#2 - Heard By God

Singing

First the Sacrifice, Then the Singing

1 Samuel 2:1–2 NIV

1 Then Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. 2 “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

This prayer is made right after she gives the child over to the priest.

Mosto people would sing if they could keep their son, but Hannah sang because she could give her son to the service of the Lord.

She glorified the Lord who does great things for His people.

Mary’s song is similar to Hannah’s

Luke 1:46–55 LEB

46 And Mary said, “My soul exalts the Lord, 47 and my spirit has rejoiced greatly in God my Savior, 48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his female slave, for behold, from now on all generations will consider me blessed, 49 because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for generation after generation to those who fear him. 51 He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has dispersed the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled those who are hungry with good things, and those who are rich he has sent away empty-handed. 54 He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, 55 just as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

because Mary had also made a sacrifice to the Lord

Luke 1:38 LEB

38 So Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s female slave! May it happen to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Firs the sacrifice, then the song

2 Chronicles 29:27 LEB

27 Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And at the time the burnt offering began, the song of Yahweh began, and also the trumpets, at the hands of the instruments of David king of Israel.

Sinning

Don’t lose the influence over your children

Eli had lost his influence oner his sons and as a result caused his family to lose the priesthood.

1 Kings 2:26–27 LEB

26 To Abiathar the priest, the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your field, for you deserve to die, but on this day I will not kill you, for you carried the ark of the Lord Yahweh before David my father, and because you endured hardship in all the hardship that my father endured.” 27 So Solomon banished Abiathar from being priest to Yahweh, thus fulfilling the word which Yahweh had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

1 Timothy 3:4–5 LEB

4 managing his own household well, having children in submission with all dignity 5 (but if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

Serving

The best investment you can make

Blessed are those parents who realize that their children are growing and facing new needs and struggles, and blessed are those children who grow “before the Lord”.

Luke 2:52 LEB

52 And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with people.

God kept Samuel pure in the mids of a defiled environment because he had parents who loved him and prayed for him.

Jesus has a special love for children, and we must love them, too.

Children

Children are a gift from God

Genesis 48:8–9 LEB

8 When Israel saw the sons of Joseph he said, “Who are these?” 9 Then Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Please bring them to me that I may bless them.”

A heritage and reward

Psalm 127:3 LEB

3 Look, children are the heritage of Yahweh; the fruit of the womb is a reward.

Weapons to use in flighting the enemy

Psalm 127:4–5 LEB

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them. They shall not be put to shame when they speak with enemies at the gate.

A source of Joy

Psalm 113:9 LEB

9 He causes the barren woman of the house to dwell as the happy mother of children. Praise Yah!

and a crown in their parents’ old age

Proverbs 17:6 LEB

6 The crown of the elderly are grandchildren, and the glory of children is their fathers.

It is a serious thing to abuse children

Matthew 18:1–6 LEB

1 At that time the disciples came up to Jesus, saying, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling a child to himself, he had him stand in their midst 3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you turn around and become like young children, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven! 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child, this person is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, 5 and whoever welcomes one child such as this in my name welcomes me. 6 But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him that a large millstone be hung on his neck and he be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Or to neglect their spiritual training

Ephesians 6:1–4 LEB

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “in order that it may be well with you, and you may live a long time on the earth.” 4 And fathers, do not make your children angry, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Christian witness is always one generation short of extinction.

If we fail to train the children for Christ, we forfeit the future.