A Legacy of Hope
1 Samuel 1:10-20, 27-2:1; 12:23-24
We prayed, but nothing happened. Normally my wife has clear direction where God is taking us. She did this time, too, but no doors opened. We loved our ministry, but it was only part-time and bills were mounting. So we prayed and sent out r?sum?s – hundreds of them. No response, but we kept praying. In his time, God opened the door.
Hannah, wife of Elkanah and mother of Samuel, probably felt helpless, too. Children were status symbols, and Hannah had none. Hopelessness is characteristic of our culture. Attempts to find hope lead people in many directions – most away from God.
In Samuel’s farewell address to the people, he vowed to continue praying for them and teaching them what was right (1 Samuel 12:23-24). King Saul would exercise more military and political control, but Samuel would remain priest, prophet and judge.
Samuel’s prayer was similar to Moses’ petition in Deuteronomy 6, where he instructs the people to fear God, remember what He has done for them and to pass along His teachings to their descendants. Samuel wanted the Israelites to be God’s people in action, not just position.
Prayer for all people is important, but praying for those whom God places in our circles of influence is more crucial. Praying for, and serving, others is a ministry we never retire from.
No doubt, Samuel’s mother had an enormous impact on his becoming a righteous man of prayer. Hannah believed in prayer, especially in desperate times (1 Samuel 1:10-20). She made her plea bargain for a son at the Tabernacle in Shiloh in the presence of Eli the priest, assuring God she would return the child to His service and never cut his hair. Hannah’s promise was a Nazarite vow (Numbers 6:1-21) that God allowed parents to make in their children’s behalf.
Hannah’s faith should be ours. God is greater than anything causing us despair, and prayer is always the proper response when facing difficult situations. Hannah also demonstrates the desire parents should have for their children to commit their whole life to the Lord.
God answers Hannah’s prayer, and she keeps her end of the bargain (1 Samuel 1:27-2:1). After weaning Samuel, she returns him to the Lord’s service at the Tabernacle. But the difficulty of giving up her son didn’t prevent her from praising God’s work in her life.
Building a legacy of hope is vital and can be expressed through prayers of confidence. Dedicating our children to the Lord is proper, but encouraging them to follow God is more important. And so is obedience to the personal commitments we make to Him.
Wiles– Lessons in the BSL series for the spring quarter are being written by Martin Wiles, pastor of First Baptist Church, Harleyville, and author of three books, including recently published “Grace Greater Than Sin.”