He Remembered Whose He Was

Tuesday 4-7-15 (La Lucila, Argentina)

Scripture reading:    1 Sam 1-2  Ps 66  2 Cor 7

S.   1 Sam 1:26-28 “Sir, do you remember me?" Hannah asked. "I am the woman who stood here several years ago praying to the LORD.  I asked the LORD to give me this child, and he has given me my request.  Now I am giving him to the LORD, and he will belong to the LORD his whole life." And they worshiped the LORD there.  NLT

O.  Hannah had made a pledge to God.  If God would give her a son, she would give him back to God.  Now they made the long trip to the tabernacle in Shiloh.  For little Samuel it was a one way trip.  He would never return to live with his mother and father.  I can only imagine the depth of emotions that were felt as this loving mother left her little son, barely weaned from her breasts in the hands of Eli the priest.  To make matters worse, it was no doubt common knowledge that Eli’s two adult sons, who acted as priests, were both evil young men, taking advantage of the people’s sacrificial gifts and even seducing young women.  Surely Hannah had prayed over her little Samuel with tears… and even as a little child had poured her love for God into his little soul.

A.  What a difference a mother can make!  Even in those first years, while feeding at her breasts… Hannah must have sung her praises to God, worshiped Him, the Giver of life.  Samuel was off, practically on his own as far as his spiritual future was concerned, still as a little child.  Each year he would look forward to seeing his parents one more time.  His mother would bring him the gift of another new coat to let him know that although she now had five other children, he was never forgotten. 

P.  God, why am I weeping as I write this?  Why are my eyes blinded by my tears?  Why are my thoughts upon my three little boys that listened to Your word and our prayers in our home?  Oh Lord!  You know how it pained Frances and me to send them off even in their late teens into a world of wickedness.  God, could they stand in the face of all the pressures of their peers?  Little Samuel was surrounded by the influence of Eli’s evil sons.  He heard their conversation.  He watched them demand their special rights as priests.  He watched as old Eli only scolded them lightly without taking the situation in hand.  Samuel could easily have been swayed into the same corruption… except for one thing: He could never forget the prayers he had heard while still at his mother’s breast.  He knew who he was.  And he knew whose he was.  He had been given to God and he would never forget it.  May my children and grand-children never forget who they are!  May they never forget whose they are!  They are not their own to follow their peers in their evil choices.  They belong to You, God.  They belong to You!  Amen.

Ralph

Now I Belong To Jesus

Norman Clayton, 1903 - 1992

Jesus, my Lord will love me forever,
From Him no pow'r of evil can sever,
He gave His life to ransom my soul;
Now I belong to Him;

Chorus
Now I belong to Jesus,
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.

Once I was lost in sin's degradation,
Jesus came down to bring me salvation,
Lifted me up from sorrow and shame,
Now I belong to Him;

Chorus
Now I belong to Jesus,
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.

Joy floods my soul for Jesus has saved me,
Freed me from sin that long had enslaved me
His precious blood, He came to redeem,
Now I belong to Him;

Chorus
Now I belong to Jesus,
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.