This vow indicates her commitment to the Nazirite vow for her son, a special dedication to God.

God answered Hannah's prayer, and she gave birth to a son, whom she named Samuel, meaning "heard of God," acknowledging that her petition had been granted. True to her promise, once Samuel was weaned, Hannah brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. There, she presented him to Eli the priest, saying, "I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him, I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD" (1 Samuel 1:27-28).

Samuel's Early Life and Ministry

From a young age, Samuel served in the tabernacle under Eli's guidance. His life was marked by a deep commitment to God, as he ministered before the LORD, wearing a linen ephod, a garment associated with priestly service (1 Samuel 2:18). The LORD was with Samuel as he grew, and he became known for his integrity and faithfulness.

Samuel's dedication to God was further affirmed when the LORD called him directly. In a time when "the word of the LORD was rare and visions were scarce" (1 Samuel 3:1), God chose to speak to Samuel, calling him by name. After initially mistaking the voice for Eli's, Samuel responded with the now-famous words, "Speak, for Your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:10). This marked the beginning of Samuel's prophetic ministry, as the LORD revealed His word to him.

Impact and Legacy

Samuel's life as a dedicated servant of God had a profound impact on the nation of Israel. He served as the last judge of Israel, a prophet, and a priest, guiding the people through a critical period of transition from the time of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy. Samuel anointed both Saul and David as kings, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of Israel.

Samuel's account exemplifies the power of dedicating a child to God and the potential for a life lived in faithful service to Him. His life serves as an enduring testament to the impact of early dedication and the fulfillment of God's purposes through those who are committed to Him from a young age.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Samuel 1:24-28
And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Home Dedication.
... faith we should, therefore, take our little ones, in infancy, before the ... Christian
home, and have with the lip had your children dedicated to God in baptism ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter x home dedication.htm

Christian Baptism.
... The earliest period of infancy is the proper time; for then there will be ... Parents
and children! ... There you gave it up to God,"dedicated it to His service; and ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xi christian baptism.htm

Home as a Nursery.
... The little child, dedicated to God in holy baptism, is ... God has fitted her for the
work of the nursery. ... ignorance, destroy the health of their children; and it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter xiii home as a.htm

The Baptismal Covenant Can be Kept Unbroken. Aim and ...
... For our children have been baptized and received by baptism into the ... She called him
Samuel, ie, asked of God. Before his birth even, she dedicated him to God. ...
/.../chapter v the baptismal covenant.htm

The Genuine Acts of Peter.
... Thy people." Then a certain virgin dedicated to God ... most merciful father answered,
"My faithful children, God has marked ... has separated the Son of God from the ...
/.../peter/the writings of peter of alexandria/the genuine acts of peter.htm

Letter clxvii . To Rusticus, Bishop of Gallia Narbonensis, with ...
... who leave the women by whom they have children and take ... For that which a man has
vowed to God, he ought also ... for some time but have not been dedicated, if they ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/letter clxvii to rusticus.htm

Comenius and the Hidden Seed, 1627-1672.
... hailed him as a deliverer sent by God; but it ... fond home, with the women and children
huddled in ... ecclesias Antichristi furor"; in 1660 he dedicated his "Ratio ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter xvi comenius and the.htm

Instruction for the Ignorant:
... But God's word saith, we are children of wrath by nature, that is, by birth and
generation. ... Again, the children of old that were dedicated unto the Lord ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/instruction for the ignorant .htm

The General Conference of 1804, and of the Annual Conferences of ...
... procured a small room, where he taught some children, and his ... a house of worship
in 1812, which was dedicated to the service of almighty God by Bishop ...
/.../chapter 6 the general conference.htm

English Version of the Second Helvetic Confession, AD 1566.
... (1 Samuel 9:16). ... For the Apostle says, 'We were dead in trespasses and sins, and
were by nature the children of wrath, even as others; but God, who is ...
/.../english version of the second.htm