I'm Following Jesus – Page 1110 – Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Thursday, April 08, 2021
Chapters: I Samuel 1-3
Message: God’s Compassion

Hello My Friend,

[Empathy; The capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference. In other words, to place oneself in their shoes in order to understand their pain.] At my job we get evaluated by how we speak to the customer, we must always practice empathy, specially if they are irate. The longer this pandemic lingers on and the more oppressed the people get the more irate they become. As much as we would like to be irate back, they really do not need that, they need to know that we care enough to listen to them and do what we can to comfort them, even when they are fussing and screaming at us, [Matthew 5:43-45 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.]

The Book of I Samuel contains thirty-one chapters, the author is Samuel. The book records the history of three people, Samuel, the last judge of Israel, Saul, the first king, and David, who replaces Saul as king. The timeline for these events took place approximately 1171 BC to 1056 BC. The purpose of the book was to continue to record how God dealt with Israel. What we are to learn from the book is the that being obedient to God is better than sacrifice, [I Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.]

I Samuel begins with a woman named Hannah, she was married to a Levite, one of the Kohathites, named Elkanah, who was also married to another woman, as you can imagine, they did not get along very well. Hannah was not able to have any children and that made matters worse as his other wife could. Every year Hannah went with her husband to the Tabernacle to bring an offering to God, she longed for a child greatly.

[I Samuel 1:1-8 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: 2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. 4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: 5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. 6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. 7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. 8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?]

[am not I better to thee than ten sons?] When we are hurting the last thing we want to hear is all the blessings we have, we want to cry and wallow in our sorrows. And it certainly does not help when they try to encourage is and do not seem to really be concerned. What may seem like nothing to us is very important to them, which is why we are to be empathetic and have compassion on them, [I Peter 3:8-9 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.]

[Bitter; Afflicted; distressed; painful to the mind; mournful.] Did you ever feel so bad that nothing or no one could comfort you? I imagine that Hannah stood in front of the Tabernacle every year praying for a child, but this time it was a little different, with a bitter soul, meaning that deep in her soul she was afflicted, distressed, mournful when she cried out to God. Someone was watching her and she stood in the street praying out to God, the high priest, Eli. As he sat there watching her all he saw was this woman talking to herself.

[I Samuel 1:10–11,13-15,17-18 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. 13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. 18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.]

[and her countenance was no more sad.] Sometimes a good cry and pouring out of our entire heart to God is all that we need to feel better. In fact, our greatest hope comes from our deepest sorrows when we cry out to God with every emotion and our every being. This is not our average prayer, this is coming to God with all our heart, afflicting our body, mind, spirit and coming to God with fasting along with prayer, [Matthew 6:16-18 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.]

God did answer Hannah’s prayer, she had a boy and named him Samuel, which means, heard or asked of God. Hannah waited until Samuel was weaned before she went up to Shiloh, so, he was about two years old. With her, she also brought the required sacrifices offered up to God after giving birth, and then some.

[I Samuel 1:19-20,24-28 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. 20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young. 25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.]

[Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD;] Is anything that we possess really ours? Even if we purchased them or they were given to us, it all belongs to God, therefore, they are all lent to us from God. We, whom have accepted Christ as our Saviour are lent here from God, and He can take us home at any time. Therefore, we really are to make each day count, to follow through with our vows, and to not let things or people get to us. We may not like the people we encounter or have the displeasure of knowing them, but we are not here to please them, we are here to please God, and He will give us the grace to suffice any thorn in our side, [II Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.]

A son or daughter of Belial is not someone who literally was conceived by the devil, Satan cannot create, he only destroys, they are someone who has turned their heart away from God. They are called sons of the devil because they are just like the devil, fully knowing God yet rebelling against Him. One can grow up in a godly household and still be a child of the devil, even Jesus said that those who do not believe in Him are children of the devil, [John 8:42-44]. Eli had two sons, but they were no ministers of God, they were wicked as could be, in fact, called sons of the devil.

[I Samuel 2:12-17 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. 13 And the priests’ 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; 14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. 15 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 thee, but raw. 16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. 17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.]

[Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD:] What was their sin? They were taking the sacrifices that were set apart for God, committing fornication, forcing people to bring their offering, and influencing the other priests to do the same. And all this done in the Tabernacle, in the presence of God, and no matter what Eli said to them, they still refused to repent. Of course, God was not pleased and warned Eli of the judgment He was placing on them.

[I Samuel 2:22-23,25,30-31,34-35 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them. 30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. 34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. 35 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 I will raise me up a faithful priest,] God did raise Himself up a faithful priest, who did according to His heart and mind, He is a sure house, and walks before His anointed forever, that man is Jesus Christ Himself, [II Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.]

Those who reject Christ do not have God’s Spirit in them, therefore, you can serve Him in a church all you want, God will not recognize you as one of His. It is only when we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour that we are born again, receive His Spirit, and are able to minister to Him in His church. Samuel had been ministering to Eli, meaning serving him in the duties of the Tabernacle, but he had not been taught the Word of God nor had he known God yet, all that was about to change when God spoke to him for the first time.

[I Samuel 3:1-6 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. 6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.]

[That the LORD called Samuel:] God nudges us well before we hear His Word for the fact that He is preparing us to accept it when we do hear it. I always love reading this part, every time he heard God’s voice he ran to Eli, only for him to tell him to go back to bed. Now, after the third time Eli realized that it was God calling him.

[I Samuel 3:7-13 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. 11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.]

[at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.] Why do you think that God chose this to be the first thing to say to Samuel? I believe it was so that Eli knew that God really was speaking to Samuel. Did you ever read something in the Bible and think about a subject only to hear the same message by several people? This is the same thing, God wants to show us that His Word is true, and while we all have a different story to tell of how we got saved, we all got saved the same way, by hearing the Gospel, through the Word of God. God has so much compassion on the lost, He will practically do anything He can to encourage them to come to His Son, but if they are not willing, then it is all on them, they will be accountable for rejecting Him. [Jeremiah 12:15-17 And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. 16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people. 17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.]

Jesus Christ Magnified: [I Samuel 2:35 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.]

Today’s Prayer: God, It is truly amazing that all I have to do to reach You is call out to You. I know what the power of prayer can do, not only did it save me when I received Your Son as my Saviour, it reveals so much when I talk to You believing by faith. Forgive me for not always praying from my heart, and for my doubting prayers, I know I have hindered prayers because I never really expected You to give me what I had been asking for. Lord, Here I am, reveal to me the things You have waiting for me as I study Your Word and draw near to Jesus. Lead me and guide me, let me not let one opportunity pass of telling someone the Gospel, and let all I do give glory to You. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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