STUDY NOTES  
Back   Parental Gleanings from 1 Samuel 2  
 
Pastor Randy Smith
  1. Be sure your child knows that God’s honor comes first in your household. This must be demonstrated by your words and by your choices.

  2. Be faithful to discipline as commanded in Scripture. This is a sign of love. A child’s heart needs shepherding, namely restraint and correction. Be firm, fair and consistent. Remember, like Eli, you bear the responsibility for an undisciplined child.

  3. Teach your child to respect and honor parental authority. Once they learn to ignore your authority, other forms of authority outside the home will suffer the same fate. This rebellious attitude will eventually chafe under the authority of God.

  4. Do everything to keep your child’s heart soft to the things of God. Hypocrisy will turn them off. Your sin will become their sin. Even young children can detect your priorities. Do you want your children following your example in everything ranging from prayer time to church attendance? They will!

  5. Parents (and churches) who do not remain faithful to biblical principles will harden their hearts and eventually lose God’s favor. While Eli was judged, Hannah and her husband were blessed.

  6. Avoid gutless compassion. We do not necessarily seek God's honor when we spare human feelings. God’s Word must never take a backseat to a child’s desires.

  7. Follow Hannah’s example and be primarily concerned for your child’s spiritual health. Give your children back to God and pray that they will be useful and beautiful in His eyes.

  8. Maintaining healthy influences is important, but children must know how to make biblical decisions as they develop a Godward orientation. We cannot shelter our kids forever. Let’s remember that Eli’s sons and Samuel went in different directions, but both were reared in the same environment.

  9. Praise the Lord often in your child’s presence. Have your children ever heard you praise the Lord as Hannah did in the beginning of the chapter?

  10. Teach your children the Bible. Help them to know it well. Encourage even the smallest steps they take in this direction. Let them often see your love for the Word of God.