1 Samuel 2

When all else seems impossible, remember that Jesus did what only He could do. He accomplished a salvation that no one else could have ever touched. He has satisfied the demands of a holy God for us.

This Jesus who is our Savior was also the One through whom all things were made. And it is through Him that everything will come to its proper conclusion. He is the Beginning, the End, and the Middle. His cross, His resurrection, and His gift of the Holy Spirit to the church lie at the center of the history of the universe.

Hannah could not have solved her own infertility problem. Much more than that, Hannah could never have yielded up her son to God's sovereign plan by her own power. She obeyed God and fulfilled her vow with a full heart by the power of God.

Man's power will not bring about God's kingdom. But the Lord will accomplish many things through the yielded hearts and lives of servants like Hannah, the mother of Samuel. His is the wisdom and the power, but He has chosen to work through us. Give yourself to Him.

Did Hannah know where she was leaving her precious boy? She had to fulfill her promise to the Lord. Samuel would serve in the home of Eli the priest. But God said plainly about this home: “The sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.” This would be the place where the Lord would begin to work in Samuel's young life. What can any of us do but trust God with all that we cannot possibly know or understand?

The adult sons of Eli abused the sacramental system that God had established for Israel. They were immoral men who had to be stopped. God spoke to Eli through a prophet who warned him that the Lord would not tolerate their brazen behavior forever. “Those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”

The sons of Eli were obvious examples of inadequate priests of God. But where will we find a priest who will be able to accomplish what we need? Who has honored the Lord fully and rightly with the perfect righteousness that He requires of those who would approach Him?

But now His beloved Son has come and has won for all who would receive Him the status of “sons of God.” Not only has our debt been paid, not only has the righteousness of Jesus been credited to us, but now we have bold access to a Father who says this to us in Matthew 11:28-30. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

No one has to feel that it is impossible to have a life of holiness in the new priesthood of all believers. He invites us to come to Him and to receive the gifts that He has for us.

God has raised up for us a faithful priest. Samuel, Hannah's son, was a godly man, but he would die one day, and his sons would not be faithful to the Lord. Jesus lives forever to intercede for us. God has accepted His perfect life and has made us a part of His eternal household.