Key Verse: 1 Samuel 1:27-28, "'I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.' And he worshiped the Lord there."
Many churches hold baby dedication services once or twice a year. Parents stand with their babies at the front of the church and make a promise to both God and the congregation that their child will learn Christian beliefs and values. How would you react if, at the end of the service, a mother gave her son to the pastor and said that since she'd prayed for a child and her prayer was answered, she wanted to give him up to serve God? That's similar to what a woman in the Old Testament did with her son.
Elkanah had two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not. Childless Hebrew women were viewed as dishonored by God. And to add to Hannah's anguish, Peninnah made fun of her constantly for not having any children. During her yearly visit to the temple. Hannah poured out her soul to God in prayer. She made a vow that if God would give her a son, she'd dedicate him totally to God.
God answered Hannah's prayer for a son quickly and completely. She became pregnant and had Samuel, which means "heard of the Lord." Hannah also kept her promise. After Samuel was weaned, she brought him to the priest, Eli, for service to God. She literally gave her son to God.
Sometimes you may believe God isn't answering your prayers. But regardless of how you feel, the God of the universe will always hear your prayer. And God answers every prayer in his time and in his way.
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