I Samuel 2

Hannah’s prayer of praiseverses 1-10

And Hannah prayed and said                             

My heart rejoices in the LORD – mine horn is exalted in the LORD

            my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies

                        because I rejoice in YOUR salvation

There is none holy as the LORD – for there is none beside YOU

            neither is there any ROCK like our God

Talk no more so exceedingly proudly

            let not arrogancy come out of your mouth

                        for the LORD is a God of knowledge

                                    and by HIM actions are weighed

The bows of the mighty men are broken

            and they that stumbled are girded with strength

They that were full have hired out themselves for bread

            and they that were hungry ceased

                        so that the barren hath born seven

and she that has many children is waxed feeble

The LORD kills – and makes alive – HE brings down to the grave

and brings up

The LORD makes poor – and makes rich – HE brings low

and lifts up

HE raises up the poor out of the dust – and lifts up the beggar

from the dunghill – to set them among princes

                        and to make them inherit the throne of glory

                                    for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S

                                                and HE has set the world upon them

HE will keep the feet of HIS saints

            and the wicked shall be silent in darkness

                        for by strength shall no man prevail

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces

            out of heaven shall HE thunder upon them

                        the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth

                                    and HE shall give strength to HIS king

                                                and exalt the horn of HIS anointed

Samuel begins service to Eliverse 11

And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house

and the child did minister unto the LORD

before Eli the priest

Sons of Eli evil in the eyes of the LORDverses 12-17

NOW the sons of Eli were sons of Belial

they knew not the LORD

And the priest’s 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

And he stuck it into the pan – or kettle – or caldron – or pot

all that the flesh hook brought up the priest took for himself

So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites that came thither

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 you – but raw

And if any man said to him

Let them not fail to burn the fat presently

and then take as much as thy soul desires – Nay

but you shall give it me now – and if not

I will take it by force

Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD

for men abhorred the offering of the LORD

Hannah blessed with five more childrenverses 18-21

But Samuel ministered before the LORD– being a child

girded with the linen ephod

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

And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife

and said

The LORD give you seed of this woman for the loan which is

lent to the LORD

And they went to their own home

            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 warns his sons concerning their sinverses 22-25

Now Eli was very old – and heard all that his sons did to all Israel

and how they lay with the women that assembled at the

door of the tabernacle of the congregation

And he

said to them

Why do you such things?

            for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people

Nay my sons – for it is no good report that I hear

            you make the LORD’S people to transgress

IF one man sin against another – the judge shall judge him

            BUT IF a man sin against the LORD

                        who shall entreat for HIM?

Notwithstanding they hearkened not to the voice of their father

            BECAUSE the LORD would slay them

Samuel grew in favor with people and LORDverse 26

And the child Samuel grew on

and was in FAVOR both with the LORD

                        and also with men

Man of God gives history of priesthoodverses 27-29

And there came a man of God to Eli

and said unto him

Thus says the LORD

            Did I plainly appear to the house of your father

      when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?

Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest

to offer on MINE altar – to burn incense

to wear an ephod before ME?

            Did I give to the house of your father all the offerings

                        made by fire of the children of Israel?

            Wherefore kick you at MY sacrifices and at MINE offering

which I have commanded in MY habitation

            And honor your sons above ME

                        to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the

offerings of Israel MY people?

Man of God tells of death of Eli’s two sonsverses 30-34

           Wherefore the LORD God of Israel

              says

I said indeed that your house – and the house of your father

            should walk before ME for ever

BUT NOW the LORD

says

Be it far from ME – for them that honor ME I will honor

            and they that despise ME shall be lightly esteemed

BEHOLD – the days come – that I will cut off your arm

            and the arm of your father’s house

                        that there shall not be an old man in your house

And you shall see an enemy in MY habitation

in all the wealth which God shall give Israel

And there shall not be an old man in your house for ever

            and the man of your

                        whom I shall not cut off from MINE altar

                                    shall be to consume your eyes

                                                and to grieve your heart

            and all the increase of your house shall die in the

                        flower of their age

            and this shall be a sign to you

                        that shall come upon your two sons

                                    on Hophni and Phinehhas

                                                in one day they shall die

both of them

Man of God prophecies of faithful manverses 35-36

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

And it shall come to pass

            that every one that is left in your house shall come

and crouch to him

for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread

and shall say

                        Put me – I pray you – into the priests’ offices

                                    that I may eat a piece of bread

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 1        And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoices in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD, my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in YOUR salvation. (5970 “rejoices” [‘alats] means to feel extreme happiness or elation, exult, to be joyful, triumph, be jubilant, or be in a state of joy)

DEVOTION:  Hannah had been made fun of by the other wife of her husband because she didn’t have any children. This caused Hannah to be very discouraged with life. She would not eat and drink at times because of it. She even went to the Tabernacle to pray and was accused of being drunk by Eli the priest. It was a very discouraging time period in her life.

Now she had not only one child but ended with have five more children after Samuel. The LORD blessed her with children. Remember that children were always considered a blessing from the LORD in her day.

Here we have Hannah praying and singing at the same time. This is a different woman. She had something to sing about rather than cry. She gave all the glory to the LORD for her blessings.

The LORD had answered her prayer. So she was singing to HIM to bring not only praise to HIS name but glory to HIS provision of children. She raised her children to honor the LORD.

We need to be singing to the LORD for the blessings of our children if they are honoring the LORD. Choirs have rejected my singing but the LORD has never rejected my songs of praise even when they are joyful noise.

Are you singing praises to the LORD because of your children? Are we encouraging our children no matter what age they are in their relationship to the LORD? Are they part of our nightly prayers? As long as our children are alive and we are alive we need to be encouraging to them. Hannah brought a yearly coat to her son.

She gave all the glory to the LORD for rescuing her from her enemies. The other wife was just being used of the devil to discourage her. He didn’t win!!! God did!!!

CHALLENGE: We need to do the same when others try to discourage us. Look to the LORD for our encouragement.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 12      Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they know not the Lord. (1100 “Belial” [beliya’al] means without profit, worthlessness, destruction, wickedness, evil, naughty, or ungodly men)

DEVOTION:  In the Old Testament people are called the “sons of Belial” because they represent individuals that are not following the LORD. In fact, they are against the LORD. These people are people who cause the name of the LORD to be blasphemed.

These individuals come from a heritage that included the God of the Bible but they chose to ignore HIM. There are people who are brought up in Israelite homes that chose to ignore the God of the Bible.

The individuals involved in this passage were sons of the high priest at Shiloh. They were laying with women who came to the Tabernacle to worship. They were stealing the sacrifices offered to the LORD. They were not honoring their father when he tried to discipline them.

It took a man of God to come and confront Eli concerning his sons. This man told him that the LORD was going to take the life of his two sons in one day. Then the LORD was going to set up a faithful priest to serve HIM. That faithful priest was Samuel. Samuel was going to have a heart and a mind that honored the LORD.

Samuel had moved into the priest’s home and was serving the LORD well. He grew in favor with both God and man.

There are many people today in the pulpits of our land who do not know the LORD. They say they do but their lives and preaching gives them away. They are preaching false doctrine and living only for the wealth they can accumulate from those who love the LORD.

We need to follow those who love the LORD. We need to follow those who honor the LORD by their preaching. The church does not need preachers who only present the milk of the Word of God but the meat. There needs to be the preaching of the whole counsel of the LORD. Not feel good sermons.

Eli needed to discipline his sons. We need to discipline those who are not living for the LORD in our churches. We need to discipline all those who are living in sin in the LORD’S church. Parents need to discipline their children before they get to the point of not knowing the LORD. Parents need to show good examples to their children of what it means to serve the LORD.

Look at the example you are setting for your children of what a believer looks like. What do they see? Do they see someone who really wants to honor the LORD every day or do they see parents that just put on a show in front of people?

CHALLENGE: The sons of Eli didn’t care what their father said. Do our children care what we say???? Are our children going to be like Samuel or like Eli’s sons??

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: 18      But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. (8334 “ministered” [sharath] means serve, to wait upon, be attentive to, be in service of God, attend, or to contribute to)

DEVOTION:  The contrast between the sons of Eli and Samuel was great. The description of Eli’s sons made it plain that they were not serving the LORD only themselves. Samuel on the other hand was serving the LORD. He was wearing the priests ephod as a young man in the service of the LORD. He was there to take the place of the sons of Eli because the LORD was going to deal with them in the near future. They were evil men who used their office to take advantage of the people.

He was a young man who knew the difference between right and wrong. His mother came each year and brought him new clothes that would fit for a year. His parents were blessed by Eli who knew what his sons were doing and said something to them but never really disciplined them. The LORD had to do it.

Children need guidance. Hannah was doing the guidance from a distance. Samuel understood the difference between how Eli raised his children and how the LORD wanted children raised.

We have to understand the difference as well. We need to say the task of making sure we hit a balance in the raising of our children. Samuel had the freedom from year to year to gain maturity in the office of priest. His mother was a prayer warrior for him. Eli knew what he should be teaching but didn’t do it. The LORD overcame the obstacles that Samuel faced as a young man and gave him maturity that could only come from the moving of the Holy Spirit in his life.

CHALLENGE: Our children are given to us for a short time and they need good guidance. If our hearts are right with the LORD, we can give this type of guidance which will cause our children to become mature believers at a young age.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 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. (6485 “visited” [paqad] means inspect, look at, see, to go to see a person for a brief but unspecified amount of time, hunt up, or to make a careful inspection)

DEVOTION: Hannah prayed for a son. The LORD gave her a son and other children. HE honored her prayers and her heart’s desire to serve HIM. She gave her first child, Samuel, to the LORD. She was not guaranteed other children. She was just glad she had one to cause the other wife to stop picking on her.

Now the LORD blessed her with more children to raise to honor HIM. Hannah appreciated her children. She honored the LORD.

We need to honor the LORD with our children. It is not the same as Hannah but our children are a gift from God to be raised to honor HIM. If we are not raising them to honor the LORD, they will not usually do it themselves.

Our goal should be to educate our children in the Word of God with a regular devotional to help them understand the Bible. We should pray with them over major and minor decisions in the home to show them that you are trusting the LORD with all the details of your lives.

God honors prayer. God honors those who genuinely want to please HIM as Hannah did. She is a good example to all women who want to honor the LORD with their families.

CHALLENGE: Honoring the LORD through our children is a great gift we can give to the LORD.

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: 24      Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: you make the LORD’S people to transgress. (5674 “to transgress” [‘abar] means to pull along, to go on one’s way, to cause a particular sound to be heard, to violate, be intoxicated, or to cause to pass by or beyond or under)

DEVOTION:  Everything seems to rise and fall with leadership. Eli was the High Priest at the time and his sons were to be in training to follow in his footsteps. Apparently, they didn’t allow their father to instruct them or their father was not a good disciplinarian. They were going in the wrong direction, and the LORD was going to remove them in the near future for their unrepentant sins.

What was the problem? They were causing the people to sin against the LORD. They were having individuals coming to worship and they were taking advantage of the women. It set a wrong standard for the rest of the people. They saw what they were doing and practiced the same type of religion. It wasn’t the worship the LORD wanted to be taught. It was against HIS teaching.

Eli was receiving a report that he couldn’t ignore but when he confronted his sons they didn’t care. This happens even today when fathers confront their children who are doing wrong after they are adults.

When our children are adults, we have lost the battle except we can still turn to the LORD in prayer and they can be changed by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Once they are adults, we have lost the privilege of redoing their training. It is all in the LORD’S hands.

CHALLENGE:  Our prayers need to be that the LORD can change them before HE has to judge them for their lack of faithfulness to HIM.

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving and praiseverses 1-10

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

Samuel ministered to the LORDverse 11

Eli the priestverse 11

Sacrificesverses 13, 19

Tabernacle of the congregationverse 22

Priest chosen out of tribes of Israelverse 28

            Offer upon LORD’S altar

            Burn incense

            Wear an ephod

            Eat offerings made with fire

Offerings of Israelverse 29

Altarverse 33

Faithful priestverses 35, 36

            Do according to heart of LORD

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 1-3, 6-8, 10-12, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24-27, 30

Holyverse 2

Rockverse 2

God – Elohim (Creator) verses 2, 3, 27, 30, 32

LORD is a God of knowledgeverse 3

LORD kills and makes aliveverse 6

HE brings down to grave and brings upverse 6

LORD makes poor and make richverse 7

LORD brings low and lifts upverse 7

LORD raises up the poor out of the dustverse 8

Creatorverse 8

Judgeverse 10

Gives strength to kingverse 10

Offering of the LORDverse 17

LORD’s peopleverse 24

LORD will slay verse 25

LORD God of Israelverse 30

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Mighty menverse 4

House of Pharaoh in Egyptverse 27

Enemyverses 1, 32

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Enemiesverse 1

Proud talkverse 3

Arroganceverse 3

Wickedverse 9

Adversaries of the LORDverse 10

Sons of Belial (false god)verse 12

Knew not the LORDverse 12

Priest’s sons took sacrifices rawverse 15

Sinverses 17, 25

Abhorred the offering of the LORDverse 17

Lay with women at tabernacleverse 22

Evilverse 23

Transgressverse 24

Hearken not to fatherverse 25

Honor children over Godverse 29

Kick against the LORDverse 29

Despise the LORDverse 30

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Prayerverse 1

Rejoicingverse 1

Salvationverse 1

Actions are weightedverse 3

Saintsverse 9

Strengthverse 10

Ministerverses 11, 18

Judgeverse 25

Grow in favor with the LORD and menverse 26

Honor the LORDverse 30

Faithfulverse 35

Walk before the LORDverse 35

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Hannahverses 1-10

Elkanahverse 11

Samuelverses 11, 18, 20, 21, 26

Minister to the LORD

Girded with a linen ephod

Mother a little coat each year for him

Lent to the LORD

Grew before the LORD

Grew in favor both with LORD and men

Eliverses 11, 20, 22-24, 27-32

Blessed Elkanah and his wife

Very old

Confronted sons for sin

Man of God came to him

Honored sons over LORD

Made himself fat

LORD going to end line of Eli

Sons of Eli: Hophni and Phinehasverses 12, 22

Sons of Belial

Knew not the LORD

Lay with women at door of tabernacle

Going to be judged of LORD: death

Shiloh – where they worshipedverse 14

Israelitesverses 14, 22

Elkanahverse 20

Hannahverses 20, 21

LORD visited her

She had three sons and two

Daughters

Man of Godverse 27

Tribes of Israelverse 28

Israelverse 32

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

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QUOTES regarding passage 

2:18 Samuel’s service before the Lord is rhetorically underlined through the repetition of the phrase “was ministering” (Hb. hāyâ mĕšārēt) in vv. 11, 18. The verbal construction suggests an ongoing activity, something ingrained in Samuel’s lifestyle. The placement of this phrase in v. 18 is doubly emphatic because of its juxtaposition with the description of Hophni and Phinehas.

In his service at Shiloh, Samuel wore the ephod, a sleeveless, hip-length garment that only members of the Levitical tribe were authorized to wear. The clear implication is that Samuel was a member of this tribe (cf. 1 Chr 6:22–28). Samuel’s youthful opportunity to wear garments of privilege and position are reminiscent of both Joseph (Gen 37:3) and David (1 Sam 17:38–39). (Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 79). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

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18–26 Even as a young apprentice priest under Eli’s supervision, Samuel wore the linen ephod characteristic of that ministry. Anthony Phillips, primarily on the basis of 2 Samuel 6:14, attempted to prove that Samuel’s ephod “is not to be understood as a special priestly garment but a brief loincloth suitable for young children” (“David’s Linen Ephod,” VetTest 19, 4 [1969]: 487). But Phillips fails to explain why David (2 Sam 6:14) would wear a child’s garment, and he resorts to the LXX omission of “linen” in 1 Samuel 22:18 to confirm his belief that the eighty-five priests slaughtered by Doeg are not described there as “wearing” ephods but as “carrying” an “oracular instrument” (another meaning for ʾēp̱ôḏ). N.L. Tidwell (“The Linen Ephod: 1 Sam. II 18 and 2 Sam. VI 14,” VetTest 24, 4 [1974]: 505–7) rightly criticizes Phillips’s view in favor of the traditional interpretation: “Linen ephod” always refers to a priest’s garment, whether worn by a youth or by an adult. Indeed, the little “robe” that Samuel’s mother made for him annually as he was growing up (v.19) may well have been an example of the “robe of the ephod” mentioned in Exodus 28:31 (the Heb. word for “robe” is the same in both passages). Although David is not described as wearing such a robe in 2 Samuel 6:14, he is so depicted in the parallel text of 1 Chronicles 15:27.

The use of šʾl twice in v.20 (here translated “the one she prayed for,” “gave”) echoes its sevenfold use in chapter 1 (see Notes on 1:20) and reminds us of Hannah’s vow. By providing Hannah with additional children, the Lord continued to be gracious to her, as he had been to her ancestress Sarah centuries earlier (Gen 21:1). The narrator’s description of Samuel’s continued growth in the Lord’s presence (v.21), as well as in stature and in favor with God and men (v.26), is echoed in Luke’s portrayal of Jesus’ youth (Luke 2:40, 52). The narrator’s description also frames the account of further sinful activity by Eli’s sons (vv.22–25) and thus extends the contrast between them and Samuel.

The hapless Eli, whose advanced age is stressed in the text from this point on (v.22; 4:15, 18), was unable to restrain the sinful conduct of his sons. To their earlier callous treatment of their fellow Israelites (vv.13–16) they added sexual promiscuity—and with the women who served at the tabernacle (cf. Exod 38:8) at that. Such ritual prostitution (if indeed it was; Eslinger, Kingship of God, pp. 122–23, expresses doubts), though common among Israel’s Canaanite neighbors, was specifically forbidden to the people of God (Num 25:1–5; Deut 23:17; Amos 2:7–8). Eli’s rebuke, justified in the light of widespread and public reports of his sons’ evil deeds, fell on deaf ears. His theological arguments, weak at best, were to no avail, especially since God had already determined to put Hophni and Phinehas to death (v.25).

The most familiar and notable case of divine judicial hardening against defiant refusal to repent is that of the Pharaoh of the oppression (Exod 4:21–14:17); for a summary explanation, see Ronald F. Youngblood, Exodus (Chicago: Moody, 1983), pp. 45–46. Numerous sensitive discussions (cf. Matitiahu Tsevat, “The Death of the Sons of Eli,” Journal of Bible and Religion 32, 4 [1964]: 355–58; Eslinger, Kingship of God, pp. 126–27), while admirable, do not materially advance our understanding beyond the traditional view (cf. Delitzsch). What is eminently clear is that God’s decision to end the lives of Eli’s sons was irrevocable. Hannah had already expressed her willingness to leave such decisions within the sphere of divine sovereignty (v.6)—and so must we! (Youngblood, R. F. (1992). 1, 2 Samuel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, pp. 584–585). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House)

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2:18–21. As though to show the contrast between the ungodly and the godly about which Hannah had sung, the narration now contrasts the family of Samuel with that of Eli. Though Samuel’s mother had given Samuel to the Lord, she retained her maternal love and responsibility. She came yearly to Shiloh to attend to the needs of her son. Nor did the Lord forget Hannah. As is so often the case, He gave her not only what she had prayed for but much more—in her case three sons and two daughters (cf. the example of Rachel, Gen. 30:22–24; 35:16–18). (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 435). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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4. God judges sin. (1 Sam. 2:12–36)

Up to this point, the focus has been on Elkanah and his family (1:1–2:11), but now it will shift to Eli and his family (2:12–3:21). Throughout this section, you will see a deliberate contrast between Samuel and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas. Eli’s sons “abhorred the offering of the Lord” (2:17), but “Samuel ministered before the Lord” (v. 18). The two brothers committed evil deeds at the tabernacle and invited God’s judgment, but Samuel served at the tabernacle and grew in God’s favor (v. 26). The priestly line would end in Eli’s family, but Samuel would be called of God to carry on a holy priesthood (2:34–3:1). From the human viewpoint, it looked as though Eli’s evil sons were getting away with their disobedience, but God was preparing judgment for them while He was equipping His servant Samuel to continue His work.

God’s judgment deserved (1 Sam. 2:12–21). Since Eli was an old man with failing vision (4:15), he left the work of the tabernacle to his two sons, and they took advantage of their father by doing what they pleased. Hophni and Phinehas did not personally know the Lord but were “sons of Belial,” a Hebrew term that described worthless people who openly practiced lawlessness (Deut. 13:13; Judg. 19:22; 1 Sam. 25:25; Prov. 16:27). In 2 Corinthians 6:15, Paul uses Belial as a synonym for Satan. The law stated precisely what portions of the sacrifices belonged to the priests (Lev. 7:28–36; 10:12–15; Deut. 18:1–5), but the two brothers took the meat that they wanted and also took the fat parts that belonged to the Lord. They even took raw meat so they could roast it and not have to eat boiled meat. They “abhorred the offering of the Lord” (1 Sam. 2:17) and “trampled on” (scorned) the Lord’s sacrifices (v. 29).

Hophni and Phinehas not only showed disrespect for the sacrifices on the altar, but they also had no regard for the women who served at the door of the tabernacle (v. 22; Ex. 38:8). Instead of encouraging them in their spiritual walk, the two brothers seduced them. These women were not official servants appointed by the law but were volunteers who assisted the priests and Levites. Perhaps they helped care for the little children who came with the adult worshipers, or they may have been there just to be close to the presence of the Lord. Ministerial immorality is in the news today, and it’s a tragic thing, but it’s really nothing new.

In contrast to the wickedness of Eli’s sons is the faithfulness of Samuel (1 Sam. 2:18–21). He was somewhat of an apprentice priest, learning the work of the sanctuary, and even wore a linen robe with an ephod (vest) over it, just as the adult priests and Levites did. Each year when his parents came to Shiloh, his mother would bring a new set of garments for the growing lad. In Scripture, garments often speak of the spiritual life (Isa. 61:10; Zech. 3:1–5; Eph. 4:22–32; Col. 3:8–17; 1 Peter 5:5), and a change of clothing symbolizes a new beginning (Gen. 35:2; 41:14; 45:22; Ex. 19:10; Rev. 3:18). Each year’s new garments spoke not only of a boy growing physically but also spiritually (1 Sam. 2:21), and this reminds us of our Lord who “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52, nkjv).

God was about to bring judgment to the house of Eli, but the Lord blessed Elkanah and Hannah and their house, for He gave her five more children (1 Sam. 2:21; see Ps. 113:9). This was the gracious gift of God and an answer to the prayer of Eli (1 Sam. 2:20) who was pleased with Samuel and grateful for his ministry. Hannah gave one child to the Lord and the Lord gave back five! (Wiersbe, W. W. (2001). Be successful (pp. 23–24). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications)

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2:18 Now Samuel. The faithful ministry of Samuel before the Lord was in sharp contrast to the disobedience of Eli’s sons. linen ephod. A close fitting, sleeveless outer vest extending to the hips and worn by priests, especially when officiating before the altar (Ex 28:6–14).

2:19 little robe. A sleeveless garment reaching to the knees, worn under the ephod (Ex 28:31).

2:20 May the Lord give you children. Eli’s blessing was a reminder of Hannah’s faithfulness to her vow to the Lord. By providing Hannah with additional children, the Lord continued to be gracious to her.

2:22 lay with the women. Eli’s sons included in their vile behavior having sexual relationships with the women who served at the tabernacle (see Ex 38:8). Such religious prostitution was common among Israel’s Canaanite neighbors. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Sa 2:18–22). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

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2:18 The linen ephod was a sleeveless garment that was worn by priests, especially when officiating at the altar (2:28; 22:18; Ex. 28:6–14;). Occasionally it was worn by others engaged in religious ceremonies, such as David (2 Sam. 6:14), and here by Samuel.

2:19 The little robe made by Hannah is different from the ephod mentioned in v. 18. It was probably a long outer garment like those worn by people of rank or special status. The fact that Hannah made such a robe indicated her love for her son, whom she could visit only on rare occasions.

2:20 the loan that was given: The word loan here indicates a complete giving up of the child to God (1:28).

2:21 visited Hannah: God came to Hannah to grant her request, as He had to Sarah (Gen. 21:1). The Hebrew verb “visited” (paqad) speaks of God’s gracious condescension: He comes near to His people to meet their needs (Ruth 1:8). In other circumstances, God’s visit may be for the purpose of judgment (Hos. 1:4). (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (pp. 349–350). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers)

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18–21. By contrast, Samuel grew up into a thoroughly wholesome lad, unsullied by their influence. The references to him, sandwiched between descriptions of the scandalous behaviour of Eli’s sons, witness to the keeping power of the Lord, to whose service Samuel had been dedicated (cf. vv. 21, 26). Scripture takes seriously the commitment of children to his service, and Jesus was to warn against corrupting children by ungodly behaviour (Matt. 18:2–5, 10; 19:14). The example of Samuel showed up the perversity of his seniors simply by contrast.

A linen ephod was a distinctly priestly garment (1 Sam. 22:18), but what it looked like is not known. An elaborate form of ephod was reserved for the high priest (Exod. 28:6–14; 39:2–7). The robe which Hannah supplied for Samuel was the mĕʿîl, a cloak worn by the high priest over his ephod (Exod. 28:31), but also by others of importance (1 Sam. 15:27; 18:4; 24:4). The ordinary outer garment, called a śimlâ, was square and of blanket-like material, and was used as a covering at night (Exod. 22:25–27). Hannah’s loving concern made sure she provided a garment large enough to allow for a year’s growth in her son. Eli’s prayer of blessing on the couple was abundantly answered, so that, for the one child they gave to the Lord at the sanctuary, they received five others. As the old saying puts it, ‘The Lord is no man’s debtor’ (cf. Matt. 5:3–12). (Baldwin, J. G. (1988). 1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 8, p. 65). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

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 FROM MY READING: 

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

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Exodus 12

The Passover ends with the redemption of a promise.

INSIGHT

Exodus 12 is one of the most remarkable and important chapters in all of the Bible. In it we learn many things:

1. Only God can deliver us from sin.
2. Sin’s penalty is death.
3. God is willing to allow a substitute death, so that we don’t have to die.
4. Faith is the basis of our salvation. Our belief results in our obedience.
5. The Old Testament passover lamb is a foreshadowing of the New Testament Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ.
6. We are saved the same way the Israelites were saved: by faith in the substitutionary atonement of the Lamb which God provided.
7. Not to accept this avenue of escape is to suffer the wrath of God. (Quiet Walk)

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At local high school sporting events, Ted was the largest and loudest cheerleader in the stands. Before a degenerative condition took its toll on him, he stood six feet six inches tall and weighed 290 pounds. Ted’s crowd-stirring chants of “Blue!” (the school’s color) and candy-tossing at school events were legendary, earning him the name “Big Blue.”

But Ted’s reputation in his community wasn’t just for cheerleading. Neither was it for the alcohol addiction he experienced as a younger man. No, he will be remembered for his love for God and family, for his generosity and kindness. At a four-hour “home-going service” that celebrated his life, person after person came forward to testify about the vibrant Christlike ways of a man who’d been rescued from darkness by the power of Jesus through the gospel.

In Ephesians 5:8, Paul reminded believers that they “were once darkness” but quickly noted, “but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” Such is the call for every believer in Jesus. Children of light, like Ted, have much to offer those engulfed in this world’s darkness. “Fruitless deeds of darkness” are to be avoided (see vv. 3-4, 11). Those in our communities and throughout the world need the brilliant, distinctive witness of those upon whom Jesus has shined (v. 14). How distinctive? As different as light is from darkness.  By Arthur Jackson  (Our Daily Bread)

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A GLIMPSE INTO ETERNITY

And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. John 17:5
The Lord is looking at what is before Him, and this is His prayer. Having completed all the work, having done everything that the Father had appointed Him to do, He asks, as it were, “Has not the time now arrived when I can come back to You, exactly where I was before? I have done the work. Father, ‘glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.’” But the astonishing thing for us to remember at this point is that He goes back as God-Man! In eternity He was God the Son, pure deity, and He shared the glory; but now He goes back as God-Man. And as God-Man, and our representative, the glory that He momentarily laid aside at the request of the Father is restored to Him, and thus as God-Man and Mediator He again shares this ineffable glory of the eternal God.
And so this prayer was answered. It began to be answered at the resurrection, the event that finally convinced even the disciples that He was the Son of God. They did not quite understand it before, but, as Paul puts it in writing to the Romans, our Lord was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). Who is this who has conquered death and the grave? He must be, He is the Son of God. Consider the appearances after the resurrection. You find the disciples in Jerusalem behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jews, and suddenly He came in without the door being opened. “You see who I am,” he says in effect. “I have flesh and bones, and I can eat.” See the glorious person of this risen Lord.
A Thought to Ponder: In eternity He was God the Son, but now He goes back as God-Man.  (From Saved in Eternity, pp. 77-78, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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