A Child: Asked For and Lent To

This meditation on 1 Samuel 1:27-28 explores the spiritual principle that children are gifts from God to be dedicated to His service, drawing connections between Hannah's prayer for a child and her commitment to lend him to the Lord. Vanoverloop encourages parents to pray for their children's spiritual development and to dedicate them to lifelong service, particularly calling families to pray for sons called to pastoral ministry in the church. The article emphasizes the covenant obligation of parents to raise their children in the fear of the Lord and to intercede for God's blessing upon their instruction and example.