1 Samuel 1:1-28 Click here for the reading
"Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain,
If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me
By giving me a son,
I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you.
I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline."
In Baptism, there is something of a dedicating your child to God much like Hannah does in this Scripture. When Hannah has her prayers answered and conceives a child she dedicates him to the Lord, naming him Samuel (I asked God for him).
This dedication is connected with the sacrament of Baptism because in baptism, God makes the adoption complete. We all receive the same middle name, 'child of God.' Hannah realized the gift this child was because she had not been able to have children and instead of holding onto that dear child she dedicates him to the Lord. This is not a blessing this is a giving him over for service to God. Samuel will become a great prophet for God's people.
Imagine the boldness of this kind of faith that gives over the greatest possession of life back to the God who gave that child to her in the first place. The Baptismal adoption is a great risk of faith placing in God's hands children and adults with God's promise of life. Hannah exemplifies this in her faith through both pain and joy.
Lord- thanks for the promises you keep, in both baptism and in dedication of your faithful servants.
If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain,
If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me
By giving me a son,
I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you.
I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline."
In Baptism, there is something of a dedicating your child to God much like Hannah does in this Scripture. When Hannah has her prayers answered and conceives a child she dedicates him to the Lord, naming him Samuel (I asked God for him).
This dedication is connected with the sacrament of Baptism because in baptism, God makes the adoption complete. We all receive the same middle name, 'child of God.' Hannah realized the gift this child was because she had not been able to have children and instead of holding onto that dear child she dedicates him to the Lord. This is not a blessing this is a giving him over for service to God. Samuel will become a great prophet for God's people.
Imagine the boldness of this kind of faith that gives over the greatest possession of life back to the God who gave that child to her in the first place. The Baptismal adoption is a great risk of faith placing in God's hands children and adults with God's promise of life. Hannah exemplifies this in her faith through both pain and joy.
Lord- thanks for the promises you keep, in both baptism and in dedication of your faithful servants.
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