www.rossvillechurch.com

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 307411July 3, 2011

We are studying of how the birth of Samuelbirth of Samuel, priest, prophet, and leader of Israel came to be.

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Elkanah was a LeviteLevite who had two wives:

HannahHannah - the woman he lovedloved, but she was barrenbarren,

And PeninnahPeninnah - the woman he married to have children.

Hannah prayed for a son, and promised to give him to God for all of his life.

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God promised her a son, and she left the temple in faithin faith,

believing God for a son.

Her countenance was Her countenance was no no longerlonger sad! sad!

We talked last Sunday of how faithfaith changes usus, even moreeven more than it changes our circumstances.

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Hannah believedbelieved the Word of God --

She went from sadness and grief to joyjoy;

She went from refusingrefusing to eat or drink to having a good appetitegood appetite.

Faith in God will take awaytake away all fear from our mind, and give us couragecourage to live boldly.

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Faith will replace worryworry with confidence.

SadnessSadness with joy

EmptinessEmptiness with satisfaction

TurmoilTurmoil with peace of mind.

19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.

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Notice that they worshipped God beforebefore they started home.

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Too often we forget to worshipforget to worship before we start --

Trip, Project, Business venture, Trip, Project, Business venture, Our dayOur dayWe may think we can't affordcan't afford the time.

Time to worship will save us timetime and troubletrouble.

Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her. V 19b

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We have to do our part; do what we can do.

Turn from sin;Focus on living for God; ActivelyActively living for God.

20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LordBecause I have asked him of the Lord.

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AcknowledgeAcknowledge God's blessing with thanksgiving.

Every time Hannah called Samuelcalled Samuel, she remem-remem-beredbered and acknowledgedacknowledged that God gave him to her.

Every time that she spoke his namespoke his name.

21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. 22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide forever.

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23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the Lord establish His Word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young.

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According to Bible Knowledge Commentary, it was customary to nurse a childnurse a child till the age of three.

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Samuel was about this size and agesize and age when he was leftleft at the temple.

Talk about a baby dedicationbaby dedication!

25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him: 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.

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Hannah kept her vowkept her vow to the Lord.

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Too many would have run backwards, saying, "I can't leave my baby."

"He's so little."

People today have misunderstood the misunderstood the purposepurpose of having children.

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God doesn't give us children that we may selfishlyselfishly keep them babiesbabies for our own enjoyment.

He gives us children that we may raise themraise them to become godly, mature adultsbecome godly, mature adults.

At the age of three years, SamuelSamuel was given back to God to worshipworship and serve Himserve Him.

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He would have had to learn to take care of himselftake care of himself at this very young age.

He was expected to learn the detailslearn the details of priestly service in the temple.

Faith in GodFaith in God

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Eli had raised two sons, who were vile menvile men:

Fornicators and thievesFornicators and thieves misusing the office of the priesthood for their own gain.

But Hannah wasn'twasn't entrusting Samuel to Eli;

She was entrusting him unto Godunto God.

Whatever you may be concernedconcerned about, entrustentrust the person or situation unto God Almighty.

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God will workGod will work all things for good unto every one who

loves Himloves Him and lives for Himlives for Him.