1 Samuel 1:28

The beginning of Samuel’s worship 1:28b

"The future of the story now to be told in I and II Samuel concerns not only the newly born son, but the rule of Yahweh to whom laments are addressed and thanksgiving uttered. No wonder the narrative ends with yielding, grateful, trusting worship." [Note: Brueggemann, p. 39.]

The "he" who worshipped before the Lord (1 Samuel 1:28) may refer to Elkanah, the leader of the family and the main man in the context. It might also refer to Eli to whom Hannah was speaking. [Note: Youngblood, p. 575.] I think it probably refers to Samuel, the most immediate antecedent of "he" in 1 Samuel 1:28. If this interpretation is correct, this reference marks the beginning of Samuel’s ministry, which all of chapter 1 anticipates.

Hannah obeyed the Mosaic Law when she fulfilled her vow (1 Samuel 1:24-28). This contrasts with the disobedience of Eli’s sons (1 Samuel 2:11-36). In Deuteronomy 28 Moses predicted the outcome of these two responses to God’s Word, and the writer of this book illustrated it in 1 Samuel 1, 2.

Hannah’s obedience resulted in great blessing. God blessed her with fertility, He blessed her and her husband with this child and other offspring (1 Samuel 2:20-21), and He blessed Israel with a spiritual leader.

"This beautiful story of a faithful mother in Israel whom God honored by giving her a son is the crown jewel in the argument of the book. Yahweh looks for faithful, godly men and women whom He can set over His People." [Note: Homer Heater Jr., "A Theology of Samuel and Kings," in A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament, pp. 121-22.]

Godly parents should give their children away-to the Lord for His service.