As parents, we also desire that our children should grow in wisdom & stature, and in favour with God & men, like our Lord Jesus. (Luke 2:52). Do you know in the Bible, about another young boy it is written that, he also grew in the same way like Jesus, i.e. in stature & in favour with God & men? Can you guess, who is that blessed boy, who grew in his childhood like Jesus grew?
I’ll give you some clues:
- His mother prayed for this child, and the Lord had granted her petition.
- His name means, ‘Because I have asked for him from the Lord.’
- His mother had dedicated him at a very young age to serve the Lord in the temple.
- He became a great prophet of Israel. Yes, you guessed right. He is Samuel.
In 1 Samuel 2:26 it is written about him, ‘And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favour with the Lord and with men.’
Samuel was the answer and gift from God to his mother Hannah’s cry and prayer. And Hannah also dedicated him to serve the Lord with a grateful heart and as a mark of her gratitude. What a privilege & blessedness when child is dedicated to serve the Lord his entire life! And Elkanah & Hannah have got that privilege and blessedness for their child. God was faithful & generous. Hanna lent God one child, and God gave her 3 sons and 2 daughters. (1 Samuel 2:21a)
1 Samuel 3:1 says, ‘the Word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation’. Why was the Lord silent? It was because of Eli’s two sons. They were corrupt & did not know the Lord. They abhorred the offering of the Lord. And Eli also did not correct them as required and honoured his sons more than God. (1 Samuel 2:27-32) If we are grieved by someone or upset with someone, we would not like to talk to that person. In the same way God also does not like to talk through His Word and there was not widespread revelation of His Word during Eli’s days. God’s Word was rare in those days because of the sin.
Amidst all these sinful things occurring in the temple of the Lord, child Samuel was growing in the presence of the Lord and in stature, and in favour both with the Lord and with men. And he ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. He was serving the Lord faithfully and in obedience. (1 Samuel 2:18, 21b, 26) Isn’t it possible that even though evil/corrupt things are happening in our surrounding, we can still grow in the Lord and make a difference in the sight of the Lord? We must not allow such evil things to influence our life, even if we have to stand alone. Samuel stood alone from his very young age and made this difference in those days.
When the Word of the Lord was rare and there was no widespread revelation, God chose child Samuel to reveal His Word and called him by his name, four times, till he recognized the voice of the Lord. (1 Samuel 3:1-10) In God’s kingdom there is no age bar. God is seeking those who seek Him diligently whether they are young or old. As per 1 Samuel 3:19-20, God made him a great prophet of Israel. The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and God let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was ATTESTED as a prophet of the Lord.
Again the Lord appeared to Samuel in Shiloh. Where there was no revelation of the Word, THE LORD REVEALED HIMSELF TO SAMUEL IN SHILOH THROUGH THE WORD OF THE LORD. (1 Samuel 3:21) In the same way, God reveals Himself to us through His true & living Word, i.e. by giving us the revelation of His Word. God bless.
Anjali Jose
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