«　WEEK 1　DAY 4　»

　　1 Sam. 1:11 And she made a vow and said, O Jehovah of hosts, if You will indeed look upon the affliction of Your female servant and…give to Your female servant a male child, then I will give him to Jehovah for all the days of his life, and no razor will come upon his head.

　　15 And Hannah answered and said,…I have been pouring out my soul before Jehovah.

　　In the midst of the chaos of the degraded Israel, Elkanah and Hannah remained in the line of life ordained by God…not merely for God’s eternal salvation but for His eternal purpose. God’s salvation is mainly for our benefit, whereas God’s purpose is related to the fulfilling of God’s desire. We need to ask ourselves whether we are here for our profit or for God’s purpose…. Even the majority of Christians do not care for God’s purpose. I can testify of Brother Watchman Nee that he was a man altogether for God’s purpose. I would like to follow his pattern. In the Lord’s recovery, we are for God’s purpose, remaining in the line of life ordained by God…, which [purpose] is to gain the Body, the organism of the Triune God, that He may have a full expression in a corporate way. (Life-study of 1 & 2 Samuel, p. 10)

　　First Samuel begins with a man named Elkanah who had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah (1:1-2). Elkanah loved Hannah more. However, Hannah had no children, while Peninnah had sons and daughters. This was the sovereign hand of the Lord. According to the Mosaic law, Elkanah went with his family every year to the house of God, the tabernacle, which was in Shiloh at that time, to worship and make offerings to Jehovah (v. 3)…. Because Jehovah had shut up Hannah’s womb, she was forced to pray a desperate, consecrated, and consecrating prayer (vv. 10-12, 15). She prayed for a male child, whom she would not keep for herself but would give to the Lord for His need. Her prayer was for a son who would be a Nazarite from birth, one who would be absolute for the Lord. The Lord answered her prayer, and a son was born (v. 20). Hannah named her son Samuel, which means “asked for of God,” or “heard of God.” When we ask of God, He will hear our request.

　　From his childhood Samuel was a Nazarite, serving as a priest in the house of God (v. 24; 2:11, 18). While Samuel was staying with Eli in the temple, God appeared in a vision to Samuel (3:4-14). Samuel was still a boy, just as the Lord Jesus was when He went to Jerusalem with His parents (Luke 2:42). Eventually, Samuel became a renowned prophet and the judge of Israel (1 Sam. 3:20; 7:6). However, for Samuel to be a priest, a prophet, and a judge was not God’s goal. God intended to set up a kingdom with a king. Therefore, God twice sent Samuel to anoint someone. First, he anointed Saul to be ruler over Israel (9:16; 10:1). Later, Samuel anointed David to be king (16:1, 13). David was brought in through Samuel. The crucial point in this history is that there was a need of the Divine Trinity. (CWWL, 1983, vol. 3, “The Divine Trinity as Revealed in the Holy Word,” pp. 291-292)

　　This couple was in cooperation with the move of God on earth for the accomplishment of God’s economy…. They were moved by the moving One, by the unique, divine Mover, who was moving secretly behind the scene. Under God’s sovereign dealing, Hannah was suppressed in her soul with a burden in her spirit to pour out before Jehovah. This was God’s move. Because of God’s moving in her, Hannah could not have peace until she prayed for a son. God, the sovereign One, kept moving her and motivating her so that she had to pray…. In her prayer Hannah cooperated with the move of God. If you do this, I have the full assurance that you will be the ones whom God will move. He will come to you and motivate you. (Life-study of 1 & 2 Samuel, pp. 10-11)

　　Further Reading: CWWL, 1983, vol. 3, “The Divine Trinity as Revealed in the Holy Word,” ch. 6