Bible Study - Dedicated Before Delivered

1 Samuel 1:24–28 KJV 1900

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. 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.

Main Idea: God calls us to give back what He has allowed us to steward, for His honor and glory. Our blessings are not for entertainment or enrichment. They are meant to edify the Body of Christ and elevate the name of God above all others.

Introduction

Hannah’s story is a reminder that God often answers prayer with purpose. After years of heartbreak, the Lord gives Hannah a son, Samuel. But the miracle does not end at birth, it moves toward obedience. The Bible says, “when she had weaned him, she took him up with her… and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh” (1 Samuel 1:24). Hannah shows that God’s gifts are not meant to terminate in our hands; they are meant to be transferred back to God’s agenda.

This matters for believers today, especially for families working hard to build stability. Many people are managing careers, mortgages or rent, retirement plans, education goals for children, and the pressure of “making it” in a world that celebrates image and comfort. In that environment, it is easy to treat blessings like personal rewards. But Hannah teaches a better way: blessings are stewardship. The Lord gives, and the Lord deserves glory from what He gives (Psalm 24:1; 1 Corinthians 4:7). A mature faith says, “Lord, if You entrust it to me, I will use it for You.”

Dedicated Before Delivered means God often calls believers to consecrate what they prayed for before they fully enjoy what it can become. Hannah donates, then declares, then dedicates. She gives to the Lord, testifies about the Lord, and yields her best back to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:24–28). And the application is clear: the home, the job, the influence, the resources, the skills, and the children God has entrusted to a believer are not simply for personal enrichment. They are meant to strengthen the church and exalt Christ.

I. Donation to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:24–25)

Hannah’s first act after receiving Samuel is worshipful giving. “When she had weaned him, she took him up with her… and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh” (1 Samuel 1:24). Notice her intentionality. She does not bring leftovers. She comes prepared, bringing offerings that reflect honor and gratitude (1 Samuel 1:24). Her donation is not payment for a miracle; it is praise for God’s mercy.

Then the text says, “And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli” (1 Samuel 1:25). Hannah’s giving includes sacrifice and surrender. The offering is costly, and the gift is personal. She is teaching the church that devotion to God is not only emotional, it is practical. When God calls, He calls believers to bring their best, not because God needs it, but because worship requires it.

Synopsis

In 1 Samuel 1:24–25, Hannah models planned and precious giving. She brings Samuel to the Lord’s house at Shiloh and offers worship with sacrifice (1 Samuel 1:24–25). Her donation shows that blessings are stewardship, not ownership, and that real worship honors God with intentional giving and heartfelt surrender.

Five spiritual actions

Plan your giving as worship, not as an afterthought. (Proverbs 3:9; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:7)

2 Corinthians 9:7 “7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

Bring God your first and best, not what remains. (Malachi 1:8; Proverbs 3:9–10; Matthew 6:33)

Proverbs 3:9–10 “9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, And with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

Practice sacrificial generosity that costs you something. (2 Samuel 24:24; Romans 12:1; Mark 12:43–44)

Mark 12:43–44 “43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”

Treat every blessing as stewardship, not ownership. (Psalm 24:1; 1 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10)

1 Peter 4:10 “10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

Attach your resources to God’s mission through the local church. (Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 2:44–47; Galatians 6:10)

Matthew 28:19–20 “19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

II. Declaration About the Lord (1 Samuel 1:26–27)

After Hannah donates, she testifies. She says to Eli, “I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:26). Hannah points to the place of her pain and connects it to the presence of God. She is not ashamed of where she was, because she knows who met her there. A believer’s story becomes powerful when it is told with humility and clarity.

Then Hannah declares, “For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him” (1 Samuel 1:27). She gives God full credit. She does not divide the glory between her effort and God’s grace. Testimony is not bragging, it is blessing. God uses honest declarations to strengthen faith in the congregation and to remind others that prayer still works.

Synopsis

In 1 Samuel 1:26–27, Hannah declares God’s faithfulness by recalling her past burden and celebrating her present blessing. She identifies herself as the one who prayed and gives God full credit for the answer (1 Samuel 1:26–27). Her testimony shows that public worship includes public witness, and that declaring God’s work builds faith in others.

Spiritual Actions

Tell God’s story in your life with humility and clarity. (Psalm 66:16; Mark 5:19; Revelation 12:11)

Psalm 66:16 “16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, And I will declare what he hath done for my soul.”

Remember your “here” moments, and honor God for meeting you there. (Psalm 34:17; Lamentations 3:55–57; 2 Corinthians 1:3–4)

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 “3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

Give God full credit for every good outcome. (James 1:17; Psalm 115:1; 1 Corinthians 10:31)

Psalm 115:1 “1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.”

Use your testimony to strengthen someone else’s faith. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 10:24–25; Romans 1:12)

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

Turn answered prayer into deeper worship, not spiritual complacency. (Psalm 116:1–2; Philippians 4:6–7; Colossians 3:16–17)

Philippians 4:6–7 “6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

III. Dedication to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:28)

Hannah’s dedication reaches its summit in verse 28: “Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:28). This is lifelong surrender. Hannah is not negotiating with God, she is honoring her vow. She treats Samuel as a sacred trust. Dedicated Before Delivered means Samuel’s influence is not built on Hannah’s ambition but on Hannah’s surrender.

Then the verse ends, “And he worshipped the LORD there” (1 Samuel 1:28). Dedication produces worship. When a believer truly yields something to God, it does not lead to resentment, it leads to reverence. Hannah’s dedication places Samuel in an environment of worship and service. God often delivers people into greater usefulness after He deepens their surrender.

Synopsis

In 1 Samuel 1:28, Hannah dedicates Samuel to the Lord for life, showing that dedication is deliberate, continual, and worship-centered. She lends him to the Lord “as long as he liveth,” and the result is worship “there” in God’s presence (1 Samuel 1:28). Dedication is the pathway through which God shapes destiny.

Five spiritual actions believers

Decide to live surrendered, not seasonal. (Luke 9:23; Romans 12:1; Galatians 2:20)

Luke 9:23 “23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Commit your family and future to God’s ownership. (Joshua 24:15; Proverbs 22:6; Psalm 127:1, 3)

Joshua 24:15 “15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Release what you love most into God’s hands. (Genesis 22:12; Matthew 10:37–39; Philippians 3:8)

Philippians 3:8 “8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”

Make worship the center of your life, not the accessory. (John 4:23–24; Psalm 29:2; Hebrews 12:28)

Hebrews 12:28 “28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”

Use your gifts to build the church and exalt Christ. (1 Peter 4:10–11; Ephesians 4:11–12; Colossians 3:17)

Colossians 3:17 “17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Small Group Discussion

What blessing are you tempted to hold tightly, and what would it look like to steward it for God? (1 Samuel 1:24–25; Psalm 24:1; 1 Peter 4:10)

How can planned giving and planned worship reshape your weekly priorities? (1 Samuel 1:24; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Matthew 6:33)

Where has God brought you through a “past burden,” and how can your testimony help someone else? (1 Samuel 1:26; Psalm 66:16; 2 Corinthians 1:3–4)

Why is it important to give God full credit for present blessings? (1 Samuel 1:27; James 1:17; Psalm 115:1)

What does lifelong dedication look like in everyday life for a working family? (1 Samuel 1:28; Romans 12:1; Colossians 3:17)

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for every blessing You have placed in our hands. Teach us to donate with worship, declare Your faithfulness with humility, and dedicate our lives with wholehearted surrender. Help us to use what You have entrusted to edify the Body of Christ and to elevate Your name above all others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.