Sunday, 6/18/17, we looked at this Big Picture Question:

What right does God have over a person’s life?

We looked 1 Samuel 1:21-28:

21 The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” 23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

And we found these 3 answers to our Big Picture Question:

What right does God have over a person’s life?

• He calls people to great sacrifice.
• He calls people to worship.
• He accepts our offering.

He calls people to great sacrifice.

21 The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” 23a Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.”

Hannah pledged to give Samuel back to God if He would give her a child. That child is Samuel, and it is closing in on the time when she needs to give Samuel to begin His training as a priest…but not yet. Hannah tells her husband, Elkanah, that she wants to wait until Samuel is weaned, and he says, “Only may the Lord establish his word.”

Like Hannah, we are called to sacrifice for God. We may not be called to sacrifice in the way she was, but we are all called to give our lives to God I service. And though we may have given our lives to God, it is God who establishes or keeps His word…not us. It is God who enables us to be faithful.

He calls people to worship.

23b So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young.

Hannah is taking Samuel to enter the priesthood. He has been weaned and is ready to begin his training. And again, we aren’t offering our children to the priesthood, but we are called to worship just as Hannah is.

1 Chronicles 16:23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. 24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 25 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods

He accepts our offering.

25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

God accepts Hannah’s offering as she “lends” Samuel to the Lord. The word “lent” means to be given over of made over to God. And God accepts this incredible sacrifice. And Jesus accepts your sacrifice because of the work of Jesus Christ.

Big Picture Question: What right does God have over a person’s life?

Truth: God authoritatively commands and graciously accepts your offerings of sacrifice and to worship.

Application: Live knowing that every aspect of your life is commanded and accepted by God as sacrificial worship.

Truth: This week, ask 3 people, who you love and trust, to point out areas in your life that you reserve from worship and sacrifice.