1 Samuel 2:18-19 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.… I. WE HAVE HERE — THE SACRED TOIL OF A MOTHER. 1. House labour consecrated by love and worship. Serve God, then, in toiling for your children. Offer to the Lord the sacrifice of your weariness for them and you will find that God will not be "unrighteous to forget your work of faith and labour of love" in your ministering to those whom you have tried to make His saints. 2. We have here not only labour blessed by love and worship, but also household love consecrated by religion. "Love is of God;" and that home affection is not worthy the name, of which the beginning, continuance, and end are not in God. 3. And now in a return of blessing we have religion beautified by loving labour. Religion and common labour are not only not incongruous, they give to one another added dignity, blessedness, and comeliness. II. THE DUTIFUL, PIOUS MEMORIAL OF A SON, I have already presumed what we have fair warrant for: — that we have this story either by Samuel's own writing in this book, or through his communication of the story to others. Either positron implies on Samuel's part a tender remembrance that must not be lightly passed by. Though you can think only of a lowly home and homely people as your life's guides; yet, if like Samuel you can remember common work done lovingly for you, it is worth your remembering and honouring. The same truth is to be held by fathers and mothers. No man or woman can leave to children a more honourable memory than that of hard work, of faith, and diligent labour of love in or for the home, in and for the Lord. (G. B. Ryley.) Parallel Verses KJV: But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.WEB: But Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a child, clothed with a linen ephod. |
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