A Dejected Leader Samuel's Sorrow

A Dejected Leader – Samuel's Sorrow

Book of 1 Samuel Chapter 7-8

The theme of this lesson:

1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: [for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them].

Israel had a great desire to desire to have a king though God had demonstrated many times His capacity to protect His people.

God would soon allow a king but God had some rules for any king of Israel, They are not to be like those of the other nations!

God had already laid out His guidelines for any king of Israel and given them to Moses:

Deu 17:14 When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;

Deu 17:15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.

Deu 17:16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.

Deu 17:17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

Deu 17:18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:

Deu 17:19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:

Deu 17:20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

1) This king would have to be a Jew of the family of Jacob

2) He was not to multiply horses, this was a sign that he trusted in his flesh and not in God.

3) He was not ever to send Israel back to Egypt, for any reason.

4) He should have only one wife.

5) He was not seek riches for himself, only for the people.

6) He was have his own copy of the Word of God from the preserved text. (Such as we are today as KJV)

7) He was to read the Bible daily and not only learn God's Word but be a doer of the Word of God.

8) He must teach his children to obey God's Word.

Let's begin:

*****1Sa 7:1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

When we left off last week the Ark was back in possession of Israel but it had not returned to Shiloh and it would never make it back to Shiloh.

Kirjathjearim was a city that belong to Benjamin. Eleazar was a priest of the Tabernacle and since he and all his house treated the Ark with reverence no harm came to him nor to his household during the years that the Ark remain there.

They knew what had happened to the men of Bethshemesh.

*****1Sa 7:2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

The Ark was not removed from Abinidab's home until after the judgeship of Samuel, which was 40 years, the time of King Saul, which was 40 years, and probably at least eight or more years into the reign of King David.

This would be 90-100 years.

But, this is still not a mistake in the Bible!

This verse simply states that all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord for 20 more years after the Ark was in this place.

The 20 years mentioned in this verse represent the time until Samuel called the people together at Mizpeh, and their victory over the Philistines which we are about to read.

*****1Sa 7:3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

It had taken 20 years for Israel to come to this point of repentance.

But this could not be a symbolic gesture because it had to come from the heart.

We know that God looks into the heart!

In later years the prophet Joel reminded Israel of this same thing:

Joe 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

Joe 2:13 "And rend your heart", and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Another thing we can see here, is that Samuel has now become the spiritual leader of the nation of Israel, something Eli had never been able to do.

And we will soon see that Samuel could also be the military leader of Israel.

And it is a fact that we must serve the Lord only!

There is no room in our lives to place any other god before our Lord!

The Bible teaches us with these words:

Exo 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

We seem to forget these things that can cause us to have more bad days than good days sometimes!

*****1Sa 7:4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

The worship of Baal and Ashtaroth, who were the false gods of the Canaanites, had been a snare to Israel, since the death of Joshua.

Baalim is the plural of the title Baal and means that there were many such false gods, as was Baal.

Remember Baal was the supreme false god of the Middle East and today is remembered as Allah.

These things show us the need for a strong godly leader in every nation!

We can see that Israel, after Joshua, had not had such a leader until this time of Samuel, even though the worship of all idols would not be totally removed until Israel was carried into Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.

We should also be able to see that what the Ark represented to Israel, Jesus represents to the Church!

Jesus Christ must be first in our lives to receive the blessings of God!

*****1Sa 7:5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.

1Sa 7:6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

It is not enough just to put away the false idols that we place in front of The Lord Jesus Christ.

We must also repent of our sin!

BUT, There can be no deliverance without repentance.

The Bible teaches us:

Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, "the Lord will not hear me":

Samuel understood this very well and he gathered Israel as a nation to Mizpeh.

Repentance must begin with sincere motives but "if there is no action that follows", then there has been no repentance!

Repentance is not only a change of mind but it is also a change of direction!

King or no king, there is no nation that can stand without the Lord Jesus Christ!

The drawing of the water and pouring out before the Lord was a sign of humility.

The Bible teaches us:

Isa 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Isa 12:3 "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation".

Remember what Jesus said to the woman at the well:

Joh 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; "but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life".

*****1Sa 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

We learned in chapter 4:1 that the place where Israel had battled and lost to the Philistines, would be named Ebenezer.

We learned in chapter 5:1 that in this same place the two sons of Eli and been killed and the Ark of the Covenant had been stolen by the Philistines.

We now learn that it was Samuel who had given this place the name of Ebenezer.

That word Ebenezer means "the stone of help"!

The people of Israel had put away their false gods and declared to serve the Lord only and God had helped them.

The Bible teaches the Church:

Act 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

If Jesus is not your Lord of all, then He is not your Lord "at all"!

Who is Ebenezer to the Church?

1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Not only is Christ Jesus our "well of salvation", He is our "Rock of offense". Our stone of help.

The Philistines did not bother Israel anymore during the time of Samuel.

And there was even peace with all the Amorites which were all the people left in Canaan.

But every man, and every woman born on this earth has a short life time so time passed as it always does!

*****1Sa 8:1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

The people of Israel had again placed their faith in a man and not in the God of that man. This time it was Samuel.

They had again forgotten their Maker!

These years had passed quickly and at this time Samuel would have been about 75 years old

*****1Sa 8:2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges Beersheba.

1Sa 8:3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

Samuel had been allowing his sons to stay in Beersheba to see how they would judge Israel and they were not judging according to the Law of God, "which they would have known".

Deu 16:18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

Deu 16:19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

These two sons neither served the Lord nor did they do justice to men as their father Samuel had done.

In fact that word "lucre" means they plundered the people and gained in personal wealth by being dishonest and in some cases by being violent toward the people.

They took bribes to sway truthful judgment!

They were crooked judges that were for hire!

This is much like the world is in our day!

*****1Sa 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

1Sa 8:5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

Samuel was getting old but God had not removed him as judge and prophet of Israel.

A true servant of God serves until their death!

A God called prophet is God's man until he dies!

The people came to the home of Samuel and demanded something be done, in fact they demanded a king.

Israel wanted to have a king like the nations that were around them!

Notice these people did not even ask Samuel to remove his two sons as judges.

They only acknowledged that Samuel was getting old and before he died they wanted a change in their government.

We usually get in serious trouble when we want to be like everybody else!

The Lord teaches us:

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, "and be ye separate", saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

God does not promise to be a "Father" to those in the world but only to those that separate themselves form the world.

The "world" refers to those that reject the Lord Jesus Christ!

Israel had always been different from all other nations because they had a special relationship with Jehovah God.

They depended on God for their existence!

They depended on God to defend them when their enemies approached!

Most of the time our strength "comes from our differences" and not by conforming to this world!

To be a Christian is to be totally unlike the world and we should never compromise on the Word of God.

To be Christian is to be like Jesus Christ!

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, "a peculiar people"; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

*****1Sa 8:6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

We do not read where Israel went to the Lord in prayer but we do read that is the first thing that Samuel did.

We must realize that it is not God's will for us to get everything that we desire!

That word "displeased" means that they broke the heart of Samuel.

And, Samuel certainly was not going to approve this request!

The Apostle Paul had this same problem with the Galatians:

Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Why would anyone that knows the truth want to be in bondage to some other form of government?

*****1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

Israel had not needed a king to judge them.

Israel had not needed a king to fight their battles.

We have already read that Moses had instructed them on how a king should rule and how he should be chosen.

We began our lesson with scripture from Deuteronomy 17.

God had plans for a future King of Israel but it was not at this time!

We will soon see as a result of their complaining, and instead of being grateful in obeying God, God would grant their request.

But that is not all God gave them!

The book of Psalms reads this way:

Psa 106:15 And he gave them their request; "but sent leanness into their soul".

In other words while God pampered them giving in to their request, their souls would be starving for God's guidance.

*****1Sa 8:8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

Even until this day we live in now 2013 Israel has never fully trusted in the Lord.

In America our national motto has always been "In God We Trust" but we know that there is a movement today to remove these words from everything that involves our government.

Foolish, America does not want God to rule over our government.

Just like Samuel, this breaks my heart!

In our Pledge of Allegiance we have always said we are "One nation under God".

But there are those it want these words removed also.

America is headed in the same path that Israel took this day with Samuel!

America wants a King and we are getting a taste of what I King will be like today with our existing government!

Our Creator, and Our Maker, has been rejected and has been replaced by "evolutionary uniformitarianism" or also called The Evolutionary New Age Movement.

And this is the false theory that completely dominates the scientific and educational establishments of every nation in the world today.

*****1Sa 8:9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

God told Samuel to do what they had asked.

But God also told Samuel to do so under protest by showing them that "evilness" was behind their request.

Samuel laid out for Israel exactly what would happen.

1) Their sons would be drafted as soldiers for the military and for many other things, like slaves.

2) The military would be ruled by the king and not by the people.

3) The king would build his military war machines and weapons of mass destruction at his own discretion, n not influenced by the people.

4) A king would take their daughters for cooking, baking and other things in support of his government.

5) A king would take their own possessions to be his own and make them to be his own servants.

6.) A king would cause a great taxing to support the government.

7) A king would take whatever he thought would be necessary to run his government, this included personal freedoms and human rights.

8) He would control their means to make their own living.

9) A king would take away everything that rightfully belonged to the people, the will of the people would be ignored!

10) Kings are not for the people, kings are for their own selves and will do most anything to remain in power!

*****1Sa 8:18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

Many people say that this sounds harsh and God would not do such a thing.

But the Bible says that any nation that rejects the Lord and follows after man will then not be heard of God when they cry out.

In our day God deals with individuals!

We must have a personal relation with the Lord!

God will deal with individuals who trust in His holy name!

God will not deal with nations of communism or socialism or any nation that rejects His Word!

This is the age of the Laodicean church and Jesus is on the outside of the door knocking trying to get back in.

*****1Sa 8:19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

Israel believes that a King will bring relief from injustice but instead they will experience oppression by his hand.

Remember God had just answered the prayer of Samuel and delivered Israel from the Philistines.

But God would no longer answer a rebellious Israel who cried out because of their king.

The people refused to listen to Samuel.

In other words when we read this portion of the Bible we should see that our Lord had no wrongdoing in this matter!

God only gave this people what they asked for!

*****1Sa 8:20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

We read in this verse the underlying reason for the people's demand.

In their minds the Ark had failed them in their battles with the Philistines!

They wanted a king to lead them into battle.

They had soon forgotten that it was the Lord that had led them in the time of Moses and the time of Joshua to victory in many battles.

*****1Sa 8:21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

1Sa 8:22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

These people wanted to be like their neighbors.

They want a king who would not only fight their battles but would also be there judge.

We never read in the Bible where an enemy of Israel had ever prevailed while they were following the Word of God!

To be quite honest this same thing would happen today if Israel would follow the complete Word of God!

Israel still has this promise from the Lord!

SO, God told Samuel to make Israel a King!

As Christians our first priority is to please the Lord!

Everything else has to be second in our lives and this includes family.

We can never turn our backs on the Lord and survive in this world!

You see, we can never influence the decisions that the Lord makes!

But in Israel's mind they felt like they might be able to influence some king who they allowed to rule over them but they never could.

They wanted some input into their own government but they never got the opportunity.

We should be very careful when we pray because if our prayers are not in the will of God, He may actually allow some of the things we ask, so we can learn some valuable lesson!

Every prophecy of Samuel came to pass but the people of Israel did not even notice!

In our day most all the prophecies of the Bible have come to pass and there are some that time has not allowed them to happen but they will, but the world has not even noticed.

God is not through with Israel even in our day.

God has promised a True King for Israel but that King will not come until the time of Church Age has passed.

That King is our Savior, King Jesus!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

A Departed Glory, God's Judgment

A Departed Glory, God's Judgment

Book of 1 Samuel Chapters 4-6

The theme of this passage is found in Chapter 4:21:

1Sa 4:21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, [The glory is departed from Israel]: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

That name Ichabod in translation actually ask a question which is "Where is the glory of God?"

And this question is answered by saying "The glory of God is departed out of Israel"!

When we left off last week Samuel was in the presence of the Lord, Samuel was God's Seer or God's Prophet.

We should also keep this verse in mind:

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers "by the prophets",

Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days "spoken unto us by his Son", whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

We must never make the mistake of thinking that just because some time has passed that God has forgotten His Word or His Promises!

God will do everything He says He will do BUT in His own "appointed time"!

*****1Sa 4:1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.

Israel clearly understood that Samuel was God's man in this day, yet we see that Israel went into battle without even consulting with Him.

It had been 40 years since Samson had brought down a house of Dagon, the false god of the Philistines, upon their heads but they consistently wanted to rule over Israel and still do even unto this day.

Here again we see them gather in a place called Aphek. This Aphek was north east of Jerusalem with Shiloh being more north of Jerusalem.

It was Samuel who set up a stone to mark this place called called "Ebenezer" but this was not it's name on the day of this battle but this will give us the location of this placed that is later called Ebenezer.

This also gives us the assurance that it was Samuel that wrote this part of the Books called Samuel.

This stone was actually set up and that name given on a later date. (Note 1 Samuel 7:12)

1Sa 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

The Lord did not help them on this day of Eli's judgment!

*****1Sa 4:2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

Who were the Philistines which actually means "immigrants"?

The Bible teaches us that Noah had three sons. One son named Ham had a son named Mizraim and he then had many sons one being named Casluhim.

The Bible says out of this man began the Philistines:

Gen 10:14 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.

The Bible goes on to say that the Philistines come from the country of Caphtor:

Jer 47:4 Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, "the remnant of the country of Caphtor".

Caphtor in all probability was the island of Crete or at least a part of it because the Bible also calls the Philistines by the name of Cherethites which would be Cretes though some do argue against this.

Zep 2:5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.

What is known is that this group of people overcame the Hittite Empire and after this they attacked Egypt whom they could not over come and then settled in the five cities of Canaan Land and occupied the coastal plain.

It was the fact that these Philistines had learned how to work with "iron" earlier than many others, that gave them some advantage in war. Most other nations were still working with "brass".

The Israelites encountered the Philistines in Canaan and they have been the most treacherous of the enemies of Israel throughout the entire Bible.

The Philistines are mentioned nearly 150 times in the Bible and because of them the area of Israel, Judah, Edom, Phoenica and Lebanon have been called Palestine. Palestine is a designated area and has never been a nation as such in all history.

The Philistines have always been "immigrants" trying to steal the land in Palestine and still do!

They now call themselves "Palestinians" in hope the world will associate them as owners of that land, "which they are not", and most of the world has succumbed to this falsehood!

They still have their warlike ways, "always" refusing to live in peace and history has also proven this to be true!

They are still the biggest enemies of Israel and God promises a final judgment upon them.

But, on this day they slew 4000 Hebrew soldiers!

*****1Sa 4:3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

1Sa 4:4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

1Sa 4:5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

The Ark of the Covenant was a chest made of acacia wood. It measured 2 1/2 cubits long by 2 1/2 cubits wide and 1 1/2 cubits high.

It was covered with gold inside and out. It had an ornamental molding of gold that ran like a crown around it.

It had gold rings in which golden stays were placed so that it could be properly carried by those appointed to do so by God, which could only be priests that were assigned in the Laws of Moses.

There was also a lid placed on top of the Ark that was called the Mercy Seat.

The elders of Israel wrongly assumed that God would be present with them if they brought the Ark of the covenant from Shiloh!

When Hophni and Phinehas appeared in the camp carrying the Ark it brought shouts of joy.

BUT, The presence of the Ark did not mean that the Lord was with them!

God cannot be carried place to place!

In fact God says:

Pro 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

And the presence of the Ark did not guarantee any military victory!

AND, It would be well to remember that after nearly 400 years these Philistines were still aware of how God had delivered Israel from Egypt.

And we can also see that these elders of Israel totally understood that defeat would certainly come if the Lord was not with them.

The pure fact is that "The Hand Of God Cannot Be Manipulated!

God had promised judgment and judgment would still come!

*****1Sa 4:10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

The Philistines looked upon the Ark as no more than "an idol" as those they had of their false god Dagon!

The children of Israel looked on the Ark as "an object", the seat of mercy that God set upon!

Job can give us some wisdom here:

Job 20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

And the Bible teaches us of God's judgment:

Psa 78:60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;

Psa 78:61 And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.

Psa 78:62 He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.

Psa 78:63 The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.

Psa 78:64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.

And, 30,000 Hebrew soldiers were killed that day because Israel had abandoned Jehovah God!

*****1Sa 4:11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

1Sa 4:12 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.

Never in the history of Israel had the Ark of God ever fallen into enemy hands.

So holy was the Ark that it was kept behind the Veil in the Tabernacle and seen only by the High Priest and only on one day a year, "the day of atonement".

When the Jews moved during their 40 years of wandering, the first thing the High Priest did was to cover the Ark with the Veil and only then could he attend to the other pieces of furniture.

The Ark was the throne of God but now God's throne was in enemy territory!

Now, It was not a sin to take the Ark into the battle "if the people were truly devoted to the Lord".

But the Ark of God was not some good luck charm!

So now God would use the Ark to teach both the Jews and the Philistines some important lessons!

And God fulfilled the Words He had spoken to Samuel.

So Samuel also would learn some valuable lessons here!

*****1Sa 4:17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.

Eli's whole world was bound up in the outcome of the battle!

His two sons were involved in the fighting. His two sons were evil but he still had their father's love.

Over 30,000 of Israel's young men were also risking their lives, but to Eli the most important thing was the Ark and its safety.

To much to many of Israel's leaders the Ark was just "a religious object" that might have psychological and magical powers!

Eli was very old at this time but he had devoted his entire life to the service of the Lord, and the Ark symbolized the presence of the Lord and its loss was more than the old man could stand!

*****1Sa 4:18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

Eli was 98 years old and nearly blind and this news upset him so much that he fell over and the weight of his body caused his neck to break as it struck the side of that gate and Eli died.

This was the end of an era in the nation of Israel!

This death symbolized the transition from the days of judges to the days of kings was about to take place.

Eli had governed Israel both as a high priest and a judge.

Our lesson here is obvious, when we place our faith in "the rituals of religion" we find that we may have a form of godliness but we do not and cannot have the true power of God, which is by Faith!

The Bible describes these things that we see today:

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

2Ti 3:5 "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof": from such turn away.

These things describe how it was in Israel at this time of Eli.

Now Israel will begin a transition to a king.

Our lesson here is that we all must also make that transition to King Jesus!

*****1Sa 5:1 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

1Sa 5:2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

Ashdod was the most central city of the 5 cities of the Philistines and the closest to the place called Ebenezer.

At Ashdod was a well known House of Dagon!

Dagon was the chief false god of the Philistines and they had worshipped him from their seafaring days. At some time he had been considered the fish god but was now represented as a half man and half fish.

It was their religious belief that all life began in the waters!

They believed that the Earth was flat and floating on the life giving waters of the seas.

We can see how this false religion has become what we now call evolution and that life began in a primeval soup.

Dagon to them was the father of Baal, who was also the chief of the false gods of the Canaanites.

They believed it was Dagon that supplied fish for food but was also the provider of their grain. Many scholars today even say that Dagon was the false god of grain.

All of these pagan false deities were essentially nature gods that represented the natural forces which they believed had produced all things while rejecting the God of Israel, Jehovah.

*****1Sa 5:3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

This day these Philistine had no idea what had happened to Dagon but the picture we get here is a false deity lying prostrate before the Lord in humility, subject to Him, giving adoration to Him.

This was a look of superior power to the Lord to all those that trusted in Dagon.

*****1Sa 5:4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.

This time the Lord got their attention. By removing the head of Dagon the Lord was showing these Philistine that Dagon had no wisdom that was recognized by the Lord and we know that:

Pro 21:30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

And by removing the hands of this false deity, the Lord was showing these Philistine that this idol of false worship had no strength and no power to defend it self against the Lord.

This is picture of man's righteousness that simply cannot stand up to the righteousness of our Holy God!

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

*****1Sa 5:5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.

In other words these actions of the Lord completely shut down this false house of worship!

But instead of accepting that their false god was defeated these people wanted to send the Ark back to Israel.

1Sa 5:7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: "for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god."

*****1Sa 5:11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, "and let it go again to his own place", that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

The entire government of the Philistine got involved in removing the Ark from their land. This also shows us that these Philistine knew they did not actually own the land of Israel, it belonged to the God of Israel.

But, the Ark never made it back to Shiloh where the Tabernacle had been located.

God did not need any army to destroy these people and "the Hand of God was everywhere"!

Peter wrote:

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

There is no power on Earth that can stand against the Mighty Hand Of God!

There was destruction in all the land of the Philistine and you would think they would learn this lesson but as we know history repeats itself over and over because we simply do not learn from our mistakes.

"There is pleasure in sin for a season" and Satan will give us thoughts of that pleasure but we never remember the results of our sin and the pain that comes from it.

Shame, Shame, Shame on us all!

*****1Sa 6:1 And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

AND, these people experienced 7 months of misery and pain!

*****1Sa 6:2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place.

Dagon could not stand up to the Ark of God.

The land of the Philistine was being destroyed before their eyes.

Pharaoh of Egypt had also been this foolish.

But what do we see they place their trust in, false priests and divination!

God says:

Deu 18:9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

Deu 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

Deu 18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

There is no abomination that can stand before the Lord!

*****1Sa 6:5 Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.

1Sa 6:6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?

All of a sudden the Philistines decide they better show the proper respect for the God of Israel.

They remembered the stories of Israel's escape from Egypt and they now believed them.

They realized that they would receive no mercy but they already had, "because God was teaching at this time" and not judging them.

They realized that they could not force God to lift His chastisement. They realized they were dealing with something much more powerful than their false god Dagon.

THESE ARE LESSONS WE ALL HAVE TO LEARN!

These people had a complete change in attitude!

They realized that the Ark of God needed to go back to Israel and they devised a plan not only to remove the Ark from their lands but also to test the God of Israel.

They made a brand new and unused cart.

*****1Sa 6:7 Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:

1Sa 6:8 And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.

1Sa 6:9 And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us: it was a chance that happened to us.

1Sa 6:10 And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:

1Sa 6:11 And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.

They took this new cart and tied two milch cows to the cart. Those jewels of gold were the five golden mice and the five tumors which are called "emerods".

This is the word from which we get our word hemorrhoids or sometimes called "piles".

Now there was nothing special about these cows except they had just had calves and would normally be kept for milkers after that. They were just ordinary cows!

These were cows that had had their first calves. They had never pulled a cart or even been trained to the yoke. No one could tell just exactly what direction they would go. They were still giving milk to their calves and would want to return to them, here again the Philistine were testing God.

These people may not have known God but those cows certainly did!

The Bible says:

Isa 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

You see these cows did not go running for their calves and they did not just stand still.

*****1Sa 6:12 And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh.

These cows were separated from their calves so they did keep up a perpetual lowing. Lowing is described as the cries of cattle. But in spite of all these things they headed straight to Bethshemesh.

This was the first town in the territory of Israel. It was in a valley known well for it's wheat fields and about 7 miles from the Philistine city of Ekron.

Bethshemesh was also a city set aside for the priest of Israel:

Jos 21:13 Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,

Jos 21:16 And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.

These Philistine were humbled by what they had just witnessed!

God showed these Philistine that He could do things that their false god Dagon could never do.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ that rules all the things of this world!

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, [and upholding all things by the word of his power], when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

And Our Lord's providence extends to all the natural world!

Psa 135:5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.

Psa 135:6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

Psa 135:7 He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

Even the little things God does in this world are sometimes more noticed by His enemies than His believers!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

A Submissive Child, God Calls Samuel

A Submissive Child, God Calls Samuel

Book of I Samuel Chapter 3

When we left off last week we saw that Eli had lost favor with God. We also saw that Samuel was gaining favor with the Lord.

It is stated that as Samuel grew he was in favor both with the Lord and also with men.

It is at this time in Samuel's life God made Himself known. The Lord revealed Himself in different ways to Samuel and his fame and his influence increased throughout the land as people realized that Samuel had been divinely called to be a prophet.

So let's begin:

*****1Sa 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

Samuel was still a child.

The Hebrew word "naar" used here means that Samuel was not yet a teenager.

Hebrew children were taught in stages. At the age of five they were ready for the Scriptures and they began with the book of Leviticus.

At the age of 10 they were ready to study all of God's Word.

At the age of 13 they were expected to uphold the commandments of God. This included the 10 Commandments while beginning to learn the other 603 commandments.

At the age of 15 they were expected to show wisdom in God's Word and make sound judgments.

At the age of 18 they could marry.

At the age of 20 they were expected to seek an occupation to provide for themselves.

At the age of 30 they could go into the ministry and were expected to do so.

At the age of 40 they were expected to go about the ministry without supervision.

And at the age of 50 they were considered to be wise enough to counsel others.

Samuel was probably at least 12 years old at this time.

But without a doubt our age should never be a factor in our service to the Lord!

We are never too young and certainly never too old to serve the Lord Jesus Christ!

There will be no honor from the Father in Heaven unless we serve the Son:

Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

That phrase "no open vision" along with "the Word of the Lord was precious in those days" indicates that God had not given any direct revelation to His people as He had in former times.

Since Moses, there had not been a Prophet!

That word "precious" means that many desired the Word of God but they were not receiving it!

There was a great need for a true prophet of God!

*****1Sa 3:2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

1Sa 3:3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

1Sa 3:4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

We know that when the Temple was built that there were chambers where theTemple priest could sleep.

And it is most probable at this time it Shiloh, since the Tabernacle was not moving from place to place, that a place had been built for the high priest and those that worked at the Tabernacle perhaps even under the same roof.

Wherever Eli was sleeping, Samuel had his own bed very close because of the near blindness of Eli.

No doubt Eli called on Samuel many times during the night.

The Lamp of God was a seven branched golden candlestick that stood in the Holy place before the Veil. (Note Rev. 1:20)

Eli was so old that, he had his place near this Candlestick.

It was the only source of light in that place and the priests were ordered to keep it burning.

Exo 27:20 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

These lamps were to trimmed, filled with oil, and lit at twilight every single night and they were to remain burning until morning.

To allow this lamp go out showed laziness and to put it out showed disobedience and contempt for the Word of God.

But this also shows us the place that Eli and Samuel slept were very near this Candlestick.

And the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel's answer was not intended to declare the place where he was sleeping.

Samuel's answer shows us his readiness and his cheerfulness to do anything that was required of him.

*****1Sa 3:5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

1Sa 3:6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

1Sa 3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

We know that Samuel answered the first call but he did not understand who was calling.

And he ran to Eli. It is always important that we understand who is calling and what we are being asked to do!

Salvation and the Lord's service are too important to be misunderstood and taken wrongfully.

Samuel also misunderstood the second call.

We can see that Samuel did not know the Lord at this time. Even the third call by the Lord was still misunderstood but Samuel was certain that he was being called by some one.

*****1Sa 3:8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

1Sa 3:9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Our lesson here is that we may not always recognize the call of God at first!

Think back to the first time you came under conviction, did you really know it was the Holy Ghost?

Eli never scolded Samuel and did finally give him the right instructions.

God deserves an answer every time He calls!

We cannot be like Jonah and try to run away from God. We will certainly learn some of the same lessons Jonah had to learn, the hard way!

There is another great lesson we will learn in these passages.

"God will never be without someone to teach the truth of the Gospel no matter what preachers who have strayed from the truth are teaching!"

*****1Sa 3:10 "And the LORD came", and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

When we see where a name is spoken twice, especially by the Lord, then the message is very important and the action is coming very soon.

It happened to Moses at the burning bush:

Exo 3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

It happened to Abraham when he was about to slay Isaac:

Gen 22:11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

We see Jesus speak to Jerusalem:

Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

And the calling of the Apostle Paul:

Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And also the Apostle Peter:

Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

Samuel understood and replied that he was listening and we must always listen patiently to the Lord when He calls.

Every message of the Lord is important and sometimes requires our "immediate" attention!

*****1Sa 3:11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

1Sa 3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

1Sa 3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

1Sa 3:14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

God's message to Samuel was a message of "Judgment"!

It was inexcusable for the sons of Eli to behave as they had!

It had been Eli's duty to force them to behave in God's House!

Their crimes were crimes punishable by death according to God's commandments and it was Eli's duty to have them executed them and all of Israel knew these things.

But Eli honored his sons more than the Word of God!

So, God said His judgment would shock this nation of Israel!

God said this judgment would be so intense that the ears of every citizen in Israel would tingle!

God had already told Eli that he and his sons had forfeited their right to the priests' office.

Brother Johnny explained that last week in chapter 2.

In our next chapter we will see Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas will all die the on same day.

And later, when Saul is king, he slew Ahimelech, who was the grandson of Phinehas.

And even later, Abiathar was removed by Solomon who was the last of the priesthood of the family of Eli.

From that point on it was the family of Zadok. This would fulfill the promise God had made to Moses about "another Phinehas" the son of Eleazar, the third born son of Aaron, which was the true line of the High Priest of Israel.

Num 25:12 Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:

Num 25:13 And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.

But not only would this happen to the family of Eli, the Ark of God would fall into the hands of the Philistines and would not be totally recovered to it's place, until the time of King David.

And also we know that Shiloh was completely destroyed:

The Bible says:

Jer 7:11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.

Jer 7:12 But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see "what I did to it" for the wickedness of my people Israel.

God was serious then about the things that went on in the House of God!

And God is serious now about what goes on in the House of God!

Notice those words "that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged"

God did not forgive Eli nor those of his family!

And God will not always forgive those that try to rule in the House of God!

It's God's House and He will rule by His Own Word or that house will cease to exist as a house of God and become Satan's house! (Note Rev 3:20)

*****1Sa 3:15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.

We do not know how much Samuel understood of the things of Eli and his sons but Samuel did not get anymore sleep that night.

Eli was like a father to Samuel and he did not want to tell Eli what the Lord had said.

But we should remember these words to Jeremiah who was also called as a child:

Jer 1:6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

Jer 1:7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

Jer 1:8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

Can God talk to children and they understand Him? Sure He can!

*****1Sa 3:16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.

1Sa 3:17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.

1Sa 3:18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

Samuel did not want to tell Eli what God had said. This was out of respect for Eli but Eli did not show the same respect for this 12 year old but actually had to threaten him.

A true Prophet of God takes no pleasure in delivering a message of judgment!

But the truth is always still the truth!

Eli insisted that Samuel swear that he would tell everything and even told him that the Lord would bring the same judgment upon him if he did not.

Samuel understood what Eli was saying and told him everything the Lord had said.

*****1Sa 3:19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

Three things here:

1) Samuel grew, in other words he increased in manhood.

2) It was the Lord who became Samuel's teacher and not Eli, filling him with grace and holiness.

3) And Whatever this young prophet said, God fulfilled it and the words of Samuel were received "as coming from the Lord".

The Bible says:

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

We must not forget that Samuel was also a priest of the family of Kohath a son of Levi.

So we see that it was Samuel that brought reform to the priestly order:

1Ch 9:22 All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David "and Samuel" the seer did ordain in their set office.

*****1Sa 3:20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.

Israel may have not been unified politically at this time but all of Israel were unified in the knowledge that Samuel was the voice of God!

Dan was the most northern border and Beersheba was the most southern border.

*****1Sa 3:21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

In Chapter 4 we will read of the war with the Philistines but just before this takes place we read that the Lord appears again to Samuel.

In the Book of John we read these words:

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

I believe that none other than the Lord was with Samuel this night in Shiloh.

Again God can take one man and bring change to Israel.

And God has taken one man "Jesus" and has changed this world we live in!

Samuel was about to have "a new beginning" even at such a young age!

Eli's sons showed nothing but contempt to the house of God, the sacrifice, and the women of the church, but worst of all toward the Lord.

They were greedy, immoral and worthless sons of Belial!

Next week we will see God's judgment on the house of Eli.

But, we must also remember these words of Peter:

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

We owe it to the Lord to know how to act in the House of God!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Eli's Negligence A Derelict Father

Eli's Negligence----A Derelict Father

Book of 1 Samuel Chapter 2 (Note: 1 Chronicles 2)

What is a derelict father?

The word derelict means to abandon or to throw away or to have left.

Therefore a derelict father is one who has thrown away his children or left them to themselves!

Spiritual instruction is absolutely vital to our well-being, though most reject this idea.

BUT, not just any spiritual instruction, it must come from the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Our nations are failing because our morals have sunk to such a low estate.

Remembered the theme of the Book of Judges.

Jdg 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

This verse says that Israel had no King. Israel did not need a King, what Israel needed was God.

This the same for any nation. Does a nation need a government? Sure, but that government needs God's direction!

We will see again that through Samuel, God would save this nation of Israel.

Our lesson today does not cover the first eleven verses in this chapter. This passage is known as the "Song of Hannah". This passage is not only a song of praise but it is also a song of prophecy and should be studied on its own.

*****1Sa 2:11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.

Hannah and Elkanah returned to Ramah, leaving their son in Shiloh. Their hearts were full of joy and they had great expectations to see what the Lord would do with Samuel.

These parents were dedicated to the Lord, and worshiped Him together, and prayed to Him together, and trusted in His Word.

Hannah had once had a broken heart but the Lord gave her peace because she prayed and submitted to His will.

We will now see the contrast in Eli, who was High Priest and judge of Israel, but not so much a parent.

*****1Sa 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.

We will read in the next few passages just how evil these priestly sons of Eli were.

1) They were lost and unsaved.

2) They regarded Belial, (which is wickedness), as compared to the true God.

They were "worthless" in God's ministry!

Jesus said in the Book of Matthew:

Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; [but the tares are the children of the wicked one]

Hophni and Phinehas were "tares"!

3) They were stealing those offerings from God not the people.

4) They bullied the people of God, rather than assist them with their sacrifice to the Lord.

5) They committed adultery inside the tabernacle showing disdain for the House of God.

6) They ultimately caused God's people to sin.

They were servants of Satan but inside God's House!

No one can ignore or violate God's Word and escape the consequences of their actions!

*****1Sa 2:13 And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;

1Sa 2:14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

First we see this phrase "the priests' custom". This means that this was not according to the law of God given to Moses.

The priests' servants in this case would be the sons of Eli.

There were 5 offerings made to the Lord. Each offering is actually a "type" of Christ.

The "Peace Offering" was the only offering where the sacrifice could be eaten by the people and may be the least understood of the 5!

We need to understand the order followed here:

The offerer brought his offering to the altar, laid his hand on it, and slew it.

Laying his hand on the animal showed his affection for the animal and its worthiness. It also represented a transfer of the sin of the one who offered onto the animal of sacrifice.

The priest then sprinkled the blood upon the altar and around it.

The animal was then cut up, and God's portion (almost entirely fat, besides the two kidneys) was placed on top of the already burning "Burnt Offering" and "Meal Offerings".

Then the priest received the breast and right shoulder for himself and his own children.

The offerer received the remainder of the animal to eat. However, it had to be eaten within one day if it was a thanksgiving offering or within two days if it was a vow or voluntary offering.

If any remained on the third day, it had to be burned.

In this process, the major teaching of the peace offering is revealed.

This was the only offering that the animal did not have to be perfect and it represented complete peace with God.

In addition, since all parties (God, priest, and man) share the same meal and satisfaction, it shows that all are in a peaceful communion or fellowship together.

Because it was placed in sequence on top of the other two offerings, the peace offering is directly connected to them, and thus it depicts the effect of perfect devotion to God and man: peaceful satisfaction and fellowship, the fruit of devotedly keeping the two great commandments of the law.

What are those two commandments?

Jesus said it this way to the Pharisees:

Mat 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

In this sacrifice Christ, "in type", plays all three parts:

Christ is the offering, sacrificing His life in service;

Christ is the priest, serving mankind at the altar as Mediator;

Christ is the offerer, bringing His sacrifice to the altar.

The altar, the place of meeting for all three, represents sacrificial services and devotion to God that gave Him satisfaction and resulted in our acceptance.

The peace offering shows man, as Christ: accepted, fed, strengthened, and satisfied by sacrifice.

This teaches that sacrifice is indeed the essence, the heart and core, the essential element, of "Love" whether to God or man!

More specifically, it shows us that sacrifice plays a major role in acceptance before God.

In other words, spiritual feeding and therefore spiritual strength, and spiritual satisfaction!

Devoted people sacrifice for those they love!

Thus, sacrifice indicates devotion to God (burnt offering) and devotion in service to man (meal offering).

Another aspect of this offering is important for us to consider more closely: The priest's children are also specifically named to receive of the peace offering!

Whom do the priest's children "in type" represent?

This is important because they were also to eat directly of the offering and be satisfied!

We have already seen that Christ is symbolically portrayed in several ways here, as the Offerer, the Offering, and the Priest.

We must remember that Christ is one with His church.

We are parts of His body; we are "in Him!"

Knowing these things we can see that all the meat in the flesh pot belonged to the offerer that brought the offering, as God had already provided the breast and the right quarter for the priests.

These 2 sons of Eli made a mockery of this special offering designed by the Lord to simulate His "Grace" and the Church in complete fellowship with Our Maker!

*****1Sa 2:15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.

So before the burnt offering was made, which symbolizes Christ, and belonged to the Lord, and should be made before all other offerings.

Before God got His required offering, these sons of Eli came and demanded a share of what did not belong to them!

They liked roasted meat better than boiled meat and the flesh hook did not always bring up the best piece of meat.

They wanted the best pieces of meat for themselves! This was not God's plan!

*****1Sa 2:16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

The priest of the tabernacle were entitled to receive the breast and the right thigh of the animal being sacrificed.

Lev 7:34 For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.

But this could only happen after the fat had been burned on the altar!

Lev 3:3 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,

Lev 3:4 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.

Lev 3:5 And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Eli's sons ignored both of these requirements!

Notice that the people were more concerned for the honor and glory of God than the priests. They were willing to lose their own property but could not bear the fact that the Lord should be dishonored and so rudely treated.

They were willing that these priest should take what they pleased of theirs but they desired that the Lord be served first as it always should be.

To take the flesh of the sacrificial animal and roast it before this offering had been made was a crime which was equivalent to robbing God and therefore the worst crime that the sons of Eli committed.

It was a crime that would result in capitol punishment under Mosaic Law.

We should remember that the people did what they thought was right in their own eyes and rejected the Word of God, even the priests.

Jeremiah wrote of these things:

Jer 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, [and the priests bear rule by their means]; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

*****1Sa 2:17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

This was a very great sin in the sight of God. But even robbing God was a small sin in comparison with causing hatred of the sacrifice themselves.

It caused the people to despise making an offering to the Lord.

*****1Sa 2:18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

1Sa 2:19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

In verse 11, we read were Samuel did minister unto the Lord but before it Eli the priest.

But now in this verse we read that Samuel ministered before the Lord.

Samuel had not been corrupted by seeing these evil practices and was now involved in higher services which he could perform without the assistance of Eli.

The linen ephod meant that Samuel was dressed as a priest but not as the High Priest.

It was made of fine linen and consisted of two pieces, which hung from the neck and covered both the back and front over the outer garment.

That outer garment, was a coat made by Samuel's mother that was a long garment and had sleeves and Hannah made her son a new one every year while he was serving at the Tabernacle.

*****1Sa 2:20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.

1Sa 2:21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

Eli had taken Samuel under his wing and had pronounce God's blessings upon Elkanah and Hannah for their faithfulness and willingness to surrender their son to the Lord's service.

God will always bless us when we keep our vows before him.

So Samuel was the first of six children God that granted to Hannah.

*****1Sa 2:22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

1Sa 2:23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.

The women mentioned here were those women who have dedicated themselves to the service of the tabernacle. They had renounced worldly things and had given themselves to the Lord service.

There were some women that gave themselves to the Lord this continued even until the days of Jesus:

Luk 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

Luk 2:37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

But, Hophni and Phinehas were guilty of fornication with these young women even causing them great sin.

All these things were terrible sin in the eyes of God. To the Canaanites that were left in the land this was an acceptable practice because they were accustomed to presence of sacred prostitutes in their temple worship.

The Tabernacle of God was to be considered "holy"!

The Tabernacle of the congregation was the appointed place where the Lord would meet with His people!

Hophni and Phinehas committed their most heinous sins at the entrance of God's courtyard that was set aside for God's people to come and meet Him!

Eli was very old and had lost control of his sons but their sins were well known to the people of Israel.

AND, No amount of rebuke of Eli could change the actions of his sons.

All Israel saw these things go on continuously!

*****1Sa 2:24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress.

1Sa 2:25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.

The fact that Eli was old was no excuse for his easy-going attitude toward his sons.

We have already seen how quick he was to judge Hannah and there were probably many others.

Eli was the High Priest!

Eli was the judge of all Israel.

Any other man of Israel guilty of these things could be sentenced to death but his two sons paid him no attention.

Eli warned that since they had sinned against God that they were left without an advocate who could plead their case in his presence.

Even this fell on deaf ears!

Eli had not been a godly father nor a spiritual leader to his sons and nor to Israel.

Remember our word "derelict" meant to throw away or dispose of and Eli had done this to his own sons.

It's a tragic thing when an earthly father loses his influence over his own family because in the end they can only wait for God's hand of judgment to fall.

Remember Lot's wife, Lot lost his influence with his family.

Remember King David, after David sinned with Bathsheba he lost influence over his sons.

Hophni and Phinehas had no respect for the Lord!

They had no respect for God's house!

They had no respect for the office of High Priest!

And they had no respect for Israel!

And they had no respect for their earthly father nor their Heavenly Father!

So all God could do was to judge them for their sin.

Sin against God and His Word are more dangerous than sin against people!

*****1Sa 2:26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.

But Samuel not only grew in his stature but he also grew in grace and in all aspects toward the Lord.

He grew better while Eli sons grew worse!

These things were noticed by all of Israel.

And Samuel also grew in favor with the Lord!

*****1Sa 2:27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?

1Sa 2:28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?

That phrase "the man of God" is used 76 times in the King James Bible and usually refers to a prophet.

This man of God appeared in Shiloh to declare God's judgment on Eli and his family.

This man of God first reminded Eli of the past and how he had chosen the tribe of Levi above all the other tribes of Israel to be his priestly family.

Eli had to bear the blame for coddling his sons rather than protecting the offerings of God, the Tabernacle, and those that brought sacrifices by the commandment of the Lord.

*****1Sa 2:29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

God, through this prophet, asked Eli why he was trampling on the sacrifices.

In other words why had he allowed the sacrifices to be despised by the children of Israel?

All the sacrifices are "types" of Christ.

The Apostle Paul taught us all that the Old Testament was our schoolmaster until Christ came.

Eli had honored his sons above the Lord.

It was a privilege for the high priest and his sons to offer sacrifices on the brazen altar and to wear the sacred garments and to eat of the holy offerings.

As a father Eli had the authority to discipline his sons.

But as High Priest, Eli not only had the authority but was commanded by the Lord to do so and Eli knew all these things.

And as judge, the judgment of Eli would not have been questioned if he had followed the Word of God!

Eli had done none of these things but had made himself rich, through his two sons, with the best of all the offerings of Israel.

Remember these words of Jesus:

Luk 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

*****1Sa 2:30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

That word "wherefore" means "because of these things", judgment was set for the family and house of Eli.

By the anointing of Aaron a right was given to him and his family to be high priest among the Jews forever.

But now God says since you have walked unworthily this would no longer happen.

God told Jeremiah to write these words:

Jer 18:10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

God will not allow His Word to be trampled on!

Since the house of the high priest had lightly esteemed the things of the Lord, they too would be esteemed as nothing!

This is a plan from which God will never depart!

Every promise that is ever made is in reference to these words,

"They that honor God will be honored; they who despise him shall be lightly esteemed!"

*****1Sa 2:31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.

1Sa 2:32 And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.

God said, "I will destroy the strength, the power, and the influence, of the family of Aaron".

We know when this happened:

Heb 5:4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

Heb 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

Eli's house, by its own actions, had proved itself unworthy of continuing the priestly office!

Part of this prophecy was fulfilled when Solomon banished Abiathar and replaced him with Zadok.

1Ki 2:27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

Eli witnessed the defeat of the Israelites, the capture of the Ark, and the death of his wicked sons.

He witnessed these things before he met his own tragic death!

Eli did not get to witness the wealth of Israel during the time of Solomon.

It was during this time of Israel's riches that Eli's family was turned away from the priesthood.

*****1Sa 2:33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.

Of Eli's family they could now only become common priest.

This verse is better explained in verse 36.

1Sa 2:36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.

Those who are not cut off in the flower of their youth shall be worse off than those who are, because they will have to beg for their bread or their food.

*****1Sa 2:34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.

Eli would live long enough to see his own two sons die, both of them in one day.

The proof of this is in chapter 4:

1Sa 4:11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

*****1Sa 2:35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

Although the priesthood had been promised to Aaron's descendents perpetually, this promise was conditioned on faithfulness, and Eli and his sons had forfeited this claim.

This promise of a faithful priest, with a sure house, is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Heb 2:7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

Jesus had these word for the Apostle Peter:

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Jesus was not talking about Peter, He was talking about the truth of the Gospel, The Word of God

Sin has a far-reaching and deadly consequence!

Because Israel had not been taught properly they did not behave properly!

Hophni and Phineas did not know the Lord and their behavior brought disgrace to their families and failure to their nation.

We must realize that we will reap what we have sown.

We see in our own nation today that sin still has a far-reaching and a deadly consequence and it does in every nation!

When our preachers do not preached the truth, nor stand on the Word of God, it will bring disgrace to our nation and it has.

What is the duty of a father?

Eph 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Though we fail as earthly fathers.

We have a Father in Heaven who can never fail!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

A Special Life the Birth Of Samuel

A Special Life, The Birth Of Samuel

Text:

1 Samuel; 1 Chronicles

Our Focus: 1 Samuel

Theme: There are no accidents with God. God has a plan and purpose for every life born into this world!

The Books of Samuel could be considered transitional books in the Bible.

The Books of Samuel roughly cover the years 1070-970 BC.

To some Samuel is considered the last of the judges.

To others Samuel is considered the first of the kings.

In truth Samuel was the last judge, but Samuel was also a priest, and Samuel was also a prophet.

And, it could probably be said that Samuel was the founder of the "school of prophets" mentioned more by Elijah and Elisha.

But Samuel was never King of Israel, the first king being King Saul.

Samuel is probably the author of most of the Book of Samuel but he could not have written all of it because the book notes his death.

It is because of this that we can believe we have actual eyewitness accounts of the events that are described in both First Samuel and Second Samuel.

This was an extremely important period in the history of Israel, marking the end of the dark period of the judges, and the transition to the United Kingdom of King David.

This is the transition in the Bible from a theocracy to a monarchy.

Believe me we are fools to want anyone but Jehovah God ruling in our lives.

Those that want a king deserve a king. Only when King Jesus rules during the Millennial Kingdom will there be a just king and this comes after the Church Age!

So let's begin with the birth of Samuel:

*****1Sa 1:1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

1Sa 1:2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

1Sa 1:3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

1Sa 1:4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

1Sa 1:5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

1Sa 1:6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

1Sa 1:7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

1Sa 1:8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

We must remember the theme of the Book of Judges.

Jdg 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Something was needed to break the endless cycle of sin, punishment, and oppression.

These judges were only a temporary solution and Israel felt that perhaps law and order would exist if they had a king.

But before the first king arises we will first see the last great judge of Israel!

Elkanah, which means "God created" was from Ephraim geographically, but he was also from the family of Levi, the priestly family.

Elkanah was a descendent through Kohath.

It was the duty of this family to take care of the Ark of the covenant, the table of shewbread, the candlestick, the alters, and the vessels of the sanctuary, with all the hangings of the Tabernacle.

We should have a clear understanding that though Elkanah had two wives, "polygamy" was not, and never will be a part of God's original design and intent.

When the Lord instituted marriage, He made it quite clear that marriage be between one man and one woman, and this is the pattern for all marriages. No Same Sex Marriages are biblical!

Polygamy and any other unbiblical marriage will always cause additional consequences and hardships in a family!

Hannah may have been the favored wife but it was the other wife that was providing the children!

Barrenness in the Old Testament era, was considered a curse on a married woman since her husband's legacy and inheritance largely depended on a son to continue the family's bloodline.

So Hannah was not only barren but she was also ridiculed by other women especially Peninnah!

The Hebrew men had to go to the Tabernacle to worship the Lord at least three times each year.

They had to observe the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, which included the time of the Passover.

They had to observe the Feast of the First Fruits.

And they had to observe the Feast of the Tabernacles.

AND, the Tabernacle was located in Shiloh at this time, which was about 10 miles from where Elkanah lived.

At this time, Eli was the high priest of Israel, but he was also the judge of Israel after the death of Samson.

Eli had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, but they profaned the priesthood, and caused great disgust amongst the people of Israel in their worship of the Lord.

That phrase "a worthy portion" really meant that Elkanah offered an offering for Hannah that was enough for two. He offered for Hannah and for a child she had never had up till this time!

But Hannah's female rival taunted her and caused her great sorrow year after year and she despised this trip to Shiloh.

But Hannah, whose name means "Grace" could not leave off serving the Lord!

SO, Hannah shows us two of things that are required for answered prayer!

One of those is patience.

The Bible says:

Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: "knowing that tribulation worketh patience";

Another one is the fact that the Lord looks into the heart of that one who prays.

And the Bible says:

Psa 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

It is truly a miserable when trials and troubles come, but many use this as an excuse to stop going to church.

This will never solve the problem and it will only make things worse!

*****1Sa 1:9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.

1Sa 1:10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

There's just something special about praying in the house of God! We cannot always do this but we can get into our closet and get alone with God!

While everyone else were still sitting around the table, Hannah rose up to go pray.

When we fully understand that is only the Lord who has the power to answer prayer, then we will live in such a way that our prayers can be answered.

We see Eli, who was the high priest, and a descendent of Ithamar, though all high priest should actually have come through the family of Eleazar, the firstborn son of Aaron.

King Solomon corrects this when he becomes king and installs Zadok as High Priest.

We also see that Eli sat upon a seat.

In other words he was more prepared to judge God's people than he was to be a priest to God's people!

Hannah was in bitterness of soul and Hannah cried to the Lord who knew her needs.

Hannah not only wept but she wept with such intensity, that she became emotional in her sadness sadness.

We know that when weeping begins in the heart it will show outwardly and with great stress!

*****1Sa 1:11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

Normally, if Hannah had had a son he would have been involved in the ministry of the tabernacle from the age of 25 to the age of 50.

But by this vow for her son, he would to be devoted to the ministry from his childhood and "also" being subjected to the discipline of a Nazirite all his life.

We see a lot of pictures of Jesus with longhair but these pictures could better describe what Samuel would have looked like as Jesus probably did not have long hair but resembled most any other Jewish man of that time!

*****1Sa 1:12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

1Sa 1:13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

1Sa 1:14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

Hannah's faith and devotion was so strong that it brought misunderstanding and criticism from Eli.

Again, Eli sat as judge before his main function as priest!

We will see that Eli was tolerant of the sin of his two sons, but he was quick to judge and condemn the devotion of a godly woman!

We will also see that if your prayers do not come from your heart, then they cannot be heard of God!

John Bunyan said: "in prayer it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart".

And, this is the way that Hannah prayed!

BUT, Eli, the high priest, reputed Hannah while she was still praying!

He accused her of being a drunk and therefore wasting God's time!

But Jesus said:

Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

We soon find out as Christians that as we serve our best, the world will judge us with great harshness!

AND, we see this more and more of in the days we now live!

*****1Sa 1:15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

1Sa 1:16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

Hannah immediately denies that she even drinks alcohol and Hannah kept a meek and humble spirit because her heart and soul were stayed on the Lord!

A "daughter of Belial" would mean that Hannah was a "worthless" person in the eyes of man.

She just tells Eli that she was pouring out her soul before the Lord!

Eli would have known this if he had just listened, and finally we see Eli acting like a priest which he should have done from the start.

*****1Sa 1:17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

1Sa 1:18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

We know that the United Nations seeks ways to change this world every day, but what we will read here, in the Book of Samuel, Is That God Can Change The World With The Birth Of One Child!

Hannah was crying out for a child not knowing "that it was in the will of God to use such a child" at this very time!

God had made plans for Samuel before he was even born!

Eli then added his own blessing to the prayer of Hannah.

Hannah may not have known her prayer would be answered but she knew she had gone to the only source who could provide her request!

Five times Hannah had called herself a handmaid, which tells us she had submitted herself to the Lord. (Five also being the number for Grace)

Hannah returned to the feast with peace in her heart, and joy showed on her face, her burden was lifted!

*****1Sa 1:19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

1Sa 1:20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

"Remembered" means that God kept this prayer of Hannah on His mind!

There are over 40 times that the Bible uses the word "remembered" associated with God.

The Book of Revelation states this fact:

Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with [the prayers of all saints] upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, [which came with the prayers of the saints], ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

The "prayers of the saints" are a sweet aroma in the presence of God!

And God does not forget any prayer that reaches into Heaven and each of those prayers He will answer in His own time.

The Book of James tells us:

Jas 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, [yet ye have not, because ye ask not].

Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, [because ye ask amiss], that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

The art of praying is best learn on our knees with a humble heart and just talking to God!

First we see that Hannah did ask of God and her prayer did reach into Heaven. Hannah had lived a life that allowed this to happen and Hannah had not asked "amiss"!

In other words what Hannah had asked was not wrong!

It was not out of order!

AND, it was not improper and God had heard this prayer!

The next thing we see in this verse is the fact that the birth of Samuel would not be a supernatural event but would come from his parents Elkanah and Hannah.

In fact, the name Samuel means, "heard from God", because she had ask for him from the Lord.

*****1Sa 1:21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

1Sa 1:22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.

Most children can be weaned from their mothers milk in two or no more than three years and this could be true of Samuel.

But one commentator writes that there was a threefold weaning of children in these times.

1.) There would first be a weaning from the mother's milk up to three years old.

2.) There would next be a weaning of the toddler stage up to seven years old.

3.) There would last be a weaning from childless manners at the age of 12.

In other words it was very probable that Samuel was 12 years old and fit to serve in the Tabernacle, so that he may appear before the Lord and abide forever.

We know that in the life of Jesus, growing up we first see Him at the age of twelve at the Temple in Jerusalem:

Luk 2:42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

Luk 2:46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

*****1Sa 1:23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

It was not sin for Hannah to stay at home and Elkanah approved of Hannah's decision. It was only required of the men to make those three yearly trips to the Tabernacle.

*****1Sa 1:24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.

1.) Hannah brought with her three bullocks. This probably but did not mean that Samuel was three years old as some suggest but there were three offerings that had to be made.

There was the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the peace offering.

2.) Hannah brought and ephah of flour. It took 3/10 part of a ephah for each offering, of each bullock.

3.) And Hannah brought a bottle of wine.

God will never go against His Word so this was grape juice and not fermented wine, as some may think and probably "freshly squeezed" or "yayin mi-gat", wine from the vat as only the best would be brought before the Lord!

In fact, The Jewish Encyclopedia provides a concise description of the various usages of "yayin": Which is "Fresh wine", before any fermenting.

And in the more recent Encyclopaedia Judaica (1971): "The newly pressed wine prior to fermentation was known as "yayin".

In the King James Bible "yayin" can be used for fermented and unfermented wine.

Such as:

Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

Pro 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

Pro 23:32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

This verse tells us specifically not to look upon wine that is fermented and if you cannot look upon it then you certainly should not drink of it.

Again, God will never go against His Own Word.

1Sa 1:25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

1Sa 1:26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.

1Sa 1:27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

Hannah had taught her son well and had prepared him for serving the Lord.

At this time Samuel did not have a personal knowledge of the Lord!

This would come later when God spoke to him!

But Hannah was woman of prayer and she taught her son to be a man of prayer.

Hannah reminded Eli that she was the woman who had prayed for a son earlier.

And, She also reminded Eli that God had answered her prayer!

*****1Sa 1:28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

That word "Lent" used by Hannah here, means that she was making a lifelong and unconditional loan of her son, to the Lord.

Hannah had been obedient to her vow!

And, Hannah is a wonderful example of praying in the "Will of God"!

God works through mankind and God wanted a man like Samuel!

But, True prayer can only be offered on the grounds of sacrifice.

When Jesus Christ offered Himself as payment for our sin, He also opened the doors of Heaven that our prayers could be accepted through Him.

The Bible is specific:

Joh 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified "in the Son".

Joh 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

There was much more work done on the Cross than just a payment for our sin!

Prayer is about changing us, as much as it is about changing our circumstances, and none of that can happen without Jesus!

Questions?

Let's Pray!