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BIG IDEA:

OUR LEVEL OF SPIRITUAL CONSECRATION SHOULD MATCH OUR DEPTH OF SPIRITUAL INDEBTEDNESS

I. (:19-20) CONCEPTION AND BIRTH OF SAMUEL —

ANSWERED PRAYER IMPLIES SPIRITUAL INDEBTEDNESS

A. (:19-20a) Conception of Samuel

1. Faith Expressed in Worship

“Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord”

2. Faith Expressed in Hopeful Expectation Coupled with Responsible Living

“and returned again to their house”

“And Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife”

3. Faith Rewarded with Fulfilled Promise

“and the Lord remembered her”

B. (:20b) Birth of Samuel

“named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I have asked him of the Lord’”

II. (:21-23) NURSING AND WEANING OF SAMUEL –

(Note how the priority and function of the father differs from that of the Mother when it comes to childcare)

A. Nursing of Samuel

B. Weaning of Samuel

Purposes: To present him before the Lord for a lifetime of dedicated service

III. (:24-28) DEDICATION AND WORSHIP OF SAMUEL —

SPIRITUAL CONSECRATION INVOLVES PAYING A HIGH PRICE

Accompanying Sacrifices

– 3 bulls

– one ephah of flour

– a jug of wine

A. Dedication of Samuel

“So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.”

No turning back on the part of Hannah; no compromising her vow; no grudging compliance; no reserve on her part; whole-hearted sacrifice

B. Worship of Samuel

“And he worshiped the Lord there.”

Picked up the baton from his faithful parents and continued on the same path of worship and service.