Today’s Devotional Theme A Woman's Vow
Daily Scripture1Samuel 1:10-11
“And she [Hannah] was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, ‘O Lord of Hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life…’”
Encouragement
My father-in-law Harold, now deceased, was once a welder. As did all of his efforts, his work displayed exceptional skill. Harold took great pride in his work. However, as was common 50 years ago, his eye protection from the ultraviolet rays coming from the torch was inadequate. He was going blind, his retinas burned from the rays. Harold made a vow to God: “God, if You’ll bring back my eyesight, I promise I’ll never touch another welding torch.” God healed his eyes, and Harold kept his vow. He never welded again. Vows like his are not to be made or taken lightly. But God saw Harold’s sincerity and honored his request for renewed vision, as He had answered Samuel’s mother Hannah nearly 3,000 years before.
Apply God’s Word
A number of women were instrumental in shaping the history of ancient Israel. Among them is Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel. Hannah is distraught because she, unlike her husband’s other wife Peninnah, has not borne him a son. She is in good company. As happened to Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel, the Lord has “closed her womb” (verse 5), as the Hebrew puts it in a typically picturesque phrase. To make matters worse for Hannah, Peninnah rubs her plight in, keeping her life roiled with pain and misery, as verse 6 says. Hannah goes up to the house of the Lord and there, in the hearing of the priest Eli, prays with wailing and many tears to become pregnant with a son. Eli sends her home with reassuring words, verse 17, and Hannah, clearly anticipating an answer to her prayer, becomes pregnant with Samuel. While Samuel is still a small child she “lends” or “grants” him to the Lord for a lifetime of service to Him. Hannah has fulfilled her vow to God, as my father-in-law did his promise.
Come into His Presence
Lord God, I am glad that all Your promises are Yes and Amen. I pray my promises to others – and to You – may always be reliable. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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