1 Samuel 1:27-28 For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.
Hannah enjoyed the miraculous gift of the baby boy, Samuel. She kept him at home until he was weaned, probably 4 or 5 years old. Then out of grateful devotion and thanksgiving to God she gave him up to the service of the Lord. She brought him to the tabernacle at Shiloh to learn and serve under the High Priest, Eli. Hannah lent Samuel to the Lord. Lend here does not mean loan for a while and then get him back. It is a grant, not a loan. He was given for “as long as he lived.”
Overpowering thankfulness moved her to give up her most prized possession and hand him over to the Lord. The lesson is clear for us, but virtually impossible. How can we let go to God what is most precious to us? “Give it to God” is pious advice, but hard to do, even to give Him our problems; but it is even harder to give up that which is most precious to us. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can this be done. In our minds we are willing to give anything to the Lord and His service; we evidence our grant by giving of our time, talent, and treasure to the Lord.