Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 2:18-21 and 26.
“Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD, as a boy wearing a linen ephod. And his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him from year to year when she would come up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the LORD give you children from this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the LORD.” And they went to their own home.
The LORD visited Hannah; and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew before the LORD.
…
Now the boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with the LORD and with men.” 1 Samuel 2:18-21 and 26.
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Hannah was barren. “… the LORD had closed her womb. Her rival (Elkanah’s other wife), however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.” 1 Samuel 1:5-6.
Hannah prayed to the LORD. “She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. She made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.” 1 Samuel 1:10-11.
The LORD heard the voice of Hannah’s supplication and gave her a son, Samuel.
But, not only did the LORD give Hannah a son, Samuel, we read in today’s Scripture that the LORD also gave Hannah additional children: three sons and two daughters, thereby fulfilling (at least figuratively) Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving earlier in this chapter: “… Even the barren gives birth to seven, … 1 Samuel 2:5.
And, the LORD blessed Samuel. “Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with the LORD and with men.” Verse 26.
“19 How great is Your goodness,
Which You have stored up for those who fear You,
Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You,
Before the sons of men!
20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man;
You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the LORD,
For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.
22 As for me, I said in my alarm,
“I am cut off from before Your eyes”;
Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications
When I cried to You.
23 O love the LORD, all you His godly ones!
The LORD preserves the faithful
And fully recompenses the proud doer.
24 Be strong and let your heart take courage,
All you who hope in the LORD.” Psalm 31:19-24.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 