The Fulfillment of a Promise (Audio)

The Fulfillment of a Promise (1 Samuel 1:19-28) Yearly Theme:  “Love Does…” Series Title:  Hopeful in the Meantime November 17th, 2019     Something to think about:   What is a “promise?”  And for that matter, what is a promise kept?   According to the Miriam-Webster dictionary, a “Promise” is, “a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified.”[1]   That being the case, a promise kept, then, is the fulfillment of a promise made.   As we continue Hannah’s story of hope in the book of 1 Samuel in the Old Testament this morning, we witness the result of God’s action in response to Hannah’s prayer for a son.  God came through for Hannah, and now Hannah is faced with fulfilling her vow/commitment to God.  And, what was that commitment?  If you remember last week, Hannah made a promise to God, as she prayed, that if God allowed her to have a son, she would give him back to God and that he would be dedicated to the LORD for a lifetime.    So, what does Hannah do?  Let’s take a closer look…   Turn in your Bibles to:  1 Samuel 1:19-28   What’s the takeaway?   Key Point:  “The fulfillment of a promise requires our commitment to the promise.”   Hannah promised God, God delivered, and Hannah remained faithful to the promise she made.  Here’s how this breaks down:   Hannah believed that God would answer her prayer for a son, and she had hope that God would fulfill what Eli had proclaimed: That her request would be granted.   1 Samuel 1:15-18 (NLT), 15  “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the LORD. 16  Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.” 17  “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.” 18  “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.   When God answered Hannah’s prayer for a son, she willingly fulfilled the commitment she made to “give him to the LORD.”   1 Samuel 1:24-28a (NLT), 24  When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. They brought along a three-year-old bull for the sacrifice and a basket of flour and some wine. 25  After sacrificing the bull, they brought the boy to Eli. 26  “Sir, do you remember me?” Hannah asked. “I am the woman who stood here several years ago praying to the LORD. 27  I asked the LORD to give me this boy, and he has granted my request. 28  Now I am giving him to the LORD, and he will belong to the LORD his whole life.”   Once Hannah fulfilled her promise, she worshiped the LORD.   1 Samuel 1:28b (NLT), And they worshiped the LORD there.   Something to take home:   Believers in Christ are to be people who keep their word.  Just like Hannah, we must follow through with our promises to God.  This was one of the things that the people of the Old Testament had a hard time doing.  They struggled to remain faithful to God, and often worshiped idols and things that had no life or meaning whatsoever.  But, Jesus came and fulfilled every promise and every commitment to God that mankind should have, and He did it perfectly.[2]  Now, through Christ we have right standing before God as we believe in Him and live our lives for Him.  And, like Hannah, our worship of God is shown through our commitment to Him in every arena of our lives.   So, today, are you a person of your word?  Do you say what you mean, and mean what you say?  Do you keep the commitments you make to God, or do you struggle to remain faithful?    Commitments require sacrifice, and sacrifice requires letting go.  What commitments have you made and are you making?  To whom are you making commitments, and do those commitments honor God?   It’s important to remember that in our walk with Christ,   Key Point:  “The fulfillment of a promise requires our commitment to the promise.” [1] Miriam-Webster Dictionary, “Promise,” www.miriam-webster.com, (accessed on November 12, 2019), https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/promise?src=search-dict-hed [2] Matthew 5:17 (NLT), “[Jesus said,] Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.”