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: Monday, April 08, 2024
Chapters: 1 Samuel Chapters 1-3
Message: God’s Answered Prayers
Hello My Friend,
My husband preached last night and made his official debut as an evangelist, even though he did not know it at the time. When God calls someone into His ministry He does not call them based on how much they know from His Word, nor by how much education they have, nor by how much money they have, He calls them based on one; Their salvation, and two; Their faithfulness to learn from Him, [2 Timothy 2:15-16 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.]
The Book of 1 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, [1 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.]
1 Samuel, begins with a man named Elkanah, from the town of Ramathaimzophim, [Raw-maw-thah’-yim tso-feem‘], also known as Ramah, it was literally on top of two hills on which watchtowers were built. The two high places of the watchman kept continual guard for the safety of the country. Every year Elkanah would come into Shiloh and bring offerings to God to observe the three annual feasts to the LORD and would bring his family.
[1 Samuel 1:1-6 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.]
[And her adversary also provoked her sore,] Her adversary was Peninnah, there was clearly a lot of envy and jealousy between the two women, one being that Elkanah loved Hannah over her, the other being that Hanaah was unable to have children. So, after dinner, Hannah, stood in front of the temple to pray.
[1 Samuel 1:9-14 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. 10 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. 12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. 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.]
[And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD,] It is no doubt that this was something that Hannah prayed for continuously, the longer she had no answer the harder it was to keep asking yet she still had some hope. When the things we long for are delayed or not given all together we tend to become bitter in our soul, especially when our adversaries are so inclined to keep reminding us of that. From experience I learned that the best thing to do is to just pray about it and give it all over to God. That is basically what Hannah was doing here as she answers Eli.
[1 Samuel 1:15-19 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. 16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. 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. 19 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.]
[So the woman went her way…and her countenance was no more sad.] There is actually something quite comforting on the spirit whenever we realize that God has not only heard our prayers, but will grant them. However He may grant them, the important thing to remember is that He has our best interest in mind, [Mark 11:23-24 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.]
[and the LORD remembered her.] God, remembers our prayers, He takes into consideration everything that we ask Him for. It also does not hurt to let Him know that we are serious about our vow by following through with it. Just as Hannah vowed to give her first born son to God, she followed through and brought him to Eli.
[1 Samuel 1:20-22,25-28 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. 21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. 22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever. 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;] Everything that we posses, all the way down to our salvation, is a gift from God, and we would all be wise to make sure that we understand that it is all on loan from God, even our own lives here. We cannot take anything to the grave with us, except our salvation, so, we might as well give it all to Him and let me tell you, He will bless us with so much more. Hannah’s spirit was changed from that day forward, and God not only blessed her with Samuel, he gave her five more children. Hannah said another prayer, this time praising God for all he had done.
[1 Samuel 2:1-5,9 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 5 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 hath many children is waxed feeble. 9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.]
[the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.] Did you notice that her prayer was a little personal? We need to get personal with God as that is what gets His attention the most and it is actually okay to point out what our adversaries where they will be if they will not repent. Trust me, it is perfectly acceptable to God for us to remind Satan where he is going, [Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.]
[He will keep the feet of his saints,] We are saved when we humble ourselves to God, trusting in Him as our Rock, our salvation, and our victory over darkness, which is hell. I do not care what age you come from, every true believer knows that the LORD keeps the feet of His saints, [Romans 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.]
Did you see that? According to the will of God, this is what determines whether or not God grants our desires, but we also need to be accepting of whatever answer He gives us. I always wondered what Eli thought when he was handed Samuel as young boy, after all, he would be responsible for his wellbeing. Nevertheless, he did not question God or complain, he actually worshiped God and took Samuel in as one of his own sons. Now, Eli had two sons of his own, but they were not useful to God at all, in fact, they were as wicked as could be.
[1 Samuel 2:12-16 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.]
[Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial;] A son or daughter of Belial, also known as a child of the devil, is not one who was born of a woman literally conceived by the devil, Satan cannot create, he only destroys, they are someone who is reprobate. They are called sons of the Beliah 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 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.]
[all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took…Also before they burnt the fat,] This was their sin, they were taking the sacrifices that were set apart for God for themselves, eating the fat, committing fornication, forcing people to bring their offering to them, and influencing the other priests. However, while all this was going on God was preparing Samuel to take over.
[1 Samuel 2:18-21,26 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. 19 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. 20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home. 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. 26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.]
[and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.] Does this sound familiar? [Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.] Do you notice the difference? While Samuel turned out to be Christlike in that he was the only man to be a priest, prophet, and judge of Israel, Jesus, Himself not only is God in the flesh, He is also our high priest and prophet, and one day He will be KING, [1 Timothy 6:13-15 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;]
Eli’s sons were committing all these heinous acts 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.
[1 Samuel 2:27-29,31,34 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? 28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? 29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? 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.]
[Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering,] This was another one of those phrases that sounds familiar, [Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.] Anytime one makes a mockery out of the Law, whether it be for their own advantage or ignorantly as is in the case with Saul they are insulting God and He takes it personal. Yet He even gives them an opportunity to repent of their wrongdoing. Eli, knew that what his sons were doing was wrong yet he allowed it because he was reaping the benefits of it and therefore he was the one that God held accountable for his sons sins, [James 4:16-17 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.]
Since Eli’s Sons were wicked and evil, God was going to use Hannah’s loan to Him in giving her son to His advantage. Samuel, was now adopted into the family of Levites, and it was time that he knew who He was. At this point, Samuel was about twelve years old, while he laid down, God called him, only he thought it was Eli.
[1 Samuel 3:1-7 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. 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.]
[neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.] 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. When we are ready to fully accept His Word that is when He will reveal Himself to us, [Luke 10:22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.]
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. Since Samuel was not use to anyone else calling him and the voice was so clear, he automatically assumed it was Eli. Well, God did this two more times before Eli figured out that it was God speaking to him.
[1 Samuel 3:9-13 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.]
[when I begin, I will also make an end.] Wow, God, speaks to Samuel for the first time and what does He tell him? That Eli’s sons are going to die because he had not restrained them. While we are responsible for our own sin, those who condone the sin will face consequences as well, [1 Corinthians 5:4-7 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:]
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, and that He was serious. The very next morning Eli was curious to know what God had said to Samuel.
[1 Samuel 3:15-19,21 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. 16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. 17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. 18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good. 19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.]
[for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.] All we can say to God when He gives us these warnings as well as the blessings, “Thy will be done.” Jesus said the same thing before His passion, He even asked His Father if He would remove the cup of His death that was to come, with the follow up of, “Thy will be done.” [Mark 14:36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [1 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 there are times that I have hindered You 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 whenever I am tempted by the devil, remind him that I am Your child. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/ready-to-follow-jesus/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Read The Bible: http://kingjamesbible.imfollowingjesus.com/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2024 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.