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. – I Samuel 1: 24

Hannah had been to the house of God at Shiloh. She got a sense of peace that her prayer would be answered. Then, Elkanah knew his wife and she conceived and bore him a son. They called him Samuel which means “asked of the Lord.” You would think that this would be the end of the story, but it actually is not because Hannah’s objective was not just to have a baby boy. Her heart’s desire was to have one and then give that boy to the Lord. When she had weaned him, that is exactly what she did. She took him back to the house of worship at Shiloh and turned him over to the priest Eli. Samuel became like a son to Eli until died.

Hannah did a great and admirable thing. She kept her promise to God. How many are the prayers that we read about in scripture and hear in prayer meeting where people challenge God to keep His promise to us. Then, how many are the: house on fire; drowning in the ocean; being chased by a dog; on our way into the operating room; and in court standing in front of a judge promises we have made to God which we have never kept? God did what Hannah asked and she did for God what she said she would do.  Please allow a few quick closing points on how Hannah turned her child over to the Lord after he had been born and weaned.

(1). She took him to the house of the Lord with her. She did not send him. She took him with her. This means that she went too.

(2). She brought an offering. Bringing the child was not enough. She also brought an offering of three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine. This was an offering of thanksgiving for God answering her prayer and for giving her an opportunity to add to His work.

(3). She introduced Samuel to God and the church when he was a young. Don’t wait until a child is grown to try to mold them. Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22: 6.