April 8: 1 Samuel 1-3

April 8, 1 Samuel 1-3

We begin today the 1st Samuel. We get to see the Kingship of Yahweh and how He continues to Sovereignly provide for His people. There are battles, hardship and success through the rising of the Kings of Israel. Epic book!

1 Samuel 1 We learn about Elkanah, an Israelite who had two wives and only one of them could have kids. Hannah is the one who could not have kids because the Lord closed her womb… Every year they went to Shiloh and sacrificed to the Lord and this is where Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests. Elkanah loved Hannah and gave her double portions of food. The other wife used to irritate Hannah and mock her because she couldn't have kids. Hannah went to go and pray to the Lord and she vowed to the Lord that if He gave her a child, she would dedicate it to the service of the Lord forever, and also not to put a razor to his hair (Nazarite vow). As she continued praying, her lips were moving but she was praying quietly in her heart and Eli the Priest thought she was drunk, because he only saw her lips moving. Hannah defended herself on the accusation and told him she was grieved because she wanted a baby and he blessed her and prayed that God would grant her petition. God later remembered her prayer and opened her womb to have a child, so she named him Samuel, meaning God heard.

Hannah did not go on the next years journey to the Lord’s Temple to sacrifice, because she wanted to wean Samuel first, she took Samuel to the House of the Lord later after the baby was weaned and was a young child. When she brought him up, they brought with them an expensive sacrifice to the Lord and Hannah gave Samuel to the Lord. 

1 Samuel 2 Hannah’s prayer/song here are later used in the New Testament when Mary sings to the Lord for the birth of Jesus. The emphasis is on God’s holiness and strength, and how He Sovereignly guides all things and giving her a baby boy, that now she had to let go of and give away to work at the House of the Lord. Now a young child named Samuel. What was Samuels duty? To minister to the Lord under Eli. Unfortunately, Eli’s sons were worthless and practiced abominations while ‘serving’ the Lord. Then we hear about Eli’s sons, who were considered bad men and who didn’t know the Lord. That seems interesting, when they didn’t know the Lord, yet worked in the Lord’s House… 

We also learn that Hannah gets to have more kids! Isn’t God merciful? Here, he blesses her with even more kids, even though the Lord answered her prayer with only one child.

Eli was old and he was made aware of the sins of his sons, and how they were sleeping with the woman who were working at the entrance of the House of the Lord. So, Eli confronts his sons and assures them that they are sinning against a Holy God - but they didn't listen to their dad. God sent a message to Eli warning him that God had done miraculous things historically for Eli and that his sons were going to be killed. But, God would be raising up someone that wants to be obedient to Yahweh. Someone who would have the Lord’s heart and mind. 

1 Samuel 3 The word of the Lord - God speaking to His people - was rare in those days. Most likely because of the sins of the people and serving false gods. Samuel, still a youngen, went to bed one night and three times he heard his name being called and thought it was Eli calling him, but it was not. On the third time, Eli told Samuel, go back to bed and answer, “God, Speak Lord, for your servant hears.” At this point, Samuel did not know God personally yet. When God called Samuel, Samuel answered just like he was told, and God revealed to him that Eli’s sons were going to be killed and Eli’s house to be punished, because of their sins. Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about what he heard from God, but Eli made him tell him - so he did. When Samuel was done telling him everything, Eli basically says - yup - God will do what seems good to Him. 

Samuel was growing up in the fear of the Lord and was obedient with whatever God told him. Samuels was now known throughout the Land as being a Prophet. 

To sum it all up:

• God hears your prayers and remembers you, even if you feel that He doesn’t. 
• God sees. He knows who are His. Even if you are working at the House of the Lord, but do not ‘know’ Him, He knows the heart. You can not fool God. And if you sin against Him, He will have His vengeance… So you better ask forgiveness and turn away from sin and turn towards the Lord.