Samuel was no ordinary child. His mother had struggled for years to conceive, unsuccessfully. Living in a culture where childbearing defined a woman's worth, she suffered humiliation and shame. Even her husband's assurances of love did nothing to comfort her. She cried out desperately to God for a child and promised that the child would serve the Lord.
God heard Hannah's prayer, and Samuel was born. True to her word, Hannah took young Samuel to the temple to live there and learn to serve God. "My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn (strength) is lifted high," she sang. (I Samuel 2:1)
I wonder if Hannah knew about the problem when she left Samuel at the temple. She must have thought it was a safe place, a holy place.
The problem was that there was evil in the temple. Eli the priest had two sons who also served as priests. They had no regard for the Lord and treated Him with contempt. Corruption, sexual immorality, and blatant defiance marked these young men. Surely Samuel was, at the least, somewhat aware that something was wrong.
Scripture tells us that Samuel "grew up in the presence of the Lord." His life was a stark contrast to that of Eli's sons. Every year, Samuel's parents made the pilgrimage to the temple to worship God, and his mother always made him a new robe. Even though he had ungodly role models at the temple, Samuel did not falter. Instead, he grew "in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men." Under God's protection and plan, Samuel learned to hear God's voice and became recognized as a faithful prophet. (I Samuel 2-3)
Some of the children we work with are also growing up in less-than-desirable circumstances. Yet God has a plan for each of these little ones. It's especially marvelous to hear these children talk about the goodness and love of God. as we make crafts or read Bible stories. They who have no earthly father know the love and protection of God the Father.
Our prayer is that like Samuel, the children in Emerging FIELD will grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men, and that they will learn to hear God's voice and serve Him all their lives.
God heard Hannah's prayer, and Samuel was born. True to her word, Hannah took young Samuel to the temple to live there and learn to serve God. "My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn (strength) is lifted high," she sang. (I Samuel 2:1)
I wonder if Hannah knew about the problem when she left Samuel at the temple. She must have thought it was a safe place, a holy place.
The problem was that there was evil in the temple. Eli the priest had two sons who also served as priests. They had no regard for the Lord and treated Him with contempt. Corruption, sexual immorality, and blatant defiance marked these young men. Surely Samuel was, at the least, somewhat aware that something was wrong.
Scripture tells us that Samuel "grew up in the presence of the Lord." His life was a stark contrast to that of Eli's sons. Every year, Samuel's parents made the pilgrimage to the temple to worship God, and his mother always made him a new robe. Even though he had ungodly role models at the temple, Samuel did not falter. Instead, he grew "in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men." Under God's protection and plan, Samuel learned to hear God's voice and became recognized as a faithful prophet. (I Samuel 2-3)
Some of the children we work with are also growing up in less-than-desirable circumstances. Yet God has a plan for each of these little ones. It's especially marvelous to hear these children talk about the goodness and love of God. as we make crafts or read Bible stories. They who have no earthly father know the love and protection of God the Father.
Our prayer is that like Samuel, the children in Emerging FIELD will grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men, and that they will learn to hear God's voice and serve Him all their lives.