And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks.
The duty of presenting children to God in the way of religious education
There is nothing more characteristic of Christianity than the tenderness and sympathy which it inspires. The Bible delights in domestic scenes; and it presents to us the pious mother in her anxieties, in her prayers, in her vows, and then in the dedication of the child obtained by prayer to the Lord her God.
I. The first question we purpose to consider is, at what age do we propose to commence the education of children? And I answer, at the age at which Samuel was brought by Hannah to the Lord; “when she had weaned him”--when “the child was young.” Now, the reason why we begin with children so early, even under the age of seven years, is important. The reason, therefore, why we begin so early is, because their depravity begins to manifest itself so early: the disorder begins early, and we must begin early to apply the remedy.
2. And, also, because habits are early formed.
3. Because, also, in early age they are most susceptible.
4. Also, because in this age juvenile depravity abounds.
5. But it may be asked, not only at what age do we begin, and why do we begin so early; but, how do we apply ourselves to the work? I answer, we seize on the natural vivacity and buoyancy of children, and aim to improve it to good purposes.
II. The object we have ultimately in view. And that is, their dedication to God; we lend them to the Lord, that, as long as they live, they may be His.
1. Instruction in the elements of the Christian religion. The first thing that Eli would probably do with the young Samuel, would be to instruct him in the history of the Old Testament.
2. But there would be a danger, even in religious instruction, if the children were not early taught to deny themselves; if they were not duly disciplined, and made to practise self-government.
3. But beside this, due regard must be paid to the great sacrifice of the Christian system. I gather this from the first verse of the text. When Hannah took the young child to the house of God, she took with her “three bullocks.”
4. There is the hope that these children will be brought to dedicate themselves to God all the days of their lives. “As long as he liveth, he shall be lent unto the Lord.”
5. And then, all this must be accompanied by fervent prayer.
III. The motives we have to encourage us. The first is gratitude, looking back to the past; the next is hope, looking forward to the future. (D. Wilson.)
And the child was young.
Of infant baptism and of childlike children
In the Hebrew of this passage, the word translated “young” is the same as that translated “child,” so that the literal rendering of the words is, “and the child was a child.” This may have two meanings, both of which are very instructive. The first meaning is that the child was young in age, when he was dedicated to the Lord by his parents. Very likely the words before us, “the child was young,” are put in as a sort of explanation, as much as to say: “He was entirely dependent upon his mother and father; so young that he could not have gone up to Shiloh by himself; if he could walk a little, it was all he could do; he could not have brought himself to Eli, or into the house of the Lord.” But the words, “and the child was young,” may bear another and perhaps a more satisfactory meaning. It would be high praise if it were said of a man, “and the man was a man”; we should understand by it that he was brave, outspoken, fearless, upright, possessed of all manly virtues. And when it is said, “the child was a child,” perhaps we are to understand that the little Samuel had all childlike graces, was gentle, teachable, humble, submissive to his parents, and those set over him. And this may lead us to think how the young people of our own days have too often none of those graces, which should distinguish young people; the children are too often children no more--in forwardness, in conceit, in insubordination, in want of respect for parents and elders, they are like persons three or four times as old as themselves: a very bad sign of the times, and only matching too well with others which we see around us. (Dean Goulburn.)