Words of The Day

Where are the Children? 

^{( 1 Samuels 1:18-28)}

¹⁸And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
¹⁹And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. 
²⁰Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. 
²¹And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. 
²²But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever. 
²³And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. 
²⁴And 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. 
²⁵And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. 
²⁶And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. 
²⁷For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 
²⁸Therefore 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.

As come to the beginning of a New Year, most people are busy reflecting on their lives and are preparing to make New Year’s resolution. Some get caught up in the festivities and is not concerned about anything. Some parents are there wondering what is happening to their children. Some children are in jail, some are fatherless, and some are just out having a wonderful time with the pleasures of the world. Some parents are heart broken dealing with family problems.

When we look at the above scripture we see that Hannah, who could not have children because the Lord kept her from conceiving, was deeply hurt. She prayed to the Lord in tears and making a vow. (1 Samuel 1:11) And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. 

 The Lord answered her prayer and she conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel because she said I requested him from the Lord.

Hannah and her husband slaughtered a bull, and took the boy (Samuel) to the Priest Eli, and said, please my lord, as sure as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord . I prayed for this boy; and since the Lord gave me what I asked for; I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord. Then he bowed in worship to the Lord. Hannah thought  it was very important for her to testify to Eli, Israel’s high priest, how God answered her prayer.

In today’s society Christians and non- Christians alike, if you should ask them what they would like their child to be when they  grows up, they would tell you that they would like their children to be professionals like Doctors, Lawyers, and so on. Not many mothers would be willing to be like Hannah. We need more Hannah to give back to the Lord their crown jewel (Children) that the Lord blessed them with. Too often parents complain about the wrong things that their children are doing and not realizing that they the parents are the cause of the problem by not giving their children to the Lord for His service.

(Numbers 3:40-50 read) Among the Hebrews all firstborn belonged to God and must be redeemed. Children were sometimes dedicated to God for special service.

( Matthew 18:5-14) ⁵And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 
⁶But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
⁷Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 
⁸Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 
⁹And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. 
¹⁰Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 
¹¹For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 
¹²How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 
¹³And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 
¹⁴Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Beloved it is not the will of the Father that our Children should perish.

God Bless you and I pray that there will be more Hannah throughout the world.