Read 1
Samuel 1-3 & Luke
12:1-34
To discover:
As you read note what we learn about Samuel and his family.
To ponder:
Like Boaz and Ruth, Samuel’s
parents are not just loving (1v4-8), but righteous, travelling to the place of
God’s presence every year with a gift (Deut 16v16-17). Nevertheless, Elkanah’s
second wife Peninnah would “provoke” and “irritate” Hannah because “the LORD
had closed her womb,” causing Hannah to weep before the LORD, unable to eat. Hannah
therefore represents the righteous person who suffers whilst the wicked prosper
- an encouragement to all who have done so since.
On one visit, Hannah wept and prayed in
“bitterness of soul” for a child at the tabernacle, vowing that any son the
LORD gave would be given to his service for life, not shaving like the
Nazarite. One wonders whether another judge like Samson is on his way. Hannah’s
manner encourages us to fervent prayer (1v14). However Eli assumes she is
drunk. But after Hannah explains and stresses her “anguish and grief,” he
blesses her, and “no longer” being “downcast” we see she must have believed God
would then grant her prayer.
The phrase “the
LORD remembered her” is that used when he comes to deliver his people (Deut
9v27). The name “Samuel” emphasises the answered prayer. So Hannah’s cries to
God are a model of what the nation should be doing in affliction. And Hannah’s subsequent
praise reflects this. After weaning Samuel, she fulfils her vow by giving him
to God’s service, to live and worship at the tabernacle. Her righteousness is
seen in giving a greater sacrifice than required (Lev 12v6). She then rejoices
in God’s deliverance over her enemies, in how he feeds the hungry, exalts the
poor and needy, “guards the feet of his saints” and shatters “those who oppose
him.” She even looks to the special king Israel
were already awaiting (Gen 49v8-12. Num 24v17-19, Deut 17v14-20). Hannah
therefore encourages us all in our sufferings, to rejoice in the coming of
Christ who will deliver us from all hardship and injustice when he raises us
from the dead.
We
read then how God graciously blessed Hannah with more children, and Samuel
“grew up in the presence of the LORD,” wearing an ephod like the priest and
growing “in stature and in favour with the LORD and with men.” He is destined
to be far fitter a leader than Samson. But contrast Eli’s sons. They had “no
regard for the LORD,” taking the fat from offerings that belonged to the LORD
for themselves, sleeping with women serving at the tabernacle, and ignoring
their father’s rebuke - for the LORD intended “to put them to death.”
And
so a “man of God” (ie. prophet) declares that Eli’s descendents would die in
the “prime of life” and his sons die on the same day. Moreover, he prophesies a
“faithful priest” who will “minister before my anointed one (ie. Messiah) always,”
and who Eli’s descendents will come to for provision. This was fulfilled in
Zadok ministering before David, but ultimately in the church as the priesthood
of all believers serving Christ.
The
second prophet and witness against Eli and sons is Samuel himself. Asleep in
the room adjacent to that containing the ark, God “stands” and calls to him.
This is a “vision” in which Samuel seems to see God’s form. God reiterates that
he will punish Eli’s family because he “failed to restrain” his sons. Samuel
eventually tells Eli who submits to God’s will. However, the point is that
Samuel is then recognized as a prophet to whom God “appeared” continually,
“revealed his word” and let none of his words “fall to the ground” and so fail.
After Israel’s
so fallible leaders, God is therefore raising up an exemplary judge like Moses,
who will fulfil the role of both priest and prophet. And in this, he is a
pattern of Christ. Indeed, Mary’s payer is patterned on Hannah’s, and Jesus’
growth described like Samuel’s (Lk 1v46-55, 2v52).
Praying it home:
Praise God for his readiness to
hear our prayers. Pray that you and others would not despair in suffering, but
bring it to God in prayer and rejoice in the deliverance that is the believer’s
in Christ.
Thinking further:
Congratulations on completing 100
days! Keep going. To read the NIV introduction to 1 Samuel click
here.
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