Main Text: 1 Samuel 1:20–28
Supporting Scriptures: James 1:17, Matthew 16:25, Romans 12:1

The story of Hannah is one of the most beautiful narratives in Scripture about answered prayer, surrendered worship, and faithful living. After years of barrenness, tears, and mockery, God gives her a son—Samuel. But instead of clinging to this long-awaited miracle, she fulfills her vow and gives him back to God.

This passage reveals three vital truths about how we should respond when God answers our deepest prayers. It teaches us that:

1: Don’t Worship the Gift—Worship the Giver

1 Samuel 1:20 “So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I asked the Lord for him.’”

1Sam.2:24  When the boy was old enough to eat solid food, Hannah took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh. She also took a bull that was three years old, 20 pounds of flour, and a bottle of wine. 25 They went before the Lord. Elkanah killed the bull as a sacrifice to the Lord as he usually did. Then Hannah gave the boy to Eli.  26 She said to him, “Pardon me, sir. I am the same woman who stood near you praying to the Lord. I promise that I am telling the truth. 27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord answered my prayer. He gave me this child. 28 And now I give this child to the Lord. He will serve[j] the Lord all his life.” Then Hannah left the boy there[k] and worshiped the Lord.

Biblical Insight

The name Samuel (שְׁמוּאֵל, Shemuel) means “heard by God.” Hannah is intentional in acknowledging that this child is not the result of chance or merit—it is the result of God’s grace. She knew the blessing came from the Giver.

Theological Reflection

God is the ultimate source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). All blessings—whether material or spiritual—are expressions of His grace and goodness. But as human beings, we have a tendency to allow these blessings to take a central place in our hearts, unintentionally replacing the Giver with the gift.

James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…”

This is the essence of idolatry—not just worshiping false gods, but giving ultimate value to anything other than God. Even good things, like careers, relationships, children, health, or ministry, can become idols if they begin to define our identity, control our emotions, or determine our sense of worth.

When a good thing becomes the main thing, it becomes a dangerous thing. It’s not that these blessings are wrong—they are from God! But they were never meant to sit on the throne of our hearts. That place belongs to God alone.

Tim Keller defines an idol this way:
“An idol is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.”

That’s why the first commandment says, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). The moment we begin to cling to the gift more than the Giver, we risk turning our blessings into burdens—and our faith into frustration.

The story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 teaches us this: she received a blessing (Samuel), but she didn’t cling to him. Instead, she gave him back to God. That’s worship—not just receiving from God, but returning everything back to Him in surrender and trust.

💡 Application:

1. Evaluate Your Heart – Is anything replacing God at the center?

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” — Exodus 20:3

Take time to examine your heart honestly. Are there good things in your life—like success, family, ministry, or achievements—that have become ultimate things? Anything that takes God’s rightful place becomes an idol, no matter how good it may seem.

2. Reorder Your Priorities – Return the throne of your heart to God.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” — Matthew 6:33

Put God first again. In a world that constantly attempts to define our worth through success, possessions, and earthly achievements, it is essential to let your identity, joy, and security be rooted in Him—not in what He gives. When you prioritize your relationship with the Almighty, you unlock a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment that transcends material blessings. Remember, blessings are meant to follow your worship, not replace it; they are simply the fruits of a life devoted to honoring the Creator. Cultivating a heart of gratitude and devotion will guide you toward experiencing the true richness of life, allowing you to thrive spiritually while remaining grounded in faith.

---

3. Surrender the Gift in Worship – Offer back what God has given you.

“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the Lord.”— 1 Samuel 1:27–28

Like Hannah, choose to worship by surrendering your deepest hopes and desires. Whatever God has entrusted to you—be it your dreams, talents, or even your burdens—entrust it back to Him with a heart full of faith. Surrender is not losing; it’s trusting in His perfect plan for your life, believing that He knows what is best for you even when the path seems unclear. Remember that true worship stems from a posture of humility and reliance on God. And what you offer to God in worship is never wasted; instead, it is transformed into blessings that can impact not only your own life but also the lives of those around you. Embrace this journey of surrender, knowing that each step brings you closer to a deeper relationship with Him.

2: What You Surrender to God Will Never Be Lost

1Sam.2:24  When the boy was old enough to eat solid food, Hannah took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh. She also took a bull that was three years old, 20 pounds of flour, and a bottle of wine. 25 They went before the Lord. Elkanah killed the bull as a sacrifice to the Lord as he usually did. Then Hannah gave the boy to Eli.  26 She said to him, “Pardon me, sir. I am the same woman who stood near you praying to the Lord. I promise that I am telling the truth. 27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord answered my prayer. He gave me this child. 28 And now I give this child to the Lord. He will serve the Lord all his life.” Then Hannah left the boy there and worshiped the Lord.

Matthew 16:25 “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

Theological Reflection

In this passage, Hannah returns to the tabernacle in Shiloh, not only to give thanks, but to fulfill her vow. She presents her son, Samuel—her only child, the miracle she longed for—and surrenders him to the Lord’s service. She doesn’t cling to the gift. She places him back in God’s hands.

This is a powerful act of covenantal faith and deep theological trust. In ancient Israel, children—especially firstborn sons—were not just cherished family members but vital to inheritance, legacy, and security. Giving Samuel to the Lord was, from a worldly view, a great loss. But for Hannah, it was not loss—it was worship. And that reveals something profound about biblical surrender:

Surrender in Scripture is never the end of a story—it’s the moment God begins to multiply what was offered.

🙏 Trusting God with What Is Most Precious

What Hannah surrendered became part of a much bigger story. Samuel would grow up to be a prophet, a priest, and a judge—an instrument of God’s purposes for an entire nation. Hannah’s surrender teaches us a few key truths:

1. Surrender affirms God’s ownership
   Hannah acknowledges that Samuel was never hers alone. He was God’s answer to prayer, and therefore belonged to God. In saying “I give him to the Lord,” she was aligning her heart with divine ownership and purpose.“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” — Psalm 24:1
2. Surrender is an act of trust, not control
   By leaving Samuel in the care of Eli the priest, Hannah trusted that God would watch over and guide him. She didn’t need to control Samuel’s future—she placed it in the hands of the all-knowing God.“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5
3. Surrender releases the gift into a greater purpose
   Samuel would go on to become one of Israel’s greatest prophets. His life would impact kings, nations, and generations. That would not have happened if Hannah had held onto him for herself. What she surrendered was not lost—it was launched into God’s purpose.“Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed…” — John 12:24

Jim Elliot once wrote:
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Application:

• God doesn’t waste what we surrender—He redeems it, expands it, and uses it for His glory.
  • When we surrender to God, we can trust that He will use it for His greater purposes. Just as Hannah’s act of surrender led to the birth of Samuel, who became a prophet that influenced generations, God redeems our sacrifices and multiplies their impact.
  • “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28
  • What we give to God may seem small in our eyes, but in His hands, it becomes part of His eternal plan.
• Surrender is hard because it requires releasing control. But it’s holy because it trusts the One who is always faithful.
  • Surrender is challenging because it demands letting go of our desire for control and trusting that God’s will is better than our own. Hannah trusted God’s faithfulness when she gave up her child, even though it was painful.
  • “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5-6
  • Surrender isn’t about losing; it’s about trusting the One who will never fail you.
• What you give to God may leave your hands, but it never leaves His.
  • Hannah physically placed Samuel in the temple, but in doing so, she didn’t lose him—she gave him to God for a greater purpose. Likewise, when we surrender something to God, it may leave our hands but remains in His care, used for His glory.“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. — Isaiah 54:10
    When we offer something to God, we place it in the hands of a faithful and loving Father who never forgets, abandons, or wastes anything entrusted to Him.

Corrie Ten Boom said, “I’ve learned to hold everything loosely, because it hurts when God pries my fingers open.”

3. Worship Is Our Highest Response to God’s Faithfulness

1 Samuel 1:28b “And he worshiped the Lord there.”

The conclusion of Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel 1 is not marked by personal triumph, but by worship. Her response to answered prayer was not to hold on tighter to the gift (Samuel), but to offer him back to the Lord. This kind of worship reveals a heart that treasures the Giver above the gift.

A. Worship Is the Natural Response to God’s faithfulness

Romans 12:1 – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Hannah had pleaded with God in anguish, and He answered her cry. But her response was not entitlement—it was surrender. She offered her most precious possession—her son—as a living act of worship. This aligns with Paul’s teaching: worship is not a one-time event, but a lifestyle of sacrificial surrender in response to God’s mercy.

B. Worship Honors the Giver, Not Just the Gift

Psalm 116:12–14 – “What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation… I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.”

Hannah made a vow when she was desperate. But even when her longing was fulfilled, she did not forget the Lord. Instead, she fulfilled her vow with joy. Worship is not just celebrating what we receive—it is returning to the Lord what is rightfully His, in recognition that He alone is the source of all good things.

Matt Redman: “The heart of worship is all about Him, and not about me.”

C. Worship Is Both Surrender and Celebration

John 4:23 – “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.”

Hannah didn’t worship out of routine, but from a heart overflowing with truth and spirit. Her act of returning Samuel was both a painful surrender and a joyous offering. This is the essence of biblical worship—it may involve sacrifice, but it is always rooted in joy and reverence toward God.

Application:

1. True worship doesn’t depend on how much we’ve received, but on how much we recognize God’s worth.

Romans 12:1 – “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Worship isn’t measured by how full our hands are, but how surrendered our hearts are. Hannah worshiped not because she got everything she wanted, but because she knew God is worthy—before Samuel was born, after he was weaned, and even as she gave him back.

• Example 1: A single mother struggling to make ends meet wakes up every morning, opens her Bible, and sings quietly before work. Life is hard, but she chooses to worship because she knows God is her Provider.
• Example 2: A young professional receives rejection after rejection from job applications. Still, he attends Sunday services, volunteers faithfully, and declares, “My future is in God’s hands.”

Charles Spurgeon: “Let your gratitude be as warm as your need was deep, and your praise as hearty as your prayer was earnest.”

2. Worship is not just a reaction to blessing, but a recognition of the Giver’s goodness—whether in gain or loss.

Habakkuk 3:17–18 – “Though the fig tree does not bud… yet I will rejoice in the Lord.”

Hannah didn’t cling to Samuel; she released him. Her worship acknowledged that God was good regardless of the outcome. True worship happens when we praise not because of what we have, but because of who God is.

• Example 1: A couple experiences a miscarriage after years of trying to conceive. In their grief, they gather with friends to pray—not out of celebration, but out of deep trust that God is still with them.
• Example 2: A ministry leader pours years into a vision that doesn’t grow as expected. Yet, rather than quitting, he says, “This was always God’s ministry, not mine,” and worships with open hands.

Tim Keller: “Worship is seeing what God is worth and giving Him what He’s worth.”

3. We are called, like Hannah, to return to the Lord even what is most precious to us—not as a loss, but as a joyful act of surrender and trust.

Proverbs 3:5–6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”

Hannah gave her son—her answered prayer—back to the Lord. That wasn’t a sign of loss; it was an act of worshipful surrender. When we entrust what we value most to God, we say with our lives: “Lord, I trust You more than I trust myself.”

• Example 1: A family sends their child to serve in missions overseas. Though they long to have them close, they release them joyfully, believing God will use them for His glory.
• Example 2: A business owner gives up a lucrative contract that would require unethical compromise. They surrender profit for integrity, trusting that honoring God is the better reward.

Oswald Chambers: “The greatest test of whether the holiness of God has been formed in me is the way I see everything in my life as belonging to Him.”

Conclusion: Worship the Giver, Not the Gift

Hannah’s story is a model of surrendered faith. She asked in pain, received in joy, and returned in worship.
Let us remember:

• Point 1: Don’t worship the gift—worship the Giver. (James 1:17)
• Point 2: What you surrender to God will never be lost. (Matthew 16:25)
• Point 3: Worship is our highest response to God’s faithfulness. (Romans 12:1)

Worship isn’t just a Sunday song—it’s a daily surrender. Let’s live lives of worship—not because we’ve received everything we want, but because we know the Giver is worthy of everything we have.