1 Samuel 1-3

1 Samuel and 2 Samuel was written in Hebrew and used to be one book.  After many years it was translated into Greek and the book was divided into two parts.  Samuel was a prophet and not the author of the books.  The author is unknown.  It records the lives of Samuel, Saul and some of David.  It begins with the birth of Samuel and describes how he led Israel as a prophet, priest and judge.

1 Samuel 1 – Samuel’s Birth

The book starts with a list Elkanah’s family, which may indicate that he was an important man.  He had two wives, Peninnah and Hannah.  Hannah couldn’t have children and Peninnah would upset her because of it.  Elkanah loved Hannah very much although she couldn’t have a son for him.  She was very sad and even desperate for a son. 

Each year Elkanah and his family went to Shiloh to offer sacrifices.  One day Eli, the priest saw Hannah crying.  He saw her mouth was moving, but no words came out.  She was praying silently.  Eli watched and though she was drunk.  People didn’t say silent prayers, but prayed aloud.  Although she prayed silently, God heard her prayers.  She prayed humbly as a servant to God.  She felt God had forgotten her and that He was the only one to help her.  God answered her prayer and gave her a son, Samuel.

God always answers our prayers.  If we have to wait a while, it doesn’t mean they He has forgotten us.  Isaiah 49:15 – “I will not forget you”.

After Hannah had her Samuel, she didn’t go with Elkanah to Shiloh until he was about 3 years old.  Then she took him to Eli.  “I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.  So now I give him to the Lord.  For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” – 1 Samuel 27.

1 Samuel 2:1-10 – Hannah’s Prayer

Hannah prayed a prayer that was full of praises to God.  She was very thankful to God for giving her a son.  She had felt shame for not having children, but God saved her from this shame.  She says “my mouth boasts over my enemies”.  - Samuel 2:1.  There was a sense of vindication over her rival, Peninnah.  “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” – 1 Samuel 2:2.  She praised Him for His actions – He brings life, death and lifts the needy.  At the end of her prayer is a prophecy.  “He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed”.  – 1 Samuel 2:10.  These words point to King David’s descendant, our eternal King Jesus.

Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord.  Samuel stayed there with Eli and ministered to the Lord.  I am sure it was hard to leave Samuel, but they had promise God and they kept their promise.  He became the Lord’s helper. 

1 Samuel 2:11-26 – Eli’s Judgment

With all the sacrifices brought to the tabernacle, a portion was give to God and a portion to the priest.  God’s portion was always given first so it was wrong to take the priest’s portion before they burned the fat.  The idea was that God should get the best.  Eli’s sons were wicked men and had no regard to for the Lord.  They were greedy and wanted the raw mean, maybe so they could sell it for more money.  They didn’t hesitate to use violence and threats to get what they wanted.

Eli heard how his sons acted, but only rebuked them.  They were even committing sexual immorality.  Because they didn’t listen when Eli rebuked them, God saw they were corrupt and warned Eli that He would deal with them and they would be punished.  Eli’s sons were not worthy to be his successor. 

In the mean time, Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men.

A man of God came to Eli with a very important message about future events.  He told him that God would not bless his descendants.  Eli had allowed his sons to behave in this way as priests.  He told him that God would give him a sign that his sons will die in one day and Eli will know the judgment of God has come against his house. 

1 Samuel 2:28 is a summary of some of the priesthood duties.  The job of the High Priest was to minister to the Lord.  He was a servant of God first and then the people.  He brought sacrifices for atonement and worship.  He burnt incense which was a picture of prayer.  He wore special clothing that represented majesty, dignity, glory and beauty of God to the people.  He was responsible of receiving offerings from the people.

Because Eli did not correct his sons and by his actions chose them to the Lord, God said, “I will raise up for myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in my heart and mind.  I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always.” – 1 Samuel 2:35  Eli and his family would one day be reduced to begging.  This promise to raise up a faithful priest was partially fulfilled in Samuel.  The promise was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, the High Priest forever.

1 Samuel 3 – Samuel’s Call

Eli’s eyesight was going and he had gone to bed.  Samuel was lying down when he heard a voice calling his name.  He thought it was Eli so he went to Eli, but it wasn’t Eli who had called him.  Eli told Samuel to go back and lie down.  This happened a second time.  Then when it happened a third time, Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling Samuel so he told Samuel to go back and when it happened again he was to say, “Speak, Lord for your servant is listening” – 1 Samuel 3:9.  Then the Lord came and stood calling Samuel again.  He answered as Eli had said, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” – 1 Samuel 3:10.  Then the Lord told Samuel what He was about to do.  “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.  At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family – from beginning to end.” – 1 Samuel 3:11.

God spoke to Samuel not silently, but in an audible voice.  Samuel answered by saying “Here I am!”  God knew where he was.  It just reminds us we are His servants asking what He wants us to do.  There are others who answered God in the same way – Abraham in Gen. 22:1, Jacob in Gen. 31:11 and 46:2, Moses in Ex. 3:4, Isaiah in Is. 6:8, and Ananias in Acts 9:10.  God often speaks to us today in an “inner voice”, but when He does He will confirm what He wants us to do in a variety of other ways.

When has God spoken to you?

How did you respond?

These are several lessons here:  we are to make ourselves available for God to speak; then we are to be obedient to His call; we are to respond to God; we are to humble ourselves before God and His Word.  The Lord stood may mean this time it was a unique appearing of the Lord.  Maybe it was Jesus Himself.

The “ears of everyone who hears will tingle” are signs of God’s severe judgment (2 Kings 21:12, Jer. 19:3).  Samuel already heard of the judgment to come on Eli and his family.  Since there was no repentance God confirmed the judgment through Samuel.

Samuel went back to bed.  I’m sure he didn’t get much sleep because His ears were probably tingling.   He probably asked himself if he should tell Eli or not.  The Scripture tells us he was afraid to tell him.   In the morning he told Eli everything the Lord had said.  Eli accepted it and said that He is Lord and will do what is good in His eyes.

Samuel grew up and the Lord was always with him.  “Let none of his words fall to the ground” mean Samuel’s prophecies came true.  All of Israel recognized that Samuel was a prophet of the Lord.  The Lord continued to reveal Himself to Samuel through His Word.

What has God revealed to you in His Word?

How are you a servant of the Lord?

Prayer is communication with God.  It keeps God’s people powerfully connected with Him.  It is a great privilege to be in His presence.  He always hears and answers in His perfect timing and His perfect way.  Hannah had to wait years for God to answer her prayers, but through it all she experienced God’s power to peacefully persevere.

Next week we will continue our study in 1 Samuel.  Hope to see you here.

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