><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (1 Samuel) CHAPTER 1 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I Verses 1-16. List the phrases describing Hannah's distress. Do yoU find her retaliating against her rival? How did she dispel her grief? Cf Psalms. 62:8; 142:1-3; I Pet. 2:23. 2 Account for the change of verse 18b. How can a similar experience be mine? Cf Mk. 11:24;Jn. 4:50; 1 Jn. 5:15 3 With verses 26-28 compare Ps. 116: 12-14; Ec. 5:4, 5. Do you find all the encouragement you ought in the faithfulness and Un- forgetfulness of the Lord? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (1 Samuel) Chapter 1 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- Hannah's distress: wept, would not eat, irritated and provoked by her rival, bitterness of soul, miserable, deeply troubled, great anguish and grief. She seemed not to retaliate outwardly, only called on the Lord for relief. Her actions are admirable. If we believe God has heard our prayer, and will grant our request according to His will, we should trust that He is faithful. If our prayers are scriptural, we can trust that they are in line with His will. (To me, this means we also need to search the scriptures to know what God promises us and pray accordingly.) It's a strangely lopsided relationship when God is ever faithful in His promises and we are not. My former view was that I should never make a commitment to God since I may not keep it. But this didn't work. It seemed like trying to be married without taking any vows. No commitment = NO GENUINE RELATIONSHIP. -------------------------------------------- * RJ Carr -------------------------------------------- Hannah's struggle with conceiving a child certainly hit home with me. I question whether I have the same urgency as Hannah. More importantly, am I bringing my heart felt desires to the Lord on a daily basis. This first chapter really communicates how to really bow down before the Lord for all things, large and small. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) Hannah's distress is described as: weeping, downhearted, bitter of soul, miserable, prayerful, troubled, anguished, and grievous. Even with all of these feelings, she does not retaliate against her rivals provocations. She rids herself of her grief through heartfelt earnest prayer. She as Psalm 62:8 describes it "pours her heart out in prayer". She pours out her troubles to the Lord. She entrusted herself to the Lord for her vindication against her rival instead of seeking a worldly response and reaction of revenge even though she is bitter and angry, she channels this in the right way. 2) Hannah had been filled by the Lord of compassion in her spiritual life. Also, she had eaten which satisfied the physical. She received not only a physical filling of her hunger, but a spiritual feeding as well. Do we seek this filling of our spiritual need as much if not more so than our physical needs? We must go to the Lord and take our manna every day, just enough to fill our NEED for the day, for he is the bread of life as mentioned in: John 6:35 "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty". Jesus is the bread to fill the spiritual hunger of our soul. That portion of us that cannot be filled by anything in this world. We often attempt to fill our spiritual stomachs with power, possessions, happiness, and success, but ultimately it the world's 'bread' will leave us hungering for more. Let us turn instead to Jesus, the bread of life, the bread which satisfies completely. 3) We can turn to many other things to find encouragement(Eli suggested that Hannah had turned to wine), but ultimately we should turn (as Hannah did) to God who alone can fulfill us and satisfy us completely. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- (i) Worship the Lord of Hosts, Sam. 1:3: Samuel is a most interesting history book, in the Old Testament, with two parts. I Sam. Chapter 1-24 is the autobiography of Samuel. The other authors are Nathan and Gad [The Quest Study Bible]. It recorded the transition stage from God's appointed judges leading His people to the man selected kings governing His people. The book started with Elkanah's barren wife, Hannah, giving birth to a child to prove that Samuel was an attested prophet of the Lord, I Sam. 3:20-21. In the past, priests held the most honorable position, as a mediator, to serve His people. After the death of Eli, prophets took the place of the importance of priests' service. [Watchman Lee, Bible Outline, 1982, Chinese publication] Samuel addressed the almighty God as the Lord of Hosts. The name expresses the governing authority of the universe. What a comfort and secure feeling to know our Lord is the Lord of HostS. (ii) "I asked the Lord for him", I Sam. 1:20: The topic of Chapter One should be Hannah's prayer. The background is in Verse 6 - aND BECAUSE THE lORD HAD CLOSED HER WOMB, HER RIVAL KEPT PROVOKING HER IN ORDER TO IRRITATE HER. The fact of life is - iN BITTERNESS OF SOUL hANNAH WEPT MUCH AND PRAYED TO THE lORD, Verse 10. The bottom line is - THE lORD LOOKS AT THE HEART, I Sam. 16:7b. The Result is - sO IN THE COURSE OF TIME hANNAH CONCEIVED AND GAVE BIRTH TO A SON. sHE NAMED HIM sAMUEL, SAYING , "BECAUSE i ASKED THE lORD FOR HIM." -------------------------------------------- * Les Tripp -------------------------------------------- 1 Sam 1:3: The annual trip to make sacrifices at Shiloh indicate that Elkannh was a devoted and obedient servant of God. His influence is seen in his wife Hannah's fervour and the eventual dedication of Samuel. The obviously infamous Hophni and Phinehas. Their reputation apparently is as well known as that of Hannah and Samuel. 5: The desires of our heart may not be consistent with the desires of God, but God, our heavenly Father, still has a double portion of blessings for us even if we look elsewhere for blessing (acceptance, power, position). 7: We are tempted to be sympathetic toward Hannah. We need to recognize that Hannah's response was the result of her focusing on those things important to man (or women in this case). How often do we permit what the world considers important to influence our emotions, actions, and thinking? 10: There is more here than the hurt caused by Peninnah. There is bitterness. Bitterness resulting from Hannah harboring the hurt, reflecting on it, allowing it to fester. The result is anger and a focus on the perceived problem and the person that reminded her of it. Hannah took her eyes off of God and focused on those things that were important to her. 11: Hannah now pleads her case before God and makes a vow or contract with God. The most startling point is that she is willing to give up the very thing she desires the most in her heart, something she does not yet possess. She had learned to hold lightly the possessions that God wanted to use for his purposes. 12: Kept praying -- persistence. Either during one visit to Shiloh or several visits. 14: "How long will you keep on getting drunk?" The implication here is that this was a continuing ocurrance. Perhaps over the entire period that the family was at Shiloh that year -- or, maybe over a period of years. There is a fervor here that we need to appropriate. This may also indicate that Eli had not experienced this kind of fervancy among the people of Israel. Can this be said of our prayers -- fervency so infrequent that we may be mistaken as demon possessed or under the influence of the wrong spirits. 17: At least Eli was able to minister to Hannah and encourage and bless her. 18: Hannah had left her burden at the foot of the Cross. God had taken the burden. 20: Hannah had experienced the very heart of God -- His love, compassion, and provision. He was a God who responded to her personally. 26: Hannah giving her testimony! 28: The Lord gives to us expecting us to dedicate that which he has given to us to his service, be it time, talents, or treasure. Hannah is modeling appropriate obedient behavior -- at great personal cost! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= * Victor E. Heise -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1.) Wept, would not eat, provoked and irritated by rival, bitterness of soul. No retaliation for she gave her bitterness to the Lord in prayer and made a vow asking Him to look upon her misery and remember her. 2.) She found peace after giving the matter to the Lord out of great anguish and grief. Eli the priest must have gave her comfort when he said, " Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what ever you have asked of him." Seek His will and pray according to scripture. So many times we pray with out seeking what He has said about it. Since it is written, I hold claim to that. The outcome may not be what I expected, but who am I? Our loving Father is faithful, and my desire is His most perfect will in what I ask through prayer in faith without a doubt. Romans 8:28 gives me peace along with many other verses in His Word. In my twenties, decisions were made and seeds sown. My thirties, reap what I have sown like David, but what amazes me is even though I said, "Lord, use me to Your will.", He does and is faithful! 3.) YES! Let me tell you about our Lord! He is faithful again and again and I have found that there is something to praise Him about every day, week, month, and year. ALWAYS!!! I have got to tell others about it. This is why I speak during praise time. Not to speak of the wonderful things that He does in my life would be a crying shame. Many have watched me grow from when I first came to Franconia. Jesus took my broken heart, picked up the peices, put it back together, gave it back to me, and took my pain. "Where carnal man fails, my Lord prevails!" V. E. Heise ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (1 Samuel) CHAPTER 2: 1-11 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This Old Testament 'Magnificat' (Cf Lk. 1: 44-55) possesses an astonishing range of ideas concerning the character of God, His dealings with all sorts of men even to the ends of the earth, and the coming of His anointed king. 1)Compare the exaltation of verse i with the dejection of I: 6-10. What or who should be the object of our joy? Cf Ps. 9:1,2; Ps 5:11,12; I Pet. 1: 8. 2 What does Hannah say about (a) God's character, and (b) the way in which time and again He reverses the lot of men? What will be the final end as described in verses 9,10? What warning and what encouragement do you take from these truths? Cf Ps.2:11,12. Note. Verse 6. 'Sheol' was the Hebrew name for the place where the dead go. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (1 Samuel) Chapter 2: 1-11 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Les Tripp -------------------------------------------- 1 Sam 2:1: When one meets God in new and special ways there is an out pouring of praise, joy and thanksgiving. So often in the psalms the psalmist acknowledges victory over his enemies as does Hannah here. 2: Praise and adoration. 3: Everything that happens, happens under the power, wisdom, and authority of God! 4: Our perceptions: the enemy is mighty and powerful and his victory is immenent. We are weak and ready for defeat. Yet God brings the enemy down and raises his children up! 6: God holds life in his hands! 7: God is the source of wealth and poverty. Our God is soverign! A lot easier to say when we experience his blessing than when he permits trials and turmoil to enter our lives. 8: Position: the contrast between worldly position and our position before God. The Lord is the one who sets position. He is the one who to whom we must look for approval. 9: God's interest is in His children, their protection and security. Dependency!! 11: The covenant kept! Samuel remained with Eli. -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- As humans, when things are going badly we are dejected, but if everything is right we are "happy". I think Hannah is beyond happy; her heart rejoices in the Lord, her mouth boasts over her enemies, she delights in the Lord's deliverance. Christians can follow the Bible's guidelines on happiness: Ecc. 7:14: "When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future." and James 5:13: "Is any one of you in trouble? He should PRAY. Is anyone happy? Let him SING SONGS OF PRAISE." Hannah says that "there is no one holy like the Lord, no one besides you; no Rock like our God; the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed; the Lord brings death and makes alive...He sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and exalts; raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap...;guards the feet of His saints..." Essentially, the strong are not the ultimate winners; those who are against God will be SHATTERED - He will judge all, and will strengthen His king and His anointed. Fear God and keep His commandments. -------------------------------------------- * RJ Carr -------------------------------------------- Verse 6 that sticks out at me this afternoon is: The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. This is encouragement to me as I look for ways to comfort my sister-in-law. Death is the great equalizer and only those who believe will have eternal life. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) Hannah gives praise and is rejoicing. Her pain is replaced with delight, her sorrow into joy. The Lord needs to be our object of joy. We should sing praise to the name of the Most High. Psalm 9 has been a motivation for me for quite a while. A year or so ago, I purchased a hat with a smiley face on it with the verse Psalm 9:2 written on it. PS 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. This Psalm reminds me that we need to be glad and rejoice in Him and all that He has and will do for us. This past weekend at FAC's Men's retreat we sang a chorus I learned recently with Psalm 9 as the inspiration - it goes as follows: Psalm 9 - Words and Music by Sally Beck I will praise, (I will praise) You oh Lord, (you oh Lord) with all my heart, (with all my heart) I will tell, (I will tell) Of your wonders, (of your wonders) I'll be glad and exult in thee, (I'll be glad and exult in thee) I will sing praise to your name oh most high I will sing praise to your name I will sing praise to your name oh most high I will sing..................praise to your name 2) Hannah tells of God's: strength(v2 NIV Study translates horn as strength) also victory, holiness, wisdom and knowledge, judgement, power(life giving), provision, and compassion. She gives many examples of the Lord turning situations around in mens lives. The final end is either: a) protection and strength to those who humble themselves before God. OR b)silenced, darkened, crushed down, defeated judgement for those who oppose him/trust in their own strength. We are warned that we must heed God's call and encouraged that if we do, he will give strength to us and will guard us now and forever in eternity. -------------------------------------------- * Bill Hargenrader -------------------------------------------- (1) As sinners, we are not worthy of salvation and could never, by our own choice, know the Lord. The Lord is the object of our total joy, as He, by His grace, has chosen us. (2) In the end, the Lord will gather together His chosen people, protect us, and give us eternal life. While He will break His enemies and sentence them to eternal death. "the wicked shall be silent in darkness" -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- i) He is the Rock of My Salvation: In 1:3, Samuel praised the Lord as the Lord of hosts. Who is never defeated; He is the one to rely upon when crisis arises. In the first two verses of Chapter 2, Hannanh's praising song declared that the Lord is the Rock of my salvation. Who is our everlasting hope and never changes. Do you feel "lucky" that we believe in and belong to the Lord of hosts, and He is the Rock of our salvation?!!!! (ii) He humbles and He exalts, 2:7: Hannanh is/means a woman of grace. Through her experience, she told us lET NO ARROGANCE COME FROM YOUR MOUTH, fOR THE LORD IS THE gOD OF KNOWLEDGE; aND BY hIM ACTIONS ARE WEIGHED, 2:3. Because EVERYONE WHO EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, AND HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED, Luke 14:11. gOD RESISTS THE PROUD, bUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. tHEREFORE HUMBLE YOURSELVES UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF gOD, THAT hE MAY EXALT YOU IN DUE TIME, I Peter 5:5-6. (iii) Hannanh Was Also A Prophet: She prophesied that the Messiah would come - hE WILL GIVE STRENGTH TO HIS KING AND EXALT THE HORN OF HIS ANOINTED, 2:10b. (iv) Who invited thunder, 2:10 ? The evolutionists do not believe in God. How was electricity formed without creation? How was thunder progressively formed to this stage? How was the magnetic field formed? They, the evolutionists, have no answer to these questions. iN THE BEGINNING gOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH. fOR SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD gOD'S INVISIBLE POWER AND DIVINE NATURE HAVE BEEN CLEARLY SEEN, BEING UNDERSTOOD FROM WHAT HAS BEEN MADE, SO THAT MEN ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. Romans 1:20 -------------------------------------------- * Victor E. Heise -------------------------------------------- 1.) Greater in her joy of the Lord for He prevails mightily. He hears the voice of the hurting, those who cry out to Him in prayer. His faithfulness brings a flood of grace that not only covers the earth like the water with Noah, but overflows His entire universe. Words cannot describe, and the closest we can get is to cry out overjoyed to Abba Father. Longing for Heaven to praise Him eternally. 2.) Amazing how God gave me two verses, Proverbs 10:24 & 13:21 just weeks before. 24.) What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted. 21.) Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous The two Proverbs best describe it. I came down from the mountain top (men's retreat) with mana and fire. God is love (1 John 4:8b), for our "God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:29). He gave me Matthew 21: 18-22, "The Fig Tree Withers" weeks before also. Fear, trembling, and almost terrified was setting in. Do you honestly realize the power He has given us? Back home, the best way I describe it is this, He put a vail over the fire and allowed a calm of the fear that I should retain. To look directly in the center and see, Abba with fire. Love so intense and so powerful freely given to His children. Forgive me if I get personal, but this study coincides with recent events. This is how you can understand what I am trying to convey about the wonderful things the Lord is doing TODAY in a child's life. It also saddens me to see what will become of those I know if they do not come to Christ. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (1 Samuel) CHAPTER 2: 12-36. (Read also 3: 11-14) ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1 What aspects of the sins of Eli's sons were specially grievous in God's sight? See 2:12,17,25, 29; 3:13. What serious warning ought we to take from 2:25, 30 and 3:14? 2 How did Eli fail? Cf Prov. 29:17; Mt. 10:37. Over against 2:31 and 3:14 set 2:35. What may we learn from all this concerning the ways of God? Cf 16:1. Notes I Verses 12-17. The misappropriation of Eli's sons ('the men' of verse 17)Was twofold. They took what they wanted rather than what was offered them; and they insisted on receiving their raw portion, before the Lord's Portion-the fat (Lv. 3: 3-5)-was burned upon the altar. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (1 Samuel) Chapter 2: 12-36. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Les Tripp -------------------------------------------- 1 Sam 2:13-16 The practice described here is based on Levitical law and was a means of provision for the priests and their families. However, the practices of Hophni and Phinehas were a significant corruption of the common practice, not a minor variation. It is important that those charged with leadership responsibility in the church seek the face of the Lord in carrying out their duties. The focus must be on the Lord. The focus illustrated here is one of selfishness and self serving. 15: The flavor is in the fat. Taking the meat before the fat was burned off represents high living rather than the subsistence and dependency of the priesthood. How may examples have we seen over the years where God's servants took the fat and not the lean meat. The result is the same. God often visibly brings down those who minister in his name and are disobedient. 18: Contrast Samuel with Hophni and Phinehas 21: Wait on the Lord! Hannah blessed five time over by the Lord. 22: The slippery slope of Romans 1. It starts with seemingly minor disobedience and progresses downward to total depravity -- profaning God by thought, word, and deed. 25: An absolutely pivotal question? Who will intercede with God? Praise God, he has given us Jesus as our intercessor! But a verbal warning is as far as Eli went. He did not take action to remove his sons from service in the Tabernacle at Shiloh. It is essential that when those serving the Lord exhibit improper behavior, they must be removed from leadership positions until there has been remorse or grief over the sin, confession, and restoration. We should not be too hasty to reinstall a fallen leader. We must insure that there has been solid restoration between the fallen leader and God and between the leader and those he or she leads. 26: In great contrast to Hophni and Phinehas. 27-36 These verses illustrate that God has no grandchildren! We must individually accept God's gift of salvation and allow him to work out our sanctification. Eli came from a long line of priests, a long spiritual heritage. But that heritage did not provide protection from the consequences of disobedience! 29: Eli's responsibility for the behavior of his sons. 35: God is consistent. He brings down the disobedient servants (an oxymoron) and raises up obedient servants. 36: An interesting turn about. Disobedience involved corruption of sacrifices for food. The consequence of that action was that there was no provision. Did the punishment match the sin? -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- Eli's sons had no regard for the Lord, were glaringly disrespectful and they sinned against God. Understand that all our actions will be judged by the Lord, and live accordingly, showing fear and reverence for God. Eli failed to restrain his sons. Saying "why do you do that" is not enough in this case...as a father, he didn't exercise his paternal authority. The Lord chooses the spiritual leaders, he puts them in power and takes them out as well. Our personal feelings have no importance in the Lord's appointment. All leaders, whether we agree with/like them or not, have been given their power by God. Romans 13:1-2:"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted and...will bring judgement on themselves." -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) Eli's sons had especially grieved the Lord because they were mocking and defiling the Lord's preset ways and the paving of the model for the Messianic offering for sins. We must be careful not to defile what God has set as holy. In doing so, we may go against His will. 2) Eli failed to discipline his sons for their wrong actions they had committed. Samuel differs from the sons of Eli in that as: Abel's Offering found it(Gen 4:4), Noah had it(Gen 6:8), Esau sought it(Gen 33:15), Moses pleaded for it(Ex 33), Nehemiah wanted to be remembered with it(Neh 13:31), and Mary found it(Luke 1:30) So too Samuel "found favor in the eyes of the Lord" 1SA 2:26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men. Similarly, the gospel of Luke speaks of Christ. Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Oh that we too might be found to be growing in favor in the eyes of God. May we seek to find favor in the eyes of God daily in our words and actions! -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- (i) To Treat the Offering with Contempt Is A Great Sin 2:17: When we study these two young men, may the Lord put a mirror in front of us for self confrontation. Let us ask ourselves, "Am I robbing God's portion?" (ii) More Charges on Eli's Wicked Sons - Seducers, 2:22: God created man and woman to know each other to extend life. The difference between man and animals is self-control - You shall not commit adultery. Do you feel that God is pretty "sneaky"? He gave us the fleshly desire and also tells us do not abuse it. Again, this is another warning/confrontation to us for discipline We consider Eli's sons are wicked ones and disgusting. These situations are laying in front of us for us to review ourselves. Search me Oh God and sanctify me for your service. iF A MAN SINS AGAINST ANOTHER MAN, gOD MAY MEDIATE FOR HIM; BUT IF A MAN SINS AGAINST THE lORD, WHO WILL INTERCEDE FOR HIM? Sam. 2:25. (iii) Samuel was the Lord's Helper, 2:18: On the earth, God is working on His plan and we are His helpers. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (1 Samuel) CHAPTER 3:1-4:1 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1 Notice the expressions used about Samuel in 2: 18, 21; 3:7,19. What new thing came into Samuel's life in the experience described in 3: 1-14? Why did Samuel have to tell the vision (3: 15-18)? Cf I Cor.9:16. 2 What was lacking in Israel at this time, and what did God do to meet the need? Do you know places that need similar divine provision? CfJn. 1:6,7; Lk. 3:2,3; Rom. 10:14,15. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (1 Samuel) Chapter 3:1-4:1 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Les Tripp -------------------------------------------- 1 Sam 3:1: Again, for the third time, Samuel is held up as a model. Obedience and openness to the Lord was rare. No wonder Eli did not understand what was happening when Hannah was praying. 5: The word of the Lord was rare... Clearly, people (and in particular, Samuel) were not taught to listen for the Lord or to discriminate between voices from the world and the voice of God. Fortunately, after the third time, Eli recognized that it was God calling Samuel. 7: "did not yet know the Lord:" A clear indication that there is a point at which one is confronted by God and comes to know him. Secondly, the process is by revelation. In this case God uses Eli to bring Samuel to revelation. 10: An absolutely awesome experience!!!! It is overwhelming to realize that God is doing a work in our lives, doing a work through -- or in spite of us, or around us. While samuel did not know the Lord at this point, it is clear from several preceding passages that he was obedient and his heart was prepared to receive the word that God was giving him. 11-14 God repeats his earlier message to Eli. Consider the impact this had on both Eli and Samuel to have the earlier message repeated. 18: Can we truly imagine how heavy Eli's heart must have been. Insipe of a heavy heart he acknowledged God sovereignty! 19: Bible note refers to the reliability of Samuel's words. He may not have known the Lord a few verses ago, but now he had a solid and intimate relationship with God. -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- What a neat little boy Samuel must have been - so young, yet of such service to the Lord. The Lord really seemed to replace Samuel's father as he grew up. S became a prophet - received the word of the Lord while still a boy. Eli said God would deal with S if he didn't tell the prophecy he had received. It was God's call and S's duty to prophesy. Prophecy and visions in Israel were rare at that time. I wonder why...? God used S to meet that need. Romans 3:6: "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith." (so it has something to do with one's measure of faith). Also, I Cor. 14:1,3: "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy...But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort." -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) In chapter 2 we see the reference to Sam growing up 'around' and in the presence of the Lord. He grows up in an environment where the Lord is spoken, and his work is evident. In 3:7 it refers to Sam not knowing the Lord yet. This refers to the Lord's revelation to Samuel and making himself 'known' to him. In 19 we see the Lord WITH Sam. Samuel had to come to the point that each one of us needs to come to. The point at which all the knowledge, upbringing and 'religiousness' we've known becomes REAL in our own lives. The point at which we make a decision to follow God/Christ and to separate ourselves from the way in which we formerly lived and to walk with Him. Sam was compelled as Paul was in 1 Cor 9:16 to preach the vision(message) that he had heard. 2) Israel had drifted away from God. Israel lacked spiritual leadership at this time. Setting the scene a bit, Isr. had just come out of the period of the Judges a time when God appointed Judges, those who delivered His message to the people through direct proclamation. Isr. had been faithful to God when there was a Judge around, but when the Judge went away, it fell back into its old ways. With Samuel we enter a new era. The age of the prophets. The Prophets were also executors of God's message, but they mainly preached impending judgement. In verse 11 it says that the message that Sam had would "make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle". How marvelous it would be if the message we deliver would have such an impact to OUR world. That the ears fo all who hear would tingle! Let us strive to boldly proclaim the Truth that Jesus Christ is Lord and that He has risen from the dead to pay the penalty for our sins and may the ears of all that hear tingle and may their hearts tremble and their minds moved to fall down and bow before Almighty God and confess and believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- (i) God broke His Silence to Call Samuel, 3:1; 3:4a: iN THOSE DAYS THE WORD OF THE lORD WAS RARE; THERE WERE NOT MANY VISIONS. tHEN THE lORD CALLED sAMUEL. The first two chapters of I Samuel gave us a clear picture that from human prospective the barren woman, Hannah, asked for a son. In prayer and fasting, a miracle was given to us to enhance our faith in God. Now, in Chapter 3, we come to realize that in God's plan how He worked through the turbulent time of the judges when Eli was the High Priest and judge of Israel. And finally broke His silence to call a man since his youth to serve Him. After the introduction of the first three chapters, the first prophet, Samuel, reveals to us God's acts in his time in the following chapters. (ii) God Calls the Responsive Men and Women, 3:3b; 3:4b; 3:19 sAMUEL WAS ----IN THE TEMPLE OF THE lORD, WHERE THE ARK OF gOD WAS. sAMUEL ANSWERED, "hERE i AM". tHE lORD WAS WITH sAMUEL AS HE GREW UP, AND HE LET NONE OF HIS WORDS FALL TO THE GROUND. (iii) The Lord Established His First Prophet, 3:20: aND ALL iSRAEL FROM dAN TO bEERSHEBA RECOGNIZED THAT sAMUEL WAS ATTESTED AS A PROPHET OF THE lORD. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (1 Samuel) CHAPTER 4:1-22 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) Try to picture what a crushing blow these events were for Israel:What is the right answer to the question 'Why?' in verse 3? 2 The ark was the visible symbol of the Lord's 'glory' or mani- fested presence (see verses 21, 22). Why, then, did the Israelites' use of it prove unavailing? In what ways may Christians today make a similar mistake? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (1 Samuel) Chapter 4:1-22 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Les Tripp -------------------------------------------- 1 Sam 4:3: Notice the change in thinking. The ark represented the presence of God in the midst of Israel. Instead of focusing on God, the leaders of Israel turned their attention to the ark itself. While the word "it" can be translated as "he" as in "he may go with us," in reality the focus is on the ark not on the God who brought them out of Egypt, opened the Red Sea, gave them direction by day with the cloud and by fire at night. They had forgotten that. 8: The Israelites may have forgotten what God had done for them. But the enemy had not!!!! -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- Perhaps to fulfill the words of the prophecy about Eli in part; it may also have been due to the fact that Israel had not showed their dependency on God. Then, even when they did recover the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they were defeated and every man ran to his tent. Seems like the Lord was really aiming to get their attention here. Sometimes it takes a great defeat to make you aware of your weakness, and the true source of your strength. Although the Israelites (verse 5): "When the ark of the Lord's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a GREAT SHOUT THAT THE GROUND SHOOK." (something like drums in a marching band?!!) But nowhere does it mention that they sought the Lord in prayer for victory over the Phillistines. Maybe that "good luck charm/mascot" that a sports team sometimes has is what the ark was to Israel. However, it really means NOTHING; what really matters is that the Lord Almighty of Israel is on their side. Christians today are similar - we can spout scripture for virtually any circumstance, but often we do not believe it fully or have not put the issue in prayer enough. It is, to me, the most common "defeat" in a Christian's spiritual and tangible battles. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) Many times the Lord brings adversity our way to test us to see how faithful we are. He uses seeming defeats to build our character and strengthen us in the long run to carry out His will. 2) The Israelites were once again facing the Phillistines. The Phils were obviously familiar with the power of the Israelites God. They had probably heard tales of Moses and how Pharoah's army drown in the sea, Joshua and the Battle of Jericho, and all the Judges including Gideon and Samson. They were no strangers to battles with the God of Israel. When they heard that Isr. had gotten the Ark, they were frightened. But, they needn't have been since the motives of the Isr. when getting the Ark were to use it like some good luck charm, much as the Isr. had erected the golden calf, so now they were treating the mercy seat of God as an idol. They even went so far as the psych themselves up for battle much like a pep rally or a player's huddle before a ball game. Instead of bowing before God and seeking His direction, they were cheerleading themselves and pulling out the team mascot for good luck. What a sad sight...Yet, how often do we try to use prayer and God's power as a crutch or a good luck charm? -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- (i) Samuel Was Equipped For The Call, I Samuel 3:21b: tHE lORD CONTINUED TO APPEAR AT sHILOH, AND THERE HE REVEALED hIMSELF TO sAMUEL THROUGH hIS WORD. Samuel's vision and instruction came directly from the Lord to establish him to be a prophet. (ii) God Created The Situation For Samuel to Serve Him, Chapter 4: In this chapter we read about the death of Eli and his two sons to create the need for Samuel's service. It implies that the Lord establishes and removes His servants. There is no need for us to worry and gossip about situations in the church. God is in control. (iii) The Birth of Ichabod, 4:21: tHE GLORY HAS DEPARTED FROM iSRAEL. In this verse there are two topics mentioned - (1) the capture of the ark of God and (2) the death of Eli and his two sons. In this whole chapter, the name of Samuel, the prophet, was not mentioned. Philistines were the constant oppressors of God's people at that time. There is something wrong when a major event takes place that the anointed prophet is not included in its progress. Under such circumstance, even the Ark of the Covenant of God would be only a ritual object without presence of God. In other words, Samuel, the prophet at that time, did not participate in the decision making process of the battle strategy. After all, I feel that the Lord is merciful to Eli. God did not cut off Eli's descendants totally. However, such a shameful name, Ichabod, was given to Eli's grandson would be an alert call to each one of us - As Christian parents, it is our responsibility to provide proper discipline to our children; should I add that regardless how old they are. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (1 Samuel) CHAPTER 5:1-7:2 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1 Read the story of 5:1-5 in the light of Jer. 10: 1-16. Contrast the idols with the Lord of hosts. How ought such evidence to influence our fears and our faith? 2 Because the ark of the Lord was associated with His law (cf Dt. 31: 9), it was also associated with judgment-as in this passage. Why did such a dire punishment fall on the men of Beth-shemesh, and with what result? Cf Ex. 19:21; Heb. 12:28, 29; and see Note ~ below. Notes 1 5: 6, 12; 6: 4, 5. The association of tumours and mice suggests an out-break of bubonic plague. 2 6: 19. The ark, according to God's command, was to be kept closely covered, when not in the Holy of Holies. Cf Num. 4:5,6,15,20. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (1 Samuel) Chapter 5:1-7:2 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Les Tripp -------------------------------------------- 5:1: Chapter five is a difficult lesson. Does God need protecting? God demonstrates his power in a pagan culture striking terror in the hearts of the Philistines. 2: What was the thinking of the Philistines? The God of Israel is just another god. We'll put him with our other gods. Certainly the God of Israel, who failed to protect the Israelites in their battle with the Philistines could not be considered superior to Dagon. 3: Even the stones will shout! 6: Besides bringing Dagon down, God showed his power among the people of Ashdod. God would not permit the Israelites to manipulate him nor allow the Philistines to think that Dagon was superior to him. God did not destroy the Philistines in battle, but he did destroy them when there was no battle. 7: Smart people, those Philistines. They saw the relationship between possession of the Ark of the Covenant and what was happening to them. 9: The people acknowledged the power of God, but they did not acknowledge God. God wants us to focus on his relationship with us, not the results! It is the person of God that is preeminent, not his power. Only when we acknowledge the person of God are we able to put his power in proper perspective. 6:3: The age old idea that there is something that we can do that will please or placate God. There is absolutely nothing that we can do that is acceptable in God's sight. What is acceptable is that which he does. 6: It is amazing that the children of Israel forgot their God, his wisdom, love, and protection. But the Philistines remembered who this God was. His reputation was well known among the heathen! 7: Unusual thinking. A cart to be pulled by cows that had never been yoked. A really dumb idea -- unless one is making a final test of God. If the God of Israel is powerful, then he will control the cows and thus the cart's direction. Not only would the cows be unruly by vertue of having never been yoked, they would be beside themselves being separated from their nursing calves. The Philistines wanted to make the problem as difficult as possible for God. 9: Cows, having never been yoked or trained would likely each want to go its own way, struggling one aginst the other. Is this not an example of how we live when we are outside the unifying authority of a Holy God. 12: The cows moved as a team in one direction. They (God) took the Ark to a village assigned to the priests of Israel. 19: Having forgotten the word of the Lord, the men were disobedient! Ignorance is no excuse! The men of Beth Shemesh continued to see the Ark as a talisman, an object of curiosity. What does God look like? Do we come to God out of curiosity? Or do we seek his face, guidance, direction, leadership, and person? Did the children of Israel treat God any differently than the Philistines? 20: Just as did the Philistines, they wanted to rid themselves of a God who takes vengence when he is not feared. 7:1: They were beginning to understand what God expected. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) We see here the capture of the Ark of the Covenant. Jer 10:6 No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. This gives us the reason for the trouble the Phillistines faced when they captured the Ark. Our God is a jealous God and will not tolerate idols. Do we have any idols in our own lives? Idols don't always manifest themselves in the form of wooden carvings as we think. Is our job and idol, are our posessions(car, house, etc) idols? Is money our idol? God will not tolerate shared devotion. We cannot serve two masters. 2) The ark contained the original tablets containing the Law(Ten Commandments received by Moses). Those who defile the law must be punished. The Phillistines received a harsh punishment for their defiling of the Ark. Sometimes it is hard for us to understand how they would not believe and turn to God. But, look at those who even saw Jesus(Pharisees) and still did not believe. Even Thomas had to touch the holes before he truly believed. It is such a shame that they would not humble themselves before Almighty God. -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- The text is excellent. A thought occurred to me while reading today's Word - why in the world would all the Philistines continue to worship their gods when they knew that Israel's God was more powerful? Weren't there any people who thought - maybe I should convert, or were they that blinded by their cultural ties to their own ways? It seems that conversion was a totally unrealistic/unheard of in that time. God is Holy, and must not be dealt with lightly. It showed a lack of reverence to look into the ark of the Lord. The death of the 70 showed God's absolute holiness and man's absolute sinfulness. In the face of it, men die; but now through the Lord Jesus Christ we have made peace with God. Men are so sinful and wretched in God's sight, yet He loved us and sent Christ for us: "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you BY CHRIST'S PHYSICAL BODY THROUGH DEATH TO PRESENT YOU HOLY IN HIS SIGHT, WITHOUT BLEMISH AND FREE FROM ACCUSATION - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel." AMEN. Consider how far we have come - from DEATH TO LIFE, how far our sins have been removed from us... -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- (i) Our God Is A Jealous God, Ex. 20:a; I Sam. 5:4; Phil. 2:11: yOU SHALL NOT BOW DOWN TO THEM OR WORSHIP THEM; FOR i, THE lORD YOUR gOD, AM A JEALOUS gOD, bUT THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHEN THEY ROSE, THERE WAS dAGON, FALLEN ON HIS FACE ON THE GROUND BEFORE THE ARK OF THE lORD! hIS HEAD AND HANDS HAD BEEN BROKEN OFF AND WERE LYING ON THE THRESHOLD; ONLY HIS BODY REMAINED. tHAT AT THE NAME OF jESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT jESUS cHRIST IS lORD, TO THE GLORY OF gOD THE fATHER. When the Philistines moved the Ark from Aphek, (I Sam. 4:1, 10, 11) to Ashdod (I Sam. 5:2-7) and placed the Ark in the house of Dagon, Dagon was destroyed. Dagon was an idol which Philistines considered to be the principal deity. It was represented by a monstrous combination of a human head, breast, and arms jointed to the belly and tail of a fish. [Ref. J-F-B Commentary]. (ii) 8 miracles took place in seven months, I Sam. 6:1: The first two were related to the destruction of Dagon. Dagon was worshipped extensively over all Syria, as well as Mesopotamia and Chaldes at that time. However, as the reference E-Study verses cited in Jer. 10:9b, all the idols are made by skilled workers. The next three miracles associated with tumors ( I Sam. 5: 6, 9 and 12). This sickness caused the Philistine men's constant loss of their blood and made them very weak. Through all the miracles, the Philistines refused to worship the Lord of Hosts. The last miracle occurred in an Israel town, Bethshemesh. Because some foolish men who looked into the ark It brought a divine punishment from God with a great slaughterr, 6:12-19. Finally, the Ark returned to Israel at Kirjath-Hearim for twenty years, I Sam. 7:1-2.