“Take my life and let it be consecrated, lord, to thee.”
Scripture references: 1 Samuel 1:10-11, 1 Samuel 1:20, 1 Samuel 2:12, 1 Samuel 2:26, 1 Chronicles 6:33-37, Numbers 16, Numbers 26:10-11
Introduction:
“Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee.”
As a church, we just went through a unifying transition. This theme of ‘consecration’ has been part of our transition from our very first combined service.
What comes to mind when we meditate on this word: ‘Consecrated’?
…To consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate…
…but what does this look like in practice? Let’s consider this by addressing 3 questions and looking at examples from scripture:
- How can we be consecrated and holy within a culture that does not know God?
- How can we be consecrated and holy within a family that does not follow God?
- How can we be consecrated and holy despite our former sins?
Hannah and Samuel
After years of barrenness and harassment, Hannah reached a point of desperation. She fervently prayed for a child. Her prayer in 1 Samuel 1 shows her desperation:
“She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.” – 1 Samuel 1:10 ESV
What did Hannah pray?
“And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” – 1 Samuel 1:11 ESV
“And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.” – 1 Samuel 1:20 ESV
Hannah experienced barrenness and harassment. Instead of retaliation and harboring bitterness towards others…she chose faithfulness and poured her heart out to the Lord…dedicating her son to the service of the Lord. This is how Hannah practiced ‘consecration’ amidst her afflictions.
What about Samuel?
In chapter 2, we read about the sons of Eli the priest…the men who are supposed to be consecrated…supposed to be servants and holy unto the Lord…
“Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.” – 1 Samuel 2:12 ESV
Chapter 2 details how the sons of Eli violate God’s commands in their priestly role…how they ruthlessly take advantage and oppress God’s people who come to worship. Despite the worthless behavior of Eli’s sons…we are told that like his mother, Samuel is remaining faithful in the service of the Lord…
“Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.” – 1 Samuel 2:26 ESV
The narratives of 1 Samuel show that Samuel grew to be a man who followed the voice of God…not the voice of men.
We are told in Chapter 3 that ‘the word of the Lord was rare in those days’, yet we immediately see the voice of the Lord coming to Samuel and Samuel responding.
Even though Eli’s sons set a poor example of what it means to be a priest unto the Lord…Samuel follows the voice of the Lord. He keeps himself unstained by their example.
Later, when Saul continually does what is good ‘in his own eyes’…Samuel follows the voice of the Lord. He gives and does not take. He shows hospitality and does not oppress.
For this, he is blessed. Samuel will anoint King David…from whose line will come Jesus. This is how Samuel practiced ‘consecration’ amidst a leadership culture who did not know God or follow his commands.
Now here’s the kicker…
Samuel’s genealogy in 1 Chronicles 6:33-37, shows that Samuel is a Kohathite (of the tribe of Levi), whose family lineage traces back to a man named Korah. We may recognize this name from Numbers 16.
In Numbers 16, Korah is overcome with jealousy and anger towards Moses. Korah rebels against Moses, which means he rebels against God. Korah is judged…the earth swallows him up, taking him down to Sheol.
However, we see in Numbers 26:10-11, that the sons of Korah did not die with Korah in this rebellion.
It is from the sons of Korah that we see God turn rebellion…into redemption!
Samuel was not only consecrated amid the sinful culture of his time…but he was consecrated despite the sins of his Fathers! (Who said genealogies were boring??)
What is our response?
Let’s not be defined by the culture we live in…Let’s not be defined by our former sins…Let’s not be defined by the sins of our Fathers…
We serve a God who turns rebellion into redemption. We have the same choice Hannah and Samuel had…to follow the voice of the Lord or follow the voice of man. I pray we can meditate on this as we sing the words of this great hymn on Sunday…“Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee!”
Sean Wagner