1Sa 1:20 | KingComments | STEP | When Elkanah and his family have finished sacrificing, they go home. They have a long journey ahead of them, but they do not want to leave before they have worshiped as a family. It is an example for us personally and as a family. The strength of the spiritual life of the family lies in praying and worshiping together. There is no better start of the day than to worship the Lord, to tell Him that we admire Him for Who He is, what He has done and will do. To Him, Who is first in all things and takes the first place, should also be dedicated our first time and attention. The birth of Samuel does not happen by supernatural means, but by the way God has given for it. He does, however, give this pregnancy because He remembers Hannah, that He remembers Hannah’s prayer and that He will now hear it. For God, remembrance is not suddenly remembering something that He has forgotten, but to act on the basis of a previous request because the time to hear has now come. What happens is connected to something in the past. Samuel is born. In the name she gives him, she expresses God’s great kindness to her in the answer to her prayer. “Samuel” means ’prayed of God’ or ’answered by God’ – because she has prayed for him to the LORD. This name also indicates the character of Samuel. He will be a man of prayer, his service will be marked by prayer ( ). A woman of prayer brings forth a son of prayer. Hannah has begged, Samuel does intercession. Bringing the people back under the authority of God is only possible through prayer and the Word of God. For Hannah, the word applies: “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting” ( ). Whenever she calls the name “Samuel”, she honors God for His kindness and grace. In the same way, we should always express our gratitude for the blessings we have received ( ). How many situations can we call ‘Samuel’? Whenever we are saved from a need or when there is provided in a need based on prayer, we can write ‘Samuel’ on it. We will then particularly consecrate these situations to God, honoring Him for them.

‏ 1 Samuel 1:20

The Birth of Samuel

When Elkanah and his family have finished sacrificing, they go home. They have a long journey ahead of them, but they do not want to leave before they have worshiped as a family. It is an example for us personally and as a family. The strength of the spiritual life of the family lies in praying and worshiping together. There is no better start of the day than to worship the Lord, to tell Him that we admire Him for Who He is, what He has done and will do. To Him, Who is first in all things and takes the first place, should also be dedicated our first time and attention.

The birth of Samuel does not happen by supernatural means, but by the way God has given for it. He does, however, give this pregnancy because He remembers Hannah, that He remembers Hannah’s prayer and that He will now hear it. For God, remembrance is not suddenly remembering something that He has forgotten, but to act on the basis of a previous request because the time to hear has now come. What happens is connected to something in the past.

Samuel is born. In the name she gives him, she expresses God’s great kindness to her in the answer to her prayer. “Samuel” means ’prayed of God’ or ’answered by God’ – because she has prayed for him to the LORD. This name also indicates the character of Samuel. He will be a man of prayer, his service will be marked by prayer (1Sam 7:5 ; 1Sam 8:6 ; 1Sam 12:19 ; 23 ; 1Sam 15:11).

A woman of prayer brings forth a son of prayer. Hannah has begged, Samuel does intercession. Bringing the people back under the authority of God is only possible through prayer and the Word of God. For Hannah, the word applies: “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting” (Psa 126:5).

Whenever she calls the name “Samuel”, she honors God for His kindness and grace. In the same way, we should always express our gratitude for the blessings we have received (Psa 116:1-2). How many situations can we call ‘Samuel’? Whenever we are saved from a need or when there is provided in a need based on prayer, we can write ‘Samuel’ on it. We will then particularly consecrate these situations to God, honoring Him for them.