In this 90 days through the Bible study, it never ceases to amaze me when I learn something from a passage that is unexpected. The first half of 1 Samuel is about the beginning of Samuel’s life, and Israel’s first king, Saul. Little did I expect that the importance of prayer would be the thing that stood out the most to me.
Hannah’s faithfulness in praying for a child that she immediately offers back to the Lord. I imagine her on her knees or laying flat on her stomach praying with the world tuned out to the effect that Eli thinks she is drunk. While by no means is that the only way to pray, but I want my prayer life to resemble her passion for her prayer, her earnestness to speak with the Lord. Even Samuel nearing the end of chapter 12 declares that it would be a sin not to pray for them. We need to remember to pray to the Lord in all things. To pray out of thankfulness, to worship Him and to lay our worries and fears at His feet.
Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and right way. Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:23-24 ESV
Passage:
1 Samuel 1-15
Discovered:
- Elkanah had 2 wives: Hannah and Peninnah, despite extra love shown to her, Hannah was barren. During the yearly trip to worship, Hannah went into the temple and prayed for a child, promising to give it back to the Lord. Eli mistook her for being drunk and admonished her until she explained. Eli told her that her petition would be granted.
- Hannah had a son, Samuel and gave him to Eli at the temple to serve God once weaned.
- Eli’s sons did not know the Lord, would not obey Eli. As a result the Lord would kill both sons on the same day-ending Eli’s house.
- In the middle of the night, God calls Samuel 3 times, but he mistakes it for Eli. Eli finally catches on that it is God and tells Samuel to answer here I am. God tells Samuel of his plans to fulfill the promise against Eli’s house.
- Israel knew Samuel was a prophet from the Lord.
- Israel went to battle against the Philistins, 4,000 Israelites were killed. So they brought the ark to the battlefield. However, Israel was defeated. Eli’s sons were killed and the ark captured.
- When Eli heard the news, he fell over, broke his neck and died. He had judged for 40 years.
- Philistines took the ark and put it in their temple for Dagon. Overnight, the statue of Dagon fell over before the ark. Second night, Dagon statue fell over again and broke, so they moved it to Ashdod. Ashdod people were afflicted with tumors so they sent it to Gath where it happened again. So the Philistines sent it back to the Israelites with 5 golden tumors and 5 golden mice.
- Samuel judge Israel at Mizpah. Philistines tried to attack Israel at Mizpah, but the Lord made a loud sound that confused the Israelites and they were defeated.
- When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges but they strayed from the Lord, taking bribes.
- Despite Samuel’s warning against kings, Israel demanded a king, God gave them one.
- God chose Saule, a handsome and tall man to be anointed king by Samuel.
- Ammonites attacked Jabesh-gilead and offered a deal: we will make a treaty with you if you allow us to gouge out the right eyes of everyone. Saul heard and summoned the people, 300,000 men. They struck down the Ammonites. Afterwards, the people accepted Saul as their king.
- Samuel steps down as judge and leader, but warns Israel having a king will only work if both the people and the king obey the Lord.
- Saul had an army of 3,00 men when the Philistines went to war against the. Israel was far outnumbered and outweaponed. When Samuel did not appear on time, Saul offered burnt and peace offerings disobeying Samuel. As a result, he would lose the ability to be king over Israel.
- Jonathan (Saul’s son) and arms bearer snuck over to the Philistine camp and attacked, confusing the Philistines, an earthquake added to their fear and the battle was won.
- Saul made an oath that no one could eat during the battle, Jonathan ate honey because he did not know. The people were so starved that they at meat with blood in it. When the Lord refused to answer Saul, he thought someone had sinned and they would die. Lots determined that Jonathan had eaten honey, but the people refused to harm him.
- During the battle with Amalek’s Samuel tells Saul to destroy everything, but Saul disobeys.
- Samuel left Saul after killing King Agag and grieved over Saul. Lord regretted choosing Saul to be king.
Help me to remember:
that prayer is powerful and it is a sin to stop praying to you in all things.
Lord, I ask that . . .
my prayer life is full, that I constantly am in communication with you through worship, giving thanks and laying my worries at your feet.
Heavenly Father, I am thankful for . . .
that we are made in Your image, that You too have a wide range of feelings over our actions.
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