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, 2019
Chapters: I Samuel 1-3
Message: Why Has Thou Forsaken Me?
Hello My Friend,
“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”, this is what Jesus utters when He is on the cross, as soon as I read this I knew right away what it meant without looking up the meaning, and it came to me that we all utter those words a time or two in our lifetime. “O God! O God! Why hast thou forsaken me?” Sometimes it does feel like God has forsaken us, but during that time He really is closer to us than ever. “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” – Job 23:8-10.
“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there;” New Christians take a great leap of faith to go forward in their faith in Christ, and have such a zeal for serving Him. As we grow in our faith the challenges actually get a little harder as we not only have the devil on our backs, we have God making sure we stay faithful to Him. And let me tell you, the challenges are what keep us faithful because we would surely lose our dependence on God if everything was easy all the time. One of my favorite testimonies in the Old Testament is Samuel, I love it when I get to these books as they remind me that God never really forsakes His people. 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. And it all starts with a woman who desperately wanted a child.
“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: 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. 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. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 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. 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. 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.” – I Samuel 1:1-2,9-11,19-20.
“And she was in bitterness of soul,” Bitterness; Painful affliction; vexation; deep distress of mind. Perhaps Hannah prayed for a child daily, and every year at the tabernacle, gave her offerings praying all the same, and yet, year after year it seemed as though God had forsaken her, her heart full of pain, she prays, God remembered the pain she felt, and granted her a child. Sometimes we need bitterness in our soul to speak to God for it is that deep distress in our mind that brings out what is really in our heart. The majority of the time we pray out of habit, when we truly give our heart to God it is reflected in our prayer, and the thing that touched God most was that she vowed to dedicate him to serve God. After Hannah had Samuel she prayed, giving God the glory.
“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. There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 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. 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. 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 unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.” – I Samuel 2:1-3,5-6,9-10.
“let not arrogancy come out of your mouth:” Hannah was speaking about Peninnah here as she was certainly proud and arrogant about having children when Hannah had none, but we all need to be careful not to become proud and arrogant in the blessings of God. It can be easy to boast of all the things gotten that one becomes proud and arrogant when their heart is not on God. God has no problem giving us the things we desire, He does have a problem with becoming proud and arrogant in receiving them. “Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” – Psalm 10:1-4.
“For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire,” There are many who proclaim the name of God, and even Jesus, and let me tell you, they are not Christians, in fact, of the devil himself. You see, being born into a Christian home or attending a church does not mean that one is a saved, born again Christian, there are many evil and rotten wolves in sheep’s clothing lurking about, and their actions call them out. Eli had two sons, but they were no ministers of God, they were wicked as could be, in fact, called sons of the devil.
“Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. 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. And he said unto them, Why do ye 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: ye 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 intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them. And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.” – I Samuel 2:12,17-18,22-26.
“and was in favour both with the LORD,” No other person recorded in the Bible had this written of them except Jesus when He was a child. “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” – Luke 2:40,47,52. The worldly believe that all mankind are children of God, but the truth is, in order to be a child of God we need His Spirit in us, and the only way we can have His Spirit in us is by being born again. “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” – John 3:5-7,16-18.
“but he that believeth not is condemned already,” Those who reject Christ do not have His Spirit in them, and are children of the devil, and there will literally be hell to pay for that. 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. Samuel may have been ministering to Eli, but he had not been taught the Word of God nor had he known Him yet, all that was about to change when God spoke to him for the first time.
“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. 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; That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 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. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 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. 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. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.” – I Samuel 3:1-2,4-5,7-10,19-20.
“Speak; for thy servant heareth.” Just as God does with all He chooses to serve Him, He waits until they acknowledge Him before He reveals Himself to them. Some will never acknowledge Him and sadly lose their place in the Kingdom of God, but He gives ample opportunity to come to Him through His Son first. God never forsakes anyone who comes to Him through His Son, we may be challenged, and He may turn His back to those who are living in sin, but He never leaves nor forsakes anyone that receives Christ as their Saviour. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” – John 10:28-30.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “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.” – I Samuel 2:35.
Today’s Prayer: God, It is truly amazing that all I have to do to reach You is call out to You. Even when I do not see You, I know You are there, but I do feel like I am forsaken at time. And I know what the power of prayer can do, not only did it save me when I received Your Son as my Saviour, it revealed so much when I talked to You with bitterness in my soul. Forgive me for not always praying from my heart, and for any doubting prayers, I know I have hindered You at times because I never really expected You to give me what I had been asking for. Lord, Here I am, Your servant, lead me and guide me, reveal to me the things You have waiting for me as I study Your Word and draw near to You. Answer my prayers as You see fit, and let me find favor with both You and man so that I may be a faithful, bold, and true witness. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://readytofollow.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I’m Following Jesus Missions: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2019 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.