Introduction

Good day to you all! Many years ago, we delved into the Book of Samuel, and I believe I expounded on it rather well. Now, we revisit the Book of Samuel, and I aspire to expound on it even better. It is crucial to recognize that Samuel was an extraordinary figure, ranked alongside Moses as one of the two greatest prophets in the Old Testament. You may question, Weren't Elijah and Elisha the greatest? No! Moses and Samuel hold that distinction.

The Book of Samuel chronicles Samuel's origins, and it is a testament to how rare and precious he was. His mother endured years of barrenness, and when she finally conceived, the child was of immeasurable value! Many yearn for children but are unable to conceive, and when they finally do, the child is deeply cherished. Yet, Hannah consecrated her hard-won son, Samuel, to God, a decision of profound significance! This decision propelled Samuel to become the supreme commander of Israel. Had Hannah not dedicated her son to God, it would have been a grave loss.

I am particularly fond of studying the Bible's narratives. Unlike the epistles of the Apostle Paul, which can be challenging to comprehend upon initial reading, narratives are especially accessible. We may forget the abstract principles, but we never forget the stories. Similarly, in my sermons, the central theme may fade from memory, but the anecdotes, especially the self-deprecating ones, linger for years because they are both entertaining and relatable!

However, we must not merely read the stories; we must discern the author's intended message. The author intends to convey that dedicating our most precious possessions entirely to God is a wise choice. Do not presume that I am attempting to deceive you. Throughout history, the great figures mentioned in the Bible are those who wholly consecrated themselves to God. Their lives are replete with remarkable narratives. Why is this a prudent decision? Because such a choice enabled Samuel to stand shoulder to shoulder with Moses in Israel, becoming one of the two greatest prophets. This is exceedingly advantageous, as Samuel's role as Israel's greatest judge and prophet ensured a prosperous life for his mother.

Whenever his mother mentioned Samuel, she would proclaim, My son Samuel is the greatest prophet and judge in Israel. Although this transpired later, it is essential to recognize this fact. In the opening chapter of the narrative, these events have not yet unfolded, yet Hannah has already dedicated her son to God. The story commences with Hannah's inability to conceive, as the Bible states:

And when the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb. (1 Samuel 1:4-5)

Hannah's husband practiced polygamy, with Hannah as one wife and another named Peninnah. Peninnah and Hannah engaged in rivalry. Her husband deeply loved Hannah, but she was unable to bear children. While he did not cherish Peninnah as much, she was fertile. Such a domestic situation inevitably leads to conflict between the wives. Peninnah was a spiteful woman; deprived of her husband's affection, she delighted in taunting Hannah. If a chicken happened to pass by, she would remark, What use is that chicken? It can't even lay an egg! Can you discern the underlying tone? Hannah, overhearing this, would undoubtedly be provoked. She would retort, Who are you referring to? What business is it of yours that I can't lay eggs!?

Did Hannah understand that Peninnah was referring to her? Assuredly! We must never emulate such behavior; it serves no purpose. The Lord had closed Hannah's womb, but the birth of a child would be an exceptional event. Avoid emulating Peninnah's example; refrain from saying, Look at that chicken, it can't even lay an egg, what's the point of it living? Hannah's heart would be troubled and distressed by such remarks. If one day she hears about a chicken that cannot lay eggs, the next day a duck, and the day after that a goose or a bird, any creature unable to lay eggs, Hannah's heart would undoubtedly be burdened. I assure you, this is not a virtuous practice; it only serves to fill Hannah's mind with thoughts of eggless chickens.

Can you envision Peninnah's countenance? Her eyes raised, and her lips curled in scorn: She can't even lay an egg! Peninnah would refrain from such comments in Hannah's absence, but when Hannah was present and her husband was not, Peninnah would seize the opportunity to make such remarks. Hannah suffered in silence, unable to express her anguish! Even if her husband returned, she could not confide: Peninnah said I am a chicken that cannot lay eggs. Later, her husband would console her, Is having my love not better than having ten sons? But it is not the same; one cannot treat a husband as a son. Hannah had no outlet for complaints or grievances, truly a difficult situation!

Hardship Is Not Necessarily a Bad Thing

My phrasing may not be the most refined, but I am unable to find more suitable words. Do not regard hardship as inherently negative, for it is precisely what galvanizes Hannah's resolve to obtain a son and dedicate him to God. In other words, while Peninnah's taunts may not appear beneficial from a human standpoint, they ultimately prove to be advantageous. Hannah should be grateful to Peninnah, as she shattered Hannah's worldly aspirations.

Indeed, if one lives in this world without experiencing sorrow, if one's life is filled with joy – joyous play, joyous eating, joyous drinking, unceasing joy – if one is loved by a husband, cherished by a son, blessed with a harmonious family, if everything is exceptional – a wonderful wife, a wonderful husband, wonderful grandchildren, never falling ill, free from all troubles – and one simply indulges in eating, drinking, playing, and merrymaking, would such a person seek God? What need would they have for God? Why dedicate anything to God? Therefore, brethren, I have observed that many only seek God when faced with adversity and heartache.

One of our sisters serves as an example. She raised a child who, even at an advanced age, could not perform basic arithmetic. Eventually, the teacher labeled the child as having a learning disability, which caused the mother great distress. As far as I know, that sister wept daily for a decade! Eventually, her tears led her to God. She found God and rejoiced. If this sister had not raised such a child, she would have been adept at indulging in eating, drinking, and merrymaking, living a life of refined leisure!

I share this to convey that God desires us to cherish that which we have obtained, for precious things are not easily acquired. What we offer to God must be the most valuable! How challenging it was for Abraham to have Isaac, with Sarah conceiving after many years of menopause. In that era, there were no in vitro fertilization options; had there been, they would certainly have pursued such a procedure. With great difficulty, they conceived a son, Isaac, in such trying times, and then God instructed Abraham: Offer me your only son, Isaac. This was truly agonizing! Most people would say, God, take my old bones first; spare my son! Hence, that which is not easily obtained is deeply cherished!

We must recognize that our God reigns supreme. Enduring these humiliations is beneficial, as it shatters our worldly aspirations. Experiencing these sorrows is advantageous, as it compels us to seek God. Without these trials, how would people ever seek God? This motivation is critical, as Hannah conceived a son, Samuel, who became one of Israel's greatest prophets. Therefore, I offer this advice to our brethren: If you have endured much sorrow, be sure to transform these experiences into something positive, into motivation to seek God and know Him. Regardless of the nature of the trials, even if it is cancer, it does not matter. Let us ponder this: is this not the case? You may have contracted this ailment or that ailment, but regardless of the ailment, people begin to seek God. If you were to ask me why I seek God, it is because I am weary within!

That Which Is Not Easily Obtained Is Precious

If you say that after ten years of arduous study, you are admitted to a university, that university education is not easily obtained. Therefore, enduring humiliation and sorrow enables us to inquire of God and trust in Him. When you inquire of God, and He responds immediately, your heart is filled with joy; this is not easily obtained! Obtaining Isaac was not easy for Abraham, Jacob's wife Rachel struggled to conceive Joseph, conceiving Samuel was not easy for Hannah, and conceiving Moses was not easy for Moses' mother. Thus, that which is not easily obtained is precious! Brethren, do not think that expending effort is a burden; it is a great treasure. In this situation, Hannah was burdened with anguish:

She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” (1 Samuel 1:10-11)

This is Hannah's prayer. If it were up to the average person, could they dedicate a child born to them to God? It is precisely because it was not easily obtained, because she was unable to conceive, that she prayed in this manner. We must recognize that Hannah was not a saintly figure. However, faced with this situation, God prevented Hannah from conceiving, thus compelling her to embark on the path of seeking God. Have you carefully considered whether this is the pattern throughout the Bible? This matter forced Hannah to say: Grant me a son, and I will dedicate him to the Lord to serve Him for all his life!

This is a fascinating matter. In that era, divine revelation in Israel was scarce because the priest Eli, serving as the priest of the Lord God, was a corrupt priest, and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were also corrupt priests. Therefore, as I said, sorrow is not necessarily a bad thing; it is essential to shatter our worldly aspirations. That which is not easily obtained is precious, because that which is not easily obtained involves weeping before God, crying out to heaven and earth in prayer and supplication. As a result of seeking God, He grants you a son, and you dedicate that son to God. However, the question arises: You give me a son, and I dedicate him to God; what will become of me? Later, Hannah conceived three more sons and two daughters, for a total of six children.

Hannah, in God's presence, willingly and joyfully conceived Samuel. When she prayed, she may have spoken inadvertently, but when she truly conceived, I see whether you truly give or falsely give. Some people regret their words when their child is born, but Hannah did not. Hannah, in this situation, agreed to give to God, and later she honored God, taking the young Samuel to the temple to give to God in accordance with her vow. That which is not easily obtained is the apple of one's eye when dedicated. Brethren, if you make a decision to dedicate your most precious possession to God, that is a wise choice. When Hannah decided to dedicate her child to God, she received the child, but what she dedicated was still the apple of her eye!

And the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:19-20)

A Heart's Longing and Pursuit Can Move God's Hand

Do not think that once you pray, it will immediately happen, and you will forget about it the next day; that you will pray again and it will happen again, that it will happen even if you do not pray. Many people think this way. But what God did regarding Hannah, she clearly knew that this child was what she earnestly sought from God, because her heart was tormented, provoked, and she prayed until this time! To what extent did she pray?

As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. (1 Samuel 1:12-13)

Do you understand what this situation is like? Her heart was filled with sorrow, longing for God to participate, for God to grant her a son, to the point that she could not utter a sound during prayer. Do you have this feeling? I tell you, I do! I cannot utter a sound during prayer; my lips move, but no sound comes out. Because of sorrow, it is a desire, a desire coupled with pursuit. Many years ago, I yearned and pursued in God's presence, and my heart was sorrowful. In those years, the church was very deserted. When I looked at the churches others built, my heart was pained.

David Yonggi Cho has a book in which the stories are about a pastor going to a place to build a church, wow, 3,000 people believe in the Lord! Wow, 10,000 people believe in the Lord! Wow, then 100,000 people. After reading it, my heart was even more sorrowful. There was also a pastor in Korea who built a church that had a thousand or several thousand chairs from the start. All the content was like this. In Korea, David Yonggi Cho's church had 800,000 members. When I read these stories, my heart was sorrowful, and I knelt before God in prayer, unable to utter a sound. I really did not know what to say. God! You see, to build a church, we have no people and no money, nothing. When can the church be revived?

Then some people told me, do not worry, if your church has a prayer meeting every week and 20% of the people attend each time, the church will be revived. Later, 100% of the people in the church attended the prayer meetings, but it was still just those few people, not just once a week, but several times a week. My heart was not at peace. But do you know what? This kind of longing in my heart, this kind of pursuit in my heart, has brought about today's situation, which is purely a depiction of faith. My faith, my hope for a glorious church, has changed many of my concepts, including the concept of the number of people in the church. I have changed them all.

What is revival? Many people think that a large number of people constitutes revival. Brothers and sisters, I tell you, absolutely not! Because the 《Bible》 really does not record it that way. Never think that God wants believers; God wants disciples, not believers. Later, as our church moved forward step by step, looking back at the path our church has taken, we see that God is clearly with us! It is because at that time, there was sorrow and thirst in our hearts, seeking after God, praying before God, that we have achieved the present state of the church.

Brothers and sisters, know that difficulty is not a bad thing! Difficulty does not matter; people must have that kind of thirst and pursuit within them. I know it is not easy for you to come out of laziness, but once you come out, you are a treasure; I know your studies are not good, the learning method is not right, but once you learn well, once you come out, it must be a treasure, because this is the shaping of character. Everyone begins to thirst, to be a person who thirsts and pursues; that is a portrayal of character. Hannah definitely had this kind of character. In the beginning, when building the church, we encountered great challenges and difficulties. In that situation, I said: God, I want to offer myself completely to you; I want to offer everything I have to you. Thank God! Later, God brought the church to its present state.

God wants to do a miraculous thing in this generation, which is to restore the truth in the 《Bible》 , including the entire logical system of building the church, all of which is gradually dug out from the 《Bible》. Brothers and sisters, do not be concerned about the problems you have, do not be concerned about not receiving what you ask for, and begin to shape your character through these things. You must know that God wants you to thirst so much, to pursue so much, and still not obtain it; once you obtain it, it must be a treasure. God let Hannah obtain a son, Samuel, who was asked from God; what a great treasure! Why does God let us experience these things? Among all living beings, we have experienced these things. Originally, God wanted us to know, after experiencing these things, that offering to God is the most precious thing!

Even the Worst Pastors Cannot Stop the Thirst Within You

Do not pass the buck to the pastor, and do not pass the buck to the leader; we must have this kind of character, this kind of thirst, and this kind of pursuit within us. Even the worst pastor, the worst priest, cannot stop what God wants to accomplish in you. The situation Hannah faced at that time was that the church was very desolate at that time, and old Eli was a very bad priest, and old Eli's two sons were even worse priests. It is in this situation that if you and I have a pursuit in our hearts, we can still walk out a path, let alone that you are still serving among us today! Brothers and sisters, no one can mislead us; only we ourselves mislead ourselves. If there is this kind of desire and pursuit, God will surely guide you. How did Samuel come to be?

Hannah was praying in the presence of the Lord, Eli watching her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine!” “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” (《1 Samuel》1:12-14)

Old Eli even thought Hannah was drinking; old Eli's spiritual condition was very bad. As a result, he said a word: Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him! There was no hindrance, and God still accomplished it! Brothers and sisters, in fact, everything is related to the thirst within us; everything is related to our earnest seeking within us. The priest cannot stop what God wants to accomplish in us, and God accomplished in Hannah what she asked for. If you think your pastor does not teach you enough, or your pastor does not teach you, that is okay. It is also okay if your pastor teaches you a lot. The most important thing is whether you have that kind of thirst and pursuit within you. No matter how bad the environment is, or how good the environment is, we all have that kind of desire and pursuit within us. That is what God wants; that is a kind of character that God wants to see in us.

If you blame your leader, blame this, blame that, in the end, it is all passing the buck. Everyone must know that no one can stop the thirst and pursuit within you; people cannot stop God's will. The thing that can most stop God's will is ourselves. From now on, we ourselves must be people who have thirst and pursuit for God. Then Hannah raised the child until he was weaned. In Israel, the weaning day for children is 3 years old.

When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow, Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him up so that he may appear before the Lord and stay there for all time.” Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you until he is weaned; only may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until he was weaned. After she had weaned him, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. (《1 Samuel》1:21-28)

Offer the Most Precious Thing to God

Hannah made the wisest choice, and this wise choice even determined the later development of Israel. Do you know who Samuel was? Samuel was the priest who anointed King David; Samuel was the priest who anointed King Saul. Samuel was a turning point in Israeli history. From then on, Samuel became a great prophet alongside Moses. The child was so young that he was taken to the temple, and old Eli and his two sons were in charge there. Do you think Hannah was worried that they would ruin the child? If the child had a fever, would they watch over him? If the child had a fever, and old Eli's two sons were drunk and snoring there, who would take care of this three-year-old child? Basically, no one would care.

But I tell you, Hannah knew that since God could give her this child, God would still take care of this child. So can we establish faith in God, not in the environment? If you look at this environment, people are always worried. Old Eli was an old man, old and not working; the two sons were very foolish, not ordinary foolish. Although they were priests of Israel, her child was still very young. If the child was left there, if it were me, I would suggest an idea to Hannah. I would say: Hannah, since you put the child here, then you might as well come here to accompany him and be a tutoring mother. Isn't that good? You can breastfeed the child while taking care of the child; that’s how everyone does it.

Hannah did not do this. After Hannah handed the child over to old Eli, she went home. That was cutting off a piece of flesh in your heart! Can you imagine? The child was only three years old, and the mother worried about him every day. Some children are seventeen or eighteen years old, go far away to study at university, and their father and mother, especially the mother, are always worried. Hannah is a woman with a strong character, and this character was tempered by Peninnah. Being provoked there all day long, making her angry, and then she shaped inside her that only trusting in God can free her - that kind of character is very powerful!

So brothers and sisters, do not complain about this and that; turn all the environments into benefits that exercise our character. Hannah's trust in God is not ordinary trust; she left the child alone in the temple. In fact, without the mother caring for the child, without the mother caring for the child's body, this child grows up better. Little Samuel was great. From childhood to adulthood, God was with him. God often secretly watched over Samuel; God watched over him much better than you. You cannot watch over him well, and you cannot solve the problem. So, hallowing to the Lord and offering to God is such a wonderful choice! That is the best choice! Although this matter is not easy, it is precisely because it is not easy, precisely because Samuel was extremely precious in his mother's eyes, that she offered him to God.

Offering to God is not an ordinary offering; the child was only three years old and had just been weaned when he was brought to old Eli. What if the child cries at night? Thinking of this, the mother has been thinking about this thing in her heart all day long after returning home. But once you have God and trust in God, what are you afraid of? Brothers and sisters, practice having faith in God and offer the best to God. At this time, Hannah's later children had not yet been born. Samuel was offered to God as the eldest son. Would there be more children later? Later, Hannah gave birth to three more sons and two daughters. Brothers and sisters, we must never offer things that are not precious or good to God. God often tests us, including Abraham, Hannah, and many others. As for whether Hannah's husband agreed or not, Hannah did not care and just did it. As a result, Samuel became the greatest prophet in Israeli history.

After listening to this story, we must know that the whole story seems to be a play directed by God, both directed by God and seemingly participated in by people. Finally, people participate, and God does not force you or morally kidnap you. It depends on whether you willingly offer it to God. Hannah offered her most precious son Samuel to God, and Abraham offered his most precious son Isaac to God. These are the smartest decisions in a person's life. You may not have this son, but you can offer yourself to God. Nothing and no one can stop us from accomplishing God's good will in us! It depends only on whether we ourselves are willing to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. Amen!

May God bless everyone!

《1 Samuel》 Chapter 1

1:1 There was a man from Ramathaim Zophim in the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
1:2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
1:3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord.
1:4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.
1:5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.
1:6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.
1:7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.
1:8 Elkanah her husband would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”
1:9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s temple.
1:10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.
1:11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
1:12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.
1:13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk
1:14 and said to her, “How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine!”
1:15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.
1:16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
1:17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
1:18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
1:19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.
1:20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
1:21 When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow,
1:22 Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him up so that he may appear before the Lord and stay there for all time.”
1:23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you until he is weaned; only may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until he was weaned.
1:24 After she had weaned him, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh.
1:25 When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli,
1:26 and she said, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord.
1:27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.
1:28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.