Constantly With Him

Constantly With Him

1 Samuel 2:19 – His mother would make a small robe for him, and she would bring it each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 – Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the LORD give you descendants from this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the LORD.” Then they would return to their home.

Verse 21 – The LORD took note of Hannah, and she became pregnant and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel continued to grow, and the LORD was constantly with him.

Consider what Hannah had done. She had dedicated her first-born son to the LORD. Samuel was not growing up at home but at the temple where Eli’s corrupt sons were serving.

Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phineas were wicked men who abused their sacred calling and took, sometimes by force, the best of the people’s offerings and slept with the women who served at the tent entrance. Their actions showed the contempt they had for God’s sacrifice and offering and the people knew it.

Who would want to send their child to the temple to grow up around such wickedness? Hannah, however, did not send her child to the temple to be raised by Eli or his sons. Her child was dedicated to God and the Bible says God was “constantly with him.”

It is a big deal for most parents to send their children away from home to grow up in environments where there may be darkness as well as light. It’s challenging enough trying to keep out the darkness even when they’re growing up at home.

Hannah was a parent who had one child away from home and was blessed by God with five more children who were growing up at home. Today let’s remember and pray for all our children: those at home and away from home.

Dear Jesus, as you protected the child Samuel from the corrupt influences of Eli’s sons and was constantly with him, we ask for you to be with all of our children – those at home and away from home. Please protect them from the darkness that threatens to overwhelm them all. Surround them with Your presence and may they come to know You, love You and have the assurance that You are constantly with them. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen!