The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 51

sanctuary would secure. 3. The mother could thus evince her freedom, from mere 11elfah gratification in seeking o. child from the Lord, and at the same time do all withi!l her pow_er to advanre the coming kingdom .. 4. There was ~ secret providew:e in tins preparing the way £or the .fir/ft great /ftep m the reformation of the people, namely, the authoritative announcement of national disaster (eh. iii. 11, 20). Taking, 1ben, Samuel's as an instance of typi,cal youthful pi,ety, we may notice- !. That YOUTHFUL rrnTY IS A POSSIBILITY. Evidently it was in Samuel's case. Since 'all children are psychologically alike ; are born under the same covenanter! mercies ; and are, therefore, open to the same Divine regenerating influence, the position might be considered as established. But the Church has been slow to believe the truth; and much of the nurture of families seems to proceed Oil the supposition thi,t, as a rnle, at least early manhood must be reached ere piety be regarded as trnst- worthy. The causes of this unfortunate distrust of child piety are varied. They may be indicated as-1. The habit of estimating all piety by the forms and mani- festations appropriate to adult life, which habit is based on-2. A misconception of what constitutes the essence of all true religion. 3. The long continued neglect of tlie Church, as a consequence of this misconception, issuing in a scarcity of youtlijul piety. But the possibility of it is seen in-1. The nature of a child being capable of the essentials of true piety. In Samuel, and so in every child, there was a capa- bility of recognising the Great Unseen and Holy One; of cherishing purP- love for the living, ever-present Friend ; of trusting on Almighty care with an unusual abso- luteness ; of learning the truth concerning the works and ways of God, both by "itnessing and sharing in acts of worship, and listening to special instruction; and of obedience to a sovereign Will. Indeed, in some respects the nature of a child, being free from the carking cares of life and the unhappy suspicions of mature years, io much more susceptible of holy, elevating influences than is that of men. 2. The remarkable welcome to children given by Christ. The child Samuel was welcome in the house of Jehovah. He "grew up before the Lord," and was in "jai•our with God." Thus in his case we see a beautiful congruity with, and may we not say pro- phetic of, the loving welcome given later on by the blessed Saviour himself, in terms never to be forgotten. Possibly some officious priests might deem the presence of the child clad in sacred ephod an innovation and a nuisance in the tabernacle, just as some in excessive but erring zeal would not have Christ troubled with little ones who could not be supposed to understand his profound teaching. The only recorded instance of Christ being "much displeased" is when it was supposed that he was indifferent to the spiritual condition of little children. 3. The harmony of Hannalt's conduct and Samuel's piety with the general tone of Scripture. Hannah both con- secrated and nurtured her son for the Lord, thus exemplifying the precepts, "Train up a child in the way he should go," "Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,'' and also illustrating the just expectation of the apostle, who seemed to take for granted that pious parents rightly conforming to all their covenanted duties and privileges would have "holy" children (1 Cor. vii. 14). 11. That YOUTHFUL PIETY IS VERY DEPENDENT ON CAREFUL NURTURE. All religion needs culture. It is the most delicate as also the most precious of our treasures. The production of piety in children, though of God, ns the Source of all grace, is intimately connected with the prayers and faith of parents. Hannah travailed in spirit for o. holy child long before Samuel was boi·n, and the succeeding nurture was only" an expression of the same earnestness. There is no warrant to think that the world would have been blessed with a pious Samuel apart from the deep piety of a Hannah; and so the presence and growth of piety in our children rests with tho Church of God. The very condition of children in a sinful world suggests a care on their behalf most wise, tender, and constant. The elements of tnte nurture are seen in Hannah's care of Samuel. There was-1. The one and perpetual devotement of the child to the Lord-the absolute giving up to the grace of God with a faith that would take no denial. This act was repeated in spirit day by day for years. When leaving him in Shiloh; when silently bowing before God at home; when engaged in making the little ephod; when refitting- it, as year by year he gre.w: when with joyous heart visiting Shiloh at the annual festivals-the mother carried Samuel on her heart be.fore God, and g·ave him up to be blessed. This is what mothers can ever do for  46 THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. [err. n. 11-26.