The Philistines Return the Ark

1 Samuel 6:1-12 NLT
The Philistines Return the Ark
^6:1 The Ark of the Lord remained in Philistine territory seven months in all. ² Then the Philistines called in their priests and diviners and asked them, “What should we do about the Ark of the Lord? Tell us how to return it to its own country.”
³ “Send the Ark of the God of Israel back with a gift,” they were told. “Send a guilt offering so the plague will stop. Then, if you are healed, you will know it was his hand that caused the plague.”
⁴ “What sort of guilt offering should we send?” they asked.
And they were told, “Since the plague has struck both you and your five rulers, make five gold tumors and five gold rats, just like those that have ravaged your land. ⁵ Make these things to show honor to the God of Israel. Perhaps then he will stop afflicting you, your gods, and your land. ⁶ Don’t be stubborn and rebellious as Pharaoh and the Egyptians were. By the time God was finished with them, they were eager to let Israel go.
⁷ “Now build a new cart, and find two cows that have just given birth to calves. Make sure the cows have never been yoked to a cart. Hitch the cows to the cart, but shut their calves away from them in a pen. ⁸ Put the Ark of the Lord on the cart, and beside it place a chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors you are sending as a guilt offering. Then let the cows go wherever they want. ⁹ If they cross the border of our land and go to Beth-shemesh, we will know it was the Lord who brought this great disaster upon us. If they don’t, we will know it was not his hand that caused the plague. It came simply by chance.”
¹⁰ So these instructions were carried out. Two cows were hitched to the cart, and their newborn calves were shut up in a pen. ¹¹ Then the Ark of the Lord and the chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors were placed on the cart. ¹² And sure enough, without veering off in other directions, the cows went straight along the road toward Beth-shemesh, lowing as they went. The Philistine rulers followed them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.

Examine the Scriptures

1 Samuel 6:1-12 NLT
The Philistines Return the Ark

^6:1 The Ark of the Lord remained in Philistine territory seven months in all. 

Refer to a map showing the travels of the Ark of the Lord.

² Then the Philistines called in their priests and diviners (soothsayers, fortunetellers, magicians, omen readers, those who practice evil magic)

• Don’t assume that the Philistines were ignorant, weak, and “godless”.

Don’t assume that your enemy is ignorant, weak, and “godless”.

The Philistines were a powerful sea people who settled in the coastal strip in SW Palestine.

The Philistines were intensely religious.

The Philistines had a powerful military, due in part to their control of the iron industry.

The Philistines were politically well organized.

The Philistines had a strong economy.

• The Philistines did some things right. They called in the experts. They “called in their priests and diviners”.

Proverbs 15:22 NLT
²² Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
    many advisers bring success.

Proverbs 11:14 NLT
¹⁴ Without wise leadership, a nation falls;
    there is safety in having many advisers.

• The Philistines did many things wrong.

The Philistines practiced divination.

Divination defined:

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Divination is “the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers.”

Divination is a pagan counterpart of prophecy.

Genuine prophecy is by the Spirit of God.
Inspirational divination is by demonic power.

God spoke strongly against the use of divination.

Deuteronomy 18:10-14 NLT
¹⁰ For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, ¹¹ or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. ¹² Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you. ¹³ But you must be blameless before the Lord your God. ¹⁴ The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.”

The Philistines were known for their practice of sorcery.

Isaiah 2:6 NLT
⁶ For the Lord has rejected his people,
the descendants of Jacob,
because they have filled their land with practices from the East
and with sorcerers, as the Philistines do.
They have made alliances with pagans.

• Divination is a pagan counterpart of prophecy. Inspirational divination is by demonic power.

 (Then the Philistines called in their priests and diviners -phrase repeated from above) 

and asked them, “What should we do about the Ark of the Lord?

The Philistines believed that they had offended the Israelite God.

The Philistines were beginning to see a need to “respect” the ark of the Lord. 

Tell us how to return it to its own country.” 

After seeing their god Dagon being humiliated and after suffering the painful and deadly consequences of God’s plagues, the Philistines decided to return the Ark of the Lord to Israel. 

The Philistine leaders sensed that there was a right way and a wrong way to handle the ark.

The Philistines were very “religious” and wanted to do things correctly.

They asked their “advisors” how to do this.

The question arises.  Did God expect the Philistines to treat the Ark with the same respect that he demanded of the Israelites?  We really don’t know.

One soured answered the question this way.
It is likely that the Philistines out of respect, fear, or pragmatism carried the ark the “proper” way. 

• The question arises: Did God expect the Philistines to treat the Ark with the same respect that he demanded of the Israelites?  We really don’t know. 

³ “Send the Ark of the God of Israel back with a gift,” they were told. “Send a guilt offering so the plague will stop.

A Philistine guilt offering would have been a payment to a deity in an attempt to avert his wrath.

• This offering was both an acknowledgement of guilt and compensation of their trespass of dishonoring the God of Israel.

This was a part of the Philistine’s religious tradition.

Then, if you are healed, you will know it was his hand that caused the plague.”

⁴ “What sort of guilt offering should we send?” they asked.

And they were told, “Since the plague has struck both you and your five rulers, make five gold tumors and five gold rats, just like those that have ravaged your land. 

The five gold tumors represented the tumors inflicted on the people.

The five gold rats represented the carriers of the plague.

Five, representing the five Philistines cities.

The images of tumors and rats was a symbolic admission of their guilt along with the hope that the evil that had fallen upon them would be removed. 

⁵ Make these things to show honor to the God of Israel.

Here the Philistine priests and diviners were instructing the Philistine leaders to show honor to the God of Israel.

Perhaps then he will stop afflicting you, your gods, and your land. 

• The Philistine priests and diviners instructed the Philistine leaders to show honor to the God of Israel.

⁶ Don’t be stubborn and rebellious as Pharaoh and the Egyptians were. By the time God was finished with them, they were eager to let Israel go.

The Philistine priests and diviners knew about the events of the exodus.

Exodus 10:1-2 NLT
¹ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Return to Pharaoh and make your demands again. I have made him and his officials stubborn so I can display my miraculous signs among them. ² I’ve also done it so you can tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them—and so you will know that I am the Lord.”

The Philistine army had defeated the Israelite army, but they now realized that their real enemy was most likely the God of the Israelites.

• The Philistine priests and diviners warned the Philistine leaders not to be stubborn and rebellious like Pharaoh and the Egyptians had been. 

⁷ “Now build a new cart,

It would have been a sign of honor and respect to use a new cart.

The Philistines may have thought it would be disrespectful to use a cart to transport the Ark of the Lord that had been used for some other purpose.

The Philistines most like did not know:

Numbers 7:9 NLT
⁹ But he gave none of the wagons or oxen to the Kohathite division, since they were required to carry the sacred objects of the Tabernacle on their shoulders.

and find two cows that have just given birth to calves.

The Philistines wanted to know without a doubt that this was the work of the God of Israel, and not something that “came simply by chance.”  (see verse 9)

The maternal nature of these cows would normally cause them to stay close to their calves.

Make sure the cows have never been yoked to a cart.

Untrained cows would not know how to work together as a team to pull a cart.

Hitch the cows to the cart, but shut their calves away from them in a pen. ⁸ Put the Ark of the Lord on the cart, and beside it place a chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors you are sending as a guilt offering. Then let the cows go wherever they want. ⁹ If they cross the border of our land and go to Beth-shemesh,

The Israelite city closest to the Philistine city of Ekron.

we will know it was the Lord who brought this great disaster upon us. If they don’t, we will know it was not his hand that caused the plague. It came simply by chance.”

• The Philistines wanted to know if it was the Lord who caused the plague or if it came simply by chance.

¹⁰ So these instructions were carried out. Two cows were hitched to the cart, and their newborn calves were shut up in a pen. 

¹¹ Then the Ark of the Lord and the chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors were placed on the cart. 

¹² And sure enough, without veering off in other directions, the cows went straight along the road toward Beth-shemesh, lowing as they went.

“Without veering off in other directions.”

“Lowing as they went.”

Moaning from the instinctive unwillingness to leave their calves behind.

Cows moo to seek their herd mates, calf or mother; say they are hungry; call for a partner when they are wishing to mate; raise alarm to warn their herd mates of potential danger.

• “Without veering off in other directions, the cows went straight along the road toward Beth-shemesh,” was a clear sign of God’s hand at work.

The Philistine rulers followed them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.

 

 

 

 

The Ark in Philistia

1 Samuel 5:1-12 NLT
^5:1 After the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they took it from the battleground at Ebenezer to the town of Ashdod. ² They carried the Ark of God into the temple of Dagon and placed it beside an idol of Dagon. ³ But when the citizens of Ashdod went to see it the next morning, Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord! So they took Dagon and put him in his place again. ⁴ But the next morning the same thing happened—Dagon had fallen face down before the Ark of the Lord again. This time his head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. Only the trunk of his body was left intact. ⁵ That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod will step on its threshold.
⁶ Then the Lord’s heavy hand struck the people of Ashdod and the nearby villages with a plague of tumors. ⁷ When the people realized what was happening, they cried out, “We can’t keep the Ark of the God of Israel here any longer! He is against us! We will all be destroyed along with Dagon, our god.” ⁸ So they called together the rulers of the Philistine towns and asked, “What should we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?”
The rulers discussed it and replied, “Move it to the town of Gath.” So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel to Gath. ⁹ But when the Ark arrived at Gath, the Lord’s heavy hand fell on its men, young and old; he struck them with a plague of tumors, and there was a great panic.
¹⁰ So they sent the Ark of God to the town of Ekron, but when the people of Ekron saw it coming they cried out, “They are bringing the Ark of the God of Israel here to kill us, too!” ¹¹ The people summoned the Philistine rulers again and begged them, “Please send the Ark of the God of Israel back to its own country, or it will kill us all.” For the deadly plague from God had already begun, and great fear was sweeping across the town. ¹² Those who didn’t die were afflicted with tumors; and the cry from the town rose to heaven.

Examine the Scriptures

1 Samuel 5:1-12 NLT
The Ark in Philistia
^5:1 After the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they took it from the battleground at Ebenezer to the town of Ashdod. 

Ashdod was one of the five principle cities of the Philistines.

Refer to map

² They carried the Ark of God into the temple of Dagon

Dagon was the main god of the Philistines, who set up temples in his honor in Ashdod, Gaza, Beth Shan, and elsewhere.

Dagon was known as a fish god, a storm god, or grain god.  (No one seems to know for sure.)

Dagon had an upper body of a man and a lower body of a fish.

Dagon was noted to be the father of Baal.

• After the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they took it into the temple of Dagon, in the town of Ashdod.

We read about one of these temples of Dagon in the story of Samson.

Judges 16:23-30 NLT
Samson’s Final Victory
²³ The Philistine rulers held a great festival, offering sacrifices and praising their god, Dagon. They said, “Our god has given us victory over our enemy Samson!”
²⁴ When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, “Our god has delivered our enemy to us! The one who killed so many of us is now in our power!”
²⁵ Half drunk by now, the people demanded, “Bring out Samson so he can amuse us!” So he was brought from the prison to amuse them, and they had him stand between the pillars supporting the roof.
²⁶ Samson said to the young servant who was leading him by the hand, “Place my hands against the pillars that hold up the temple. I want to rest against them.” ²⁷ Now the temple was completely filled with people. All the Philistine rulers were there, and there were about 3,000 men and women on the roof who were watching as Samson amused them.
²⁸ Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” ²⁹ Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, ³⁰ he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime. 

and placed it beside an idol of Dagon. 

Symbolizing Dagon’s power and Yahweh’s inferiority.

This was a visual representation, for the Philistines, that the god of the Philistines was victorious over the God of the Hebrews.

At this time in history, heathen nations believed that gods (small g) could be taken into exile.

• The Philistines placed the Ark of God beside an idol of Dagon. This was a visual representation, for the Philistines, that the god of the Philistines was victorious over the God of the Hebrews. 

³ But when the citizens of Ashdod went to see it the next morning, Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord!

• God overturned the supposed supremacy of Dagon by causing Dagon to fall with his face down before the ark (Lord).

This could be symbolic of Dagon lying prostrate before the Lord. 

Philippians 2:10 NLT
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

So they took Dagon and put him in his place again.  

The Philistines missed the point of what had just happened. 

⁴ But the next morning the same thing happened—Dagon had fallen face down before the Ark of the Lord again. This time his head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. Only the trunk of his body was left intact.

Lying prostrate before the Lord was not enough.  Now
Dagon was lying face down, broken, dead, on the ground before the Lord.

Cutting off an enemy’s head and hands was recorded in other places in the Old Testament.  This was a way of saying the enemy was truly dead and no longer a threat.

1 Samuel 17:50-51 NLT
⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. ⁵¹ Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head.

2 Samuel 4:12 NLT
¹² So David ordered his young men to kill them (the men who killed Ishbosheth, the son of Saul), and they did. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies beside the pool in Hebron. Then they took Ishbosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.

God’s divine judgment was on the false idol (and the Philistines).

• The Philistines put Dagon in his place a second time. But the next morning the same thing happened—Dagon had fallen face down before the Ark of the Lord This time his head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. 

⁵ That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod will step on its threshold.

They most likely believed that the threshold was cursed since Dagon’s head and hands were found lying in the doorway. 

⁶ Then the Lord’s heavy hand struck the people of Ashdod and the nearby villages with a plague of tumors. 

• Dagon’s hands had been broken off symbolizing his helplessness against the power of Yahweh. In contrast, the Lord’s hands were powerful as they struck the people of Ashdod with a plague.

A plague, possibly spread by rats. (Bubonic plague?)

1 Samuel 6:4-5 NLT
⁴ “What sort of guilt offering should we send?” they asked.
And they were told, “Since the plague has struck both you and your five rulers, make five gold tumors and five gold rats, just like those that have ravaged your land. ⁵ Make these things to show honor to the God of Israel. Perhaps then he will stop afflicting you, your gods, and your land.

The imagery of God’s hand is found throughout scripture.

Exodus 15:6 NLT
⁶ “Your right hand, O Lord,
    is glorious in power.
Your right hand, O Lord,
    smashes the enemy.

Isaiah 41:10 NLT
¹⁰ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 

⁷ When the people realized what was happening, they cried out, “We can’t keep the Ark of the God of Israel here any longer! He is against us! We will all be destroyed along with Dagon, our god.” 

• The people of Ashdod believed their real opponent was the God of Israel. They believed that they would be destroyed along with their god, Dagon.

1 Samuel 4:8 NLT
⁸ Help! Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel? They are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was in the wilderness. 

 ⁸ So they called together the rulers of the Philistine towns and asked, “What should we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?”

The rulers discussed it and replied, “Move it to the town of Gath.” So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel to Gath.  

Another of the five principle cities of the Philistines.

• Evidently the rulers of the Philistines did not share the opinion of the people of Ashdod that there was a direct connection between what had happened in Ashdod and the presence of the Ark. Moving the Ark to Gath put this matter to a test. 

⁹ But when the Ark arrived at Gath, the Lord’s heavy hand fell on its men, young and old; he struck them with a plague of tumors, and there was a great panic.

• God used a great panic to incapacitate and overwhelm Israel’s enemies.

Other incidents:

1 Samuel 14:15 NLT
¹⁵ Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified.

Deuteronomy 7:23 NLT
Moving into the Promised Land
²³ But the Lord your God will hand them over to you. He will throw them into complete confusion until they are destroyed.

¹⁰ So they sent the Ark of God to the town of Ekron,

Another of the five principle cities of the Philistines. 

but when the people of Ekron saw it coming they cried out, “They are bringing the Ark of the God of Israel here to kill us, too!” ¹¹ The people summoned the Philistine rulers again and begged them, “Please send the Ark of the God of Israel back to its own country, or it will kill us all.”

For the deadly plague from God had already begun, and great fear was sweeping across the town. ¹² Those who didn’t die were afflicted with tumors; and the cry from the town rose to heaven.

• After three successive towns had been struck by a plague upon the arrival of the Ark, the Philistines believed the power of the God of Israel was the cause of their distress.

The Philistines assumed that sending the Ark back to its own land would be the same as sending God back to Israel.

 

 

The Death of Eli

1 Samuel 4:12-22 NLT
¹² A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the battlefield and arrived at Shiloh later that same day. He had torn his clothes and put dust on his head to show his grief. ¹³ Eli was waiting beside the road to hear the news of the battle, for his heart trembled for the safety of the Ark of God. When the messenger arrived and told what had happened, an outcry resounded throughout the town.
¹⁴ “What is all the noise about?” Eli asked.
The messenger rushed over to Eli, ¹⁵ who was ninety-eight years old and blind. ¹⁶ He said to Eli, “I have just come from the battlefield—I was there this very day.”
“What happened, my son?” Eli demanded.
¹⁷ “Israel has been defeated by the Philistines,” the messenger replied. “The people have been slaughtered, and your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were also killed. And the Ark of God has been captured.”
¹⁸ When the messenger mentioned what had happened to the Ark of God, Eli fell backward from his seat beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he was old and overweight. He had been Israel’s judge for forty years.
¹⁹ Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near her time of delivery. When she heard that the Ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth. ²⁰ She died in childbirth, but before she passed away the midwives tried to encourage her. “Don’t be afraid,” they said. “You have a baby boy!” But she did not answer or pay attention to them.
²¹ She named the child Ichabod (which means “Where is the glory?”), for she said, “Israel’s glory is gone.” She named him this because the Ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and husband were dead. ²² Then she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured.”

Examine the Scriptures
1 Samuel 4:12-22 NLT

The Death of Eli

¹² A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the battlefield and arrived at Shiloh later that same day. He had torn his clothes and put dust on his head to show his grief. 

A universal sign of mourning a national calamity.

When Ai defeated the Israelites
Joshua 7:6 NLT
>⁶ Joshua and the elders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed face down to the ground before the Ark of the Lord until evening. 

Job’s friends
Job 2:12 NLT
¹² When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief.

This survivor, coming from the battlefield had some very discouraging news for the nation of Israel.

• The news of 4,000 Israelite soldiers killed in one battle and 30,000 Israelite soldiers killed in a second battle came as a devastating blow to the nation of Israel. (1 Samuel 4:2 and 1 Samuel 4:10) 

¹³ Eli was waiting beside the road to hear the news of the battle, for his heart trembled for the safety of the Ark of God.

Brief history of the ark.

Exodus 25:10-16

Instructions from God to Moses, while Moses was on Mount Sinai.

Plans for the Ark of the Covenant (along with plans for the tabernacle, etc.)
¹⁰ “Have the people make an Ark of acacia wood—a sacred chest 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. ¹¹ Overlay it inside and outside with pure gold, and run a molding of gold all around it. ¹² Cast four gold rings and attach them to its four feet, two rings on each side. ¹³ Make poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. ¹⁴ Insert the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it. ¹⁵ These carrying poles must stay inside the rings; never remove them. ¹⁶ When the Ark is finished, place inside it the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, which I will give to you.

Scripture from the previous lesson.

1 Samuel 4:3 NLT
³ After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.”

• The people were acting on their own when they carried the Ark of the Covenant into battle.

Eli was clearly concerned for the safety of the Ark of God.

But

Here again this appears to be a case of religion over a relationship with God.

• It appears (in my opinion) that Eli was more concerned about the Ark of the Covenant than he was about doing what God desired of him. (See 1 Samuel 2:35)

1 Samuel 2:35 NLT
³⁵ “Then I will raise up a faithful priest who will serve me and do what I desire. I will establish his family, and they will be priests to my anointed kings forever. 

1 Samuel 15:22 NLT
Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 

• It’s important to remember that God looks first for a heart that is truly seeking to follow Him. Our attitudes and motivations are more important to God than our religious practices. 

When the messenger arrived and told what had happened, an outcry resounded throughout the town. 

This was a devastating loss for the Israelites.

• Many times we read stories in the Old Testament where the losers of a battle become slaves of the winners of that battle.

Previously in this chapter:
⁹ Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like men and fight!” 

From the story of David and Goliath.
1 Samuel 17:8-9 NLT
⁸ Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! ⁹ If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves!

The Israelites could become slaves to the Philistines, having to pay tribute, customs, and tolls. (Ezra 4:13) 

¹⁴ “What is all the noise about?” Eli asked.
The messenger rushed over to Eli, ¹⁵ who was ninety-eight years old and blind. 

• Eli is 98 years old and is both physically and spiritually blind.

1 Samuel 3:2 NLT
² One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. 

1 Samuel 3:13 NLT
¹³ I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn’t disciplined them.

¹⁶ He said to Eli, “I have just come from the battlefield—I was there this very day.”
“What happened, my son?” Eli demanded. 

¹⁷ “Israel has been defeated by the Philistines,” the messenger replied. “The people have been slaughtered, and your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were also killed. 

And the Ark of God has been captured.”

The ark represented the presence of God in Israel.  With the ark in the hands of the enemy, one might think God and His glory were no longer in Israel.

See verse 21 & 22 

¹⁸ When the messenger mentioned what had happened to the Ark of God, Eli fell backward from his seat beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he was old and overweight. He had been Israel’s judge for forty years.

• When the messenger mentioned what had happened to the Ark of God, Eli fell backward from his seat beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he was old and overweight.

Symbolizing Eli’s family fall from the priesthood.

1 Samuel 2:31 NLT
³¹ The time is coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests. All the members of your family will die before their time. None will reach old age.

Samuel will replace Eli as Israel’s Judge

God sent judges to lead Israel.

Samuel: priest, prophet, and judge.  Each title had a different role. 

¹⁹ Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near her time of delivery. When she heard that the Ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth. ²⁰ She died in childbirth, 

but before she passed away the midwives tried to encourage her. “Don’t be afraid,” they said. “You have a baby boy!” But she did not answer or pay attention to them. 

²¹ She named the child Ichabod (which means “Where is the glory?”),

“Where is the glory?” or “No glory” (MacArthur)
“There is no glory?” (Bible Knowledge Commentary)

 for she said, “Israel’s glory is gone.” She named him this because the Ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and husband were dead.  

²² Then she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured.”

• The capture of the Ark suggested (the mindset of Israel) that not only was the Ark gone, but God Himself and all of His glory were gone.

This is a heathen perception.

Heathen nations believed that gods (small g) could be taken into exile.

Isaiah 46:1-2 NLT
Babylon’s False Gods
46 Bel and Nebo, the gods of Babylon,
bow as they are lowered to the ground.
They are being hauled away on ox carts.
The poor beasts stagger under the weight.
² Both the idols and their owners are bowed down.
The gods cannot protect the people,
and the people cannot protect the gods.
They go off into captivity together.

(We know this is not true for God.)

• Our omnipresent God cannot be taken away from us, although we may “feel” that He is not present at times.

Psalm 139:7-12 NLT
⁷ I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
⁸ If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
⁹ If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
¹¹ I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
¹²     but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.

Proverbs 15:3 NLT
³ The Lord is watching everywhere,
keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.

Psalm 145:18 NLT
¹⁸ The Lord is close to all who call on him,
yes, to all who call on him in truth. 

Luke 11:9-10 NLT
⁹ “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Samuel had an important role to fill.

 

 

 

 

The Philistines Capture the Ark

1 Samuel 4:1-11 NLT
4 ¹ And Samuel’s words went out to all the people of Israel.
The Philistines Capture the Ark
At that time Israel was at war with the Philistines. The Israelite army was camped near Ebenezer, and the Philistines were at Aphek. ² The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men. ³ After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.”
⁴ So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. ⁵ When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!
⁶ “What’s going on?” the Philistines asked. “What’s all the shouting about in the Hebrew camp?” When they were told it was because the Ark of the Lord had arrived, ⁷ they panicked. “The gods have come into their camp!” they cried. “This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before! ⁸ Help! Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel? They are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was in the wilderness. ⁹ Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like men and fight!”
¹⁰ So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents. ¹¹ The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.

Examine the Scriptures

1 Samuel 4:1-11 NLT
4 ¹ And Samuel’s words went out to all the people of Israel. 

^3:20 And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. 

• The reliability of Samuel’s message made it evident that God was speaking through him. 

^3:21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.

The Lord continued to give messages to Samuel.

• God reopened the lines of communication with Israel through Samuel.

3:1 Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon. 

Samuel’s role as a prophet was under way and would last for a lifetime.

A new era had begun. 

• Samuel was God’s spokesman for all of Israel. 

The Philistines Capture the Ark

^{Verse 1 continued} At that time Israel was at war with the Philistines.

At this time in history, wars with other nations were common.

1 Chronicles 20:1 NLT
David Captures Rabbah
^20:1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, Joab led the Israelite army in successful attacks against the land of the Ammonites. In the process he laid siege to the city of Rabbah, attacking and destroying it. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1 NLT
David and Bathsheba
^11:1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. 

See verse 9
⁹ Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours!

Kings fought wars to expand their control (territory) and collect taxes from the defeated foes.

Ezra 4:12-13 NLT
¹² “The king should know that the Jews who came here to Jerusalem from Babylon are rebuilding this rebellious and evil city. They have already laid the foundation and will soon finish its walls. ¹³ And the king should know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, it will be much to your disadvantage, for the Jews will then refuse to pay their tribute, customs, and tolls to you.

• At this time in history, wars with other nations were common.

The Philistines were Israel’s principal enemy at this period of time.

 The Israelite army was camped near Ebenezer, and the Philistines were at Aphek. 

By camping at Aphek, well inland and north of the Philistine territory, the Philistines may have been trying to seize more Israelite territory.

Refer to a map

The exact location of Ebenezer is unknown.

² The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men.  

• The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men. 

³ After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?”

• The Elders realized that their defeat was not the result of the Philistines’ skills, but rather it came about because God allowed it.

The Israelites were often defeated in battle because of the sin of an individual or because of the sin of the entire nation.

Joshua 7 tells the story of a man named Achan.  Because of his sin Ai defeated the Israelites.

Compare this battle to the battle in 1 Chronicles 14:13-16.

1 Chronicles 14:13-16 NLT
¹³ But after a while the Philistines returned and raided the valley again. ¹⁴ And once again David asked God what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” God replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. ¹⁵ When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, go out and attack! That will be the signal that God is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” ¹⁶ So David did what God commanded, and they struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

In this case, there is no indication that the Israelites had asked God if they should engage the Philistines in battle.

This demonstrated Israel’s need for Samuel’s spiritual leadership. 

Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it (some translations say “he”) will save us from our enemies.” 

“it (the ark) will save us from our enemies.”

Carrying the Ark with them into battle was not necessarily a bad thing to do.

At this point in time the Israelites were taking matters into their own hands.  They had not consulted God.

They were using the ark as a symbol of God’s presence.

or

It was religion vs. a relationship with God.

• The Israelites believed that carrying the Ark into battle would save them from their enemies.

⁴ So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. 

The Ark at Shiloh:

1 Samuel 1:24 NLT
²⁴ When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. 

1 Samuel 3:3 NLT
³ The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God.

The Ark was a representation of God’s presence.  A symbol of God’s presence. 

Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. 

 Review:

1 Samuel 2:12 NLT
¹² Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord. 

¹²Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord. ESV

1 Samuel 2:22-25 NLT
²² Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel. He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle. ²³ Eli said to them, “I have been hearing reports from all the people about the wicked things you are doing. Why do you keep sinning? ²⁴ You must stop, my sons! The reports I hear among the Lord’s people are not good. ²⁵ If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?” But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death.

1 Samuel 3:11-14 NLT
¹¹ Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. ¹² I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end. ¹³ I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn’t disciplined them. ¹⁴ So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.” 

⁵ When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!

Religion vs. relationship

⁶ “What’s going on?” the Philistines asked. “What’s all the shouting about in the Hebrew camp?” When they were told it was because the Ark of the Lord had arrived, ⁷ they panicked. “The gods have come into their camp!” they cried. “This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before! ⁸ Help! Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel?

The Philistines were afraid of the “gods” (small g) of Israel represented by the Ark.

They are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was in the wilderness. 

The Philistines knew the story of a powerful god rescuing the Israelites from the Egyptians.

“when Israel was in the wilderness” is not exactly accurate.

• The presence of the Ark frightened the Philistines. 

⁹ Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like men and fight!”

The losers become slaves.

¹⁰ So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents. 

More than 7 times the number of soldiers died in this battle compared to the previous battle.

The Ark did not bring the Israelites victory.

Performing a religious act did not save the Israelites.

• The Philistines killed 30,000 Israelite soldiers and won the battle. 

¹¹ The Ark of God was captured, 

• The Ark of God was captured. 

and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.

• Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.

1 Samuel 2:34 NLT
³⁴ And to prove that what I have said will come true, I will cause your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to die on the same day!

• God’s Word was fulfilled.

 

 

 

Why do we study the Bible?

Why is it important to immerse our minds, hearts, and souls in the beauty of God’s Word (us, our children, and our grandchildren)?

Reasons to study the Bible?

In the Bible, God tells us to study the Bible.

Joshua 1:8 (NLT)
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

Study continually.
Meditate on it.
Obey everything written in it.

Deuteronomy 6:6-8 NLT
⁶ And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. ⁷ Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. ⁸ Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 

Commitment
Repetition
Scripture become a part of us. 

1 Peter 2:2-3 NLT
² Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, ³ now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness. 

Crave
Cry out

The Bible gives us many reasons to study the scriptures.

Proverbs 3:1-2 NLT
¹ My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart.² If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.

… years of life and peace they will add to you. (ESV)
… they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. (NIV)
All will go well for you. (ERV)
Your life will be satisfying. (Contentment)

Psalm 84:10 NLT
¹⁰ A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!

(Quality vs. quantity)

Psalm 119:105 NLT
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Keep you from stumbling.

Proverbs 4:10-13
¹⁰ My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life.¹¹ I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths.¹² When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble.¹³ Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. 

A long, good life.  When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. 

Revelation 1:3 (NLT)
God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near. 

Blessed by God.

Romans 15:4 NLT
Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. 

The Scriptures give us hope and encouragement.

We need to know the truths of the scriptures so that we are not deceived by false teachers.

2 Peter 2:1-3 NLT
The Danger of False Teachers
^2:1 But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. ³ In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.

They will cleverly teach destructive heresies

Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality.

Matthew 7:15 NLT
¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep.

Ephesians 4:14 NLT
¹⁴ Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 

We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

Colossians 2:8 NLT
⁸ Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

Philosophies and high-sounding, intellectualism, the tradition of men.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT
³ For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

Many of the people we come in contact with will be following false teachers.

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 NLT
³ But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. ⁴ You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed. 

Your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted.

You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you.

Studying the Word helps us fight spiritual battles and experience victory over the enemy!

We need to know the truths of the scriptures so that we are not misled by teachers with good intentions.

Acts 17:11 NLT
¹¹ And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. 

Spending time studying God’s Word helps us produce spiritual fruit.

Psalm 1:1-3 NLT
¹ Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
² But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
³ They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.

Bearing fruit each season.

John 15:4-8 NLT
⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. ⁷ But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ⁸ When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

Produce much fruit.

Scripture teaches us right from wrong.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Hebrews 4:12 NLT
¹² For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Scripture is a supernatural discerning agent showing us right from wrong. 

Study the scriptures for the pleasure and enjoyment it provides to the reader,

Psalm 119:15-16 NLT
¹⁵ I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.¹⁶ I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.

What is a major benefit that comes from studying the scriptures?

Scripture transforms our minds. 

God wants to transform us.

Romans 12:2 NLT
² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 

The word transform used here means “keep on being transformed”.

The English word “metamorphosis” comes from the Greek word “transformed.

A change in appearance.

Matthew 17:2 NLT
² As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. 

The disciples caught a glimpse of Jesus’ inner divine nature and glory.

When we think of metamorphosis we often think of butterflies.

There are four stages in the metamorphosis of butterflies and moths: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.  Going from one form to another.

Christians should outwardly manifest their inner, redeemed natures, not once, however, but daily.

Matthew 13:43 NLT
³ Then the righteous (believers) will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. 

2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT
¹⁸ So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Ephesians 4:22-23 NLT
²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

Changing the way you think, (renewing of your mind) is a kind of transformation that can occur only as the Holy Spirit changes your thinking through consis­tent study and meditation on Scripture.

Psalm 119:11 NLT
¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.

God’s Word changes us.

We need to:

Philippians 4:8 NLT
⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Colossians 3:10 NLT
¹⁰ Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

Colossians 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

The renewed mind is one saturated with the Word of God.

God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.

Ephesians 4:23 NLT
²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 

Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

As one’s mind keeps on being made new by the spiritual input of God’s Word, prayer, and Christian fellowship, his lifestyle keeps on being transformed.

What can scripture do?

Examples of transformation.

Psalm 19:7-8 NLT
⁷ The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
⁸ The commandments of the Lord are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight for living. 

Revive the soul.
Make the simple wise.
Bring joy to the heart.
Give insight for living. 

Psalm 119:50 NLT
⁵⁰ Your promise revives me;
it comforts me in all my troubles. 

Scripture revives us.
Scripture comforts us. 

Scripture changes us

Proverbs 2:1-6 NLT
¹ My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands.² Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.³ Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.⁴ Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.⁵ Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God.⁶ For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

You will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God.⁶ For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Matthew 4:4 NLT
⁴ But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Scripture nurtures our spiritual needs in a way that benefits us eternally.

Transforms not just our minds, but our lives (For all eternity).

1 Peter 1:23-25 NLT
²³ For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. ²⁴ As the Scriptures say,
“People are like grass;
their beauty is like a flower in the field.
The grass withers and the flower fades.
²⁵     But the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 NLT
¹⁴ But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.¹⁵You have been taught the Holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

Scripture gives us the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

John 20:30-31 NLT
Purpose of the Book
³⁰ The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. 

Scripture leads us to eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:17 NLT
¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 

Another benefit of studying God’s Word is that as we mature, we can lead others in truth, too!

1 Peter 3:15 NLT
¹⁵ Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

 

Bible study deepens Godly community.

Bible study helps us grow closer to God.

 

 

Samuel Speaks for the Lord.

1 Samuel 3:15-21 NLT
¹⁵ Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then got up and opened the doors of the Tabernacle as usual. He was afraid to tell Eli what the Lord had said to him. ¹⁶ But Eli called out to him, “Samuel, my son.”
“Here I am,” Samuel replied.
¹⁷ “What did the Lord say to you? Tell me everything. And may God strike you and even kill you if you hide anything from me!” ¹⁸ So Samuel told Eli everything; he didn’t hold anything back. “It is the Lord’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.”
¹⁹ As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. ²⁰ And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. ²¹ The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.

Examine the Scriptures

1 Samuel 3:15-21 NLT
Samuel Speaks for the Lord

¹⁵ Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then got up and opened the doors of the Tabernacle as usual.

• Samuel started his day by carrying out his routine duties.

“Doors” are an indication that the Tabernacle in this passage was a more permanent structure than the one used in the wilderness.

He was afraid to tell Eli what the Lord had said to him. 

• Samuel was afraid to tell Eli of God’s plans for him and his family.

This may have been out of respect for Eli’s position as High Priest.

Samuel was a young man and Eli was the High Priest.

This may have been out of fear for his own safety. (See verse 17) 

¹⁶ But Eli called out to him, “Samuel, my son.”

Eli addressed Samuel as his son.

Almost all translations us the words “my son”.

The call Samuel received from Eli was similar to the call Samuel previously received in 3:4-5.

⁴ Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!”
“Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” ⁵ He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
“I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did. 

This time it was Eli calling and Samuel knew it was Eli.

“Here I am,” Samuel replied. 

¹⁷ “What did the Lord say to you?

• Eli recognized the fact that the Lord had spoken to Samuel.

Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon. (1 Samuel 3:1) 

Tell me everything. And may God strike you and even kill you if you hide anything from me!” 

• Eli called down God’s judgment on Samuel if he refused to tell everything he knew.

This expression was used on other occasions in the Old Testament.

Ruth 1:17 NLT
¹⁷ Wherever you die, I (Ruth) will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”

2 Samuel 3:9 NLT
⁹ May God strike me (Abner) and even kill me if I don’t do everything I can to help David get what the Lord has promised him!

2 Samuel 19:13 NLT
¹³ And David told them to tell Amasa, “Since you are my own flesh and blood, like Joab, may God strike me and even kill me if I do not appoint you as commander of my army in his place.”

1 Kings 19:2 NLT
² So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”

This is clearly a very solemn appeal.

This comment may have been very intimidating to Samuel.

• A prophet’s assignment can be a very challenging and difficult assignment. It is not easy to tell people something they may not want to hear.

• All throughout the Scripture both the prophet and their message were frequently rejected by the people the message was directed toward.

Nehemiah 9:26 NLT
²⁶ “… They turned their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to return to you…

Acts 7:52 NLT
⁵² Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered.

Luke 13:34 NLT (Jesus speaking)
³⁴ “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! 

¹⁸ So Samuel told Eli everything; he didn’t hold anything back.

• Samuel was taking on the role of a prophet of God.

“It is the Lord’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.”

• To his credit, Eli humbly accepts God’s judgment. 

¹⁹ As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him,

• As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him.

Many of changes are taking place in this chapter.

A major change:

Previously:

1 Samuel 3:7 NLT
⁷ Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before.

Application

Jesus’ promise to the disciples and to us.

John 14:16-18 NLT
¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. ¹⁷ He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. ¹⁸ No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 

and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. 

All that Samuel spoke was fulfilled.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22 NLT
²¹ “But you may wonder, ‘How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?’ ²² If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared.

Jeremiah 28:9 NLT
⁹ So a prophet who predicts peace must show he is right. Only when his predictions come true can we know that he is really from the Lord.”

²⁰ And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south,

The territory of all 12 tribes of Israel. (refer to a map of Israel.)

knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. 

• The reliability of Samuel’s message made it evident that God was speaking through him. 

²¹ The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.

The Lord continued to give messages to Samuel.

• God reopened the lines of communication with Israel through Samuel.

Previously:
3:1 Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.

Samuel’s role as a prophet was under way and would last for a lifetime.

A new era had begun.

1 Samuel 4:1 NLT
¹ And Samuel’s words went out to all the people of Israel. 

• Samuel was God’s spokesman for all of Israel.

******************************************

• Samuel started his day by carrying out his routine duties.

• Samuel was afraid to tell Eli of God’s plans for him and his family.

• Eli recognized the fact that the Lord had spoken to Samuel.

• Eli called down God’s judgment on Samuel if he refused to tell everything he knew.

• A prophet’s assignment can be a very challenging and difficult assignment. It is not easy to tell people something they may not want to hear.

• All throughout the Scripture both the prophet and their message were frequently rejected by the people the message was directed toward.

• Samuel was taking on the role of a prophet of God.

• To his credit, Eli humbly accepts God’s judgment.

• As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him.

• The reliability of Samuel’s message made it evident that God was speaking through him.

• God reopened the lines of communication with Israel through Samuel.

• Samuel was God’s spokesman for all of Israel.

Samuel’s Call to God’s Service

Previous lesson:

A Warning for Eli’s Family
God had a message for Eli.
Sin has consequences.
Because of flagrant
disobedience, the house of Eli would forfeit their priesthood.
Hophni and Phinehas would both be killed on the same day.

1 Samuel 3:1-14 NLT
The Lord Speaks to Samuel
^3:1 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.
² One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. ³ The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God. ⁴ Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!”
“Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” ⁵ He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
“I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did.
⁶ Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!”
Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
“I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.”
⁷ Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. ⁸ So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. ⁹ So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.
¹⁰ And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”
¹¹ Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. ¹² I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end. ¹³ I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn’t disciplined them. ¹⁴ So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.”

Examine the Scriptures 

^3:1 Meanwhile, 

During the events of chapters one and two.

1 Samuel 2:21 NLT
²¹ And the Lord blessed Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.

1 Samuel 2:26 NLT
²⁶ Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people. 

 the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli.

The Hebrew word “boy” used here is the same word used of David when he killed Goliath.

The historian Josephus believed that Samuel was 12 years old.
Other Bible scholars believe he may have been older than 12. 

Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.

• The time of the judges was a period of extremely limited (“rare” or “uncommon”) prophetic activity.

Except for a few exceptions, God was not disclosing His will through prophets or priests.

Some of these exceptions are found in Judges 2, 6, 7, 10, & 13.

The period was spiritually dark.

Judges 21:25 NLT
²⁵ In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

This was all about to change when God communicated with Samuel. 

² One night Eli, who was almost blind by now,

• Eli was almost blind, both physically and spiritually. 

had gone to bed.  

³ The lamp of God had not yet gone out,

The priests were responsible for keeping the lamp of God burning through the night.

Exodus 27:20-21 NLT
Light for the Tabernacle
²⁰ “Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. ²¹ The lampstand will stand in the Tabernacle, in front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the Lord’s presence all night. This is a permanent law for the people of Israel, and it must be observed from generation to generation.

Leviticus 24:1-3 NLT
^24:1 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. ³ This is the lampstand that stands in the Tabernacle, in front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron must keep the lamps burning in the Lord’s presence all night. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation.

This implies early morning hours were approaching. 

and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God. 

The Tabernacle was the house of the Lord or the Temple of the Lord.

Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God.  

• Samuel sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God symbolizes Samuel’s nearness to God, in contrast to Eli and his sons.

⁴ Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!”
“Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” ⁵ He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
“I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did.
⁶ Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!”
Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
“I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.” 

⁷ Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. 

Samuel did know about the Lord.

Samuel had not yet encountered the Lord in a personal way.

• Samuel did know about the Lord but he had not yet encountered the Lord in a personal way. 

⁸ So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” 

Then

It took three times. 

Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. 

• The events in this narrative indicate that Eli’s spiritual perception was not what it should have been as the high priest and judge of Israel.

Another example of misperception.

1 Samuel 1:12-16 NLT
¹² As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. ¹³ Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. ¹⁴ “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!”

⁹ So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.

• When Eli finally discerned that Samuel was being addressed by the Lord, he advised Samuel to respond to God, not to him (Eli). 

¹⁰ And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” 

• The doubling of the name calls attention to the seriousness of the moment.

Note other examples when the doubling of the name was used:

Genesis 22:11 NLT
¹¹ At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!”

Genesis 46:2 NLT
² During the night God spoke to him in a vision. “Jacob! Jacob!” he called.
“Here I am,” Jacob replied.

Exodus 3:4 NLT
⁴ When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am!” Moses replied. 

Matthew 27:46 NLT
⁴⁶ At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

Luke 22:31 NLT
³¹ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.

Acts 9:4 NLT
⁴ He (Saul) fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 

And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

Samuel is not just hearing a voice, he is listening.

• Eli had instructed Samuel to identify himself as God’s servant.

Samuel most likely understood his role.

See verse 1: Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli

¹¹ Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. 

God was about to give this young boy, Samuel, a message of impending destruction.

Events that would be of national significance to Israel.

This is an indication that Samuel had truly “grown in favor with the Lord” (matured) (2:26 NLT).

God would not have given this message to someone who was too immature to grasp its significance. 

¹² I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end. 

• God gave Samuel the same message Eli had received from “a man of God”.

1 Samuel 2:31-34 NLT
³¹ The time is coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests. All the members of your family will die before their time. None will reach old age. ³² You will watch with envy as I pour out prosperity on the people of Israel. But no members of your family will ever live out their days. ³³ The few not cut off from serving at my altar will survive, but only so their eyes can go blind and their hearts break, and their children will die a violent death. ³⁴ And to prove that what I have said will come true, I will cause your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to die on the same day!

This did not happen immediately, but it did happen.

It took 130 years to fulfill this message.

Galatians 6:7 NLT
⁷ Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 

¹³ I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, 

because his sons are blaspheming God

Leviticus 24:16 NLT
¹⁶ Anyone who blasphemes the Name of the Lord must be stoned to death by the whole community of Israel. Any native-born Israelite or foreigner among you who blasphemes the Name of the Lord must be put to death. 

and he hasn’t disciplined them. 

• Eli was implicated in the sins of his sons because he did not intervene with judgment. If his sons were blaspheming God, they should have been stoned. 

¹⁴ So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.”

Numbers 15:30-31 NLT
Laws concerning Offerings
³⁰ “But those who brazenly violate the Lord’s will, whether native-born Israelites or foreigners, have blasphemed the Lord, and they must be cut off from the community. ³¹ Since they have treated the Lord’s word with contempt and deliberately disobeyed his command, they must be completely cut off and suffer the punishment for their guilt.”

Hebrews 10:26-27 NLT
²⁶ Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. ²⁷ There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.

• If we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.(Hebrews 10:26 NLT)

• Eli understood the seriousness of his son’s behaviors.

1 Samuel 2:22-25 NLT
²² Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel. He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle ²³ Eli said to them, “I have been hearing reports from all the people about the wicked things you are doing. Why do you keep sinning? ²⁴ You must stop, my sons! The reports I hear among the Lord’s people are not good. ²⁵ If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?” But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death. 

 

God spoke to Samuel and Samuel was ready to listen.

***************** 

• The time of the judges was a period of extremely limited (“rare” or “uncommon”) prophetic activity.
• Eli was almost blind, both physically and spiritually.
• Samuel sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God symbolizes Samuel’s nearness to God, in contrast to Eli and his sons.
• Samuel did know about the Lord but he had not yet encountered the Lord in a personal way.
• The events in this narrative indicate that Eli’s spiritual perception was not what it should have been, as the high priest and judge of Israel.
• When Eli finally discerned that Samuel was being addressed by the Lord, he advised Samuel respond to God, not to him (Eli).
• The doubling of the name calls attention to the seriousness of the moment.
• Eli had instructed Samuel to identify himself as God’s servant.
• God gave Samuel the same message Eli had received from “a man of God”.
• Eli was implicated in the sins of his sons because he did not intervene with judgment. If his sons were blaspheming God, they should have been stoned.
• If we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.(Hebrews 10:26 NLT)
• Eli understood the seriousness of his son’s behaviors.

 

A Warning for Eli’s Family

Note the widespread consequences for disobedience.

The time sequence in this lesson jumps back and forth.  More details from this lesson will come up in future lessons of 1 Samuel.

1 Samuel 2:27-36 NLT
A Warning for Eli’s Family
²⁷ One day a man of God came to Eli and gave him this message from the Lord: “I revealed myself to your ancestors when they were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. ²⁸ I chose your ancestor Aaron from among all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear the priestly vest as he served me. And I assigned the sacrificial offerings to you priests. ²⁹ So why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings? Why do you give your sons more honor than you give me—for you and they have become fat from the best offerings of my people Israel!
³⁰ “Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me. ³¹ The time is coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests. All the members of your family will die before their time. None will reach old age. ³² You will watch with envy as I pour out prosperity on the people of Israel. But no members of your family will ever live out their days. ³³ The few not cut off from serving at my altar will survive, but only so their eyes can go blind and their hearts break, and their children will die a violent death. ³⁴ And to prove that what I have said will come true, I will cause your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to die on the same day!
³⁵ “Then I will raise up a faithful priest who will serve me and do what I desire. I will establish his family, and they will be priests to my anointed kings forever. ³⁶ Then all of your surviving family will bow before him, begging for money and food. ‘Please,’ they will say, ‘give us jobs among the priests so we will have enough to eat.’”

Examine the Scriptures
1 Samuel 2:27-36 NLT
A Warning for Eli’s Family 

²⁷ One day a man of God came to Eli and gave him this message from the Lord:

“A man of God” is the phrase usually used as a synonym for “prophet”.

• God had a message for Eli.

Matthew 11:15 NLT
¹⁵ Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

Isaiah 28:23 NLT
²³ Listen to me;
listen, and pay close attention.

Proverbs 8:33 NLT
³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise.
Don’t ignore it.

Jeremiah 7:24-27 NLT
²⁴ “But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward. ²⁵ From the day your ancestors left Egypt until now, I have continued to send my servants, the prophets—day in and day out. ²⁶ But my people have not listened to me or even tried to hear. They have been stubborn and sinful—even worse than their ancestors.
²⁷ “Tell them all this, but do not expect them to listen. Shout out your warnings, but do not expect them to respond. 

• Many people choose not to listen when God speaks to them.

“I revealed myself to your ancestors when they were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. 

Exodus 3-4
Moses and the burning bush.
Signs of the Lord’s power. (Moses and Aaron)
Moses staff turned into a serpent etc.

• God revealed himself to Eli’s ancestors.

²⁸ I chose your ancestor Aaron from among all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear the priestly vest as he served me. 

Exodus 28:1-3 NLT
^28:1 “Call for your brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Set them apart from the rest of the people of Israel so they may minister to me and be my priests. ² Make sacred garments for Aaron that are glorious and beautiful. ³ Instruct all the skilled craftsmen whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom. Have them make garments for Aaron that will distinguish him as a priest set apart for my service. 

• God chose Aaron from among all the tribes of Israel to be his priest, to offer sacrifices on his altar, to burn incense, and to wear the priestly vest as he served Him.

And I assigned the sacrificial offerings to you priests.  

• One of the primary duties of the priests was to offer sacrifices on the alter. (That was their job.)

²⁹ So why do you (Eli) scorn my sacrifices and offerings?

Eli was the high priest.

Luke 12:48 NLT
⁴⁸ But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. 

Why do you give your sons more honor than you give me—for you and they have become fat from the best offerings of my people Israel!

“you give your sons more honor than you give me”

“you and they have become fat from the best offerings of my people Israel!”

• Eli showed a preference for the wishes of his sons above the will of the Lord and was therefore unworthy of the Lord’s blessings.

1 Samuel 2:22
²² Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel.

• Eli benefitted from his son’s activities, and God held Eli accountable for letting them continue.

³⁰ “Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests.

Exodus 29:9 NLT
⁹ Wrap the sashes around the waists of Aaron and his sons, and put their special head coverings on them. Then the right to the priesthood will be theirs by law forever. In this way, you will ordain Aaron and his sons. 

Numbers 25:10-13 NLT
¹⁰ Then the Lord said to Moses, ¹¹ “Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the priest has turned my anger away from the Israelites by being as zealous among them as I was. So I stopped destroying all Israel as I had intended to do in my zealous anger. ¹² Now tell him that I am making my special covenant of peace with him. ¹³ In this covenant, I give him and his descendants a permanent right to the priesthood, for in his zeal for me, his God, he purified the people of Israel, making them right with me.”

• The descendants of Aaron had a right to the priesthood.

But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me. 

• Because of flagrant disobedience, the house of Eli would forfeit their priesthood. Although the descendants of Aaron had a right to the priesthood, priests could forfeit their position by their sins.

³¹ The time is coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests.

• The man of God declares a curse for Eli and all his descendants.

• Sin has consequences.

All the members of your family will die before their time. None will reach old age.

• The judgement of untimely death followed Eli’s descendants.

Unusual way for this to occur.

1 Samuel 22:16-19 NLT
¹⁶ “You will surely die, Ahimelech, along with your entire family!” the king shouted. ¹⁷ And he ordered his bodyguards, “Kill these priests of the Lord, for they are allies and conspirators with David! They knew he was running away from me, but they didn’t tell me!” But Saul’s men refused to kill the Lord’s priests.
¹⁸ Then the king said to Doeg, “You do it.” So Doeg the Edomite turned on them and killed them that day, eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments. ¹⁹ Then he went to Nob, the town of the priests, and killed the priests’ families—men and women, children and babies—and all the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats. 

²⁰ Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, escaped and fled to David.  

 ³² You will watch with envy as I pour out prosperity on the people of Israel. 

1 Kings 3:14 NLT
¹⁴ And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.” 

But no members of your family will ever live out their days. 

A short life often expresses God’s disfavor, while a long life represents God’s blessing.

A short life vs. a long life. 

³³ The few not cut off from serving at my altar will survive, but only so their eyes can go blind and their hearts break, and their children will die a violent death.  

1 Samuel 22:
  ²⁰ Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, escaped and fled to David. 

³⁴ And to prove that what I have said will come true, I will cause your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to die on the same day!

1 Samuel 4:17 NLT
¹⁷ “Israel has been defeated by the Philistines,” the messenger replied. “The people have been slaughtered, and your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were also killed. And the Ark of God has been captured.”

A confirmation of God’s message told by His prophet.

• Hophni and Phinehas were killed by the Philistines.

³⁵ “Then I will raise up a faithful priest who will serve me and do what I desire. I will establish his family, and they will be priests to my anointed kings forever. 

The priesthood was taken from Abiathar, descendant of Aaron’s son Ithamar, and given to Zadok, descendant of Aaron’s son Eleazar.

Human terms:

1 Kings 2:27 NLT
²⁷ So Solomon deposed Abiathar from his position as priest of the Lord, thereby fulfilling the prophecy the Lord had given at Shiloh concerning the descendants of Eli. 

• The priesthood was taken from Abiathar, descendant of Aaron’s son Ithamar 

1 Kings 2:35 NLT
³⁵ Then the king appointed Benaiah to command the army in place of Joab, and he installed Zadok the priest to take the place of Abiathar.

• The priesthood was given to Zadok, descendant of Aaron’s son Eleazar.

Ezekiel 44:15 NLT
¹⁵ “However, the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok continued to minister faithfully in the Temple when Israel abandoned me for idols. These men will serve as my ministers. They will stand in my presence and offer the fat and blood of the sacrifices, says the Sovereign Lord.

Ezekiel 48:11 NLT
¹¹ This area (designated land around the temple Temple) is set aside for the ordained priests, the descendants of Zadok who served me faithfully and did not go astray with the people of Israel and the rest of the Levites. 

• The descendants of Zadok served God faithfully and did not go astray with the people of Israel and the rest of the Levites.

Spiritual terms:

Hebrews 5:4-10 NLT
⁴ And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was. ⁵ That is why Christ did not honor himself by assuming he could become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him,
“You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.”
⁶ And in another passage God said to him,
“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
⁷ While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. ⁸ Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. ⁹ In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. ¹⁰ And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

• Jesus Christ is our great high priest.

³⁶ Then all of your surviving family will bow before him, begging for money and food. ‘Please,’ they will say, ‘give us jobs among the priests so we will have enough to eat.’”

Members of the family who had gorged themselves on the sacrifices were now begging for food.

***************************************

• God had a message for Eli.

• Many people choose not to listen when God speaks to them.

• God revealed himself to Eli’s ancestors.

• God chose Aaron from among all the tribes of Israel to be his priest, to offer sacrifices on his altar, to burn incense, and to wear the priestly vest as he served Him.

• One of the primary duties of the priests was to offer sacrifices on the alter. (That was their job.)

• Eli showed a preference for the wishes of his sons above the will of the Lord and was therefore unworthy of the Lord’s blessings.

• Eli benefitted from his son’s activities, and God held Eli accountable for letting them continue.

• The descendants of Aaron had a right to the priesthood.

• Because of flagrant disobedience, the house of Eli would forfeit their priesthood. Although the descendants of Aaron had a right to the priesthood, priests could forfeit their position by their sins.

• The man of God declares a curse for Eli and all his descendants.

• Sin has consequences.

• The judgement of untimely death followed Eli’s descendants.

• Hophni and Phinehas were killed by the Philistines.

• The priesthood was taken from Abiathar, descendant of Aaron’s son Ithamar. 

• The priesthood was given to Zadok, descendant of Aaron’s son Eleazar.

• The descendants of Zadok served God faithfully and did not go astray with the people of Israel and the rest of the Levites.

• Jesus Christ is our great high priest. 

Eli’s Wicked Sons

Introduction

In this lesson Samuel’s behavior is compared to the behavior of Eli’s sons.

1 Samuel 2:11-26 NLT
¹¹ Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the Lord by assisting Eli the priest.
Eli’s Wicked Sons
¹² Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord ¹³ or for their duties as priests. Whenever anyone offered a sacrifice, Eli’s sons would send over a servant with a three-pronged fork. While the meat of the sacrificed animal was still boiling, ¹⁴ the servant would stick the fork into the pot and demand that whatever it brought up be given to Eli’s sons. All the Israelites who came to worship at Shiloh were treated this way. ¹⁵ Sometimes the servant would come even before the animal’s fat had been burned on the altar. He would demand raw meat before it had been boiled so that it could be used for roasting.
¹⁶ The man offering the sacrifice might reply, “Take as much as you want, but the fat must be burned first.” Then the servant would demand, “No, give it to me now, or I’ll take it by force.” ¹⁷ So the sin of these young men was very serious in the Lord’s sight, for they treated the Lord’s offerings with contempt.
¹⁸ But Samuel, though he was only a boy, served the Lord. He wore a linen garment like that of a priest. ¹⁹ Each year his mother made a small coat for him and brought it to him when she came with her husband for the sacrifice. ²⁰ Before they returned home, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the Lord give you other children to take the place of this one she gave to the Lord.” ²¹ And the Lord blessed Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.
²² Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel. He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle. ²³ Eli said to them, “I have been hearing reports from all the people about the wicked things you are doing. Why do you keep sinning? ²⁴ You must stop, my sons! The reports I hear among the Lord’s people are not good. ²⁵ If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?” But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death.
²⁶ Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people.

Examine the Scriptures

1 Samuel 2:11-26 NLT
¹¹ Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the Lord by assisting Eli the priest.

1 Samuel 1:24 NLT
²⁴ When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh.

• As a Levite, the boy Samuel performed services that assisted Eli, the high priest.

The Levite Clans
1 Chronicles 6:27 NLT
²⁷ Eliab, Jeroham, Elkanah, and Samuel.

Eli’s Wicked Sons
¹² Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels

Worthless (ESV)

Despicable (CEB)

who had no respect for the Lord 

“They did not know the Lord.” (ESV)

“Did not know the Lord”.

¹³ or for their duties as priests. 

Although they were priests among God’s people, they did not acknowledge God or seek to abide by His will.

Eli’s sons were not the only wicked priests.

Jeremiah 2:8 NLT
⁸ The priests did not ask,
‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who taught my word ignored me,
the rulers turned against me,
and the prophets spoke in the name of Baal,
wasting their time on worthless idols. 

Judges 21:25 NLT
²⁵ In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. 

• The sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord or for their duties as priests. 

Whenever anyone offered a sacrifice, Eli’s sons would send over a servant with a three-pronged fork. While the meat of the sacrificed animal was still boiling, ¹⁴ the servant would stick the fork into the pot and demand that whatever it brought up be given to Eli’s sons.

Deuteronomy 18:3 NLT
³ “These are the parts the priests may claim as their share from the cattle, sheep, and goats that the people bring as offerings: the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach. 

All the Israelites who came to worship at Shiloh were treated this way. 

Repeated offences.

¹⁵ Sometimes the servant would come even before the animal’s fat had been burned on the altar. He would demand raw meat before it had been boiled so that it could be used for roasting.

Leviticus 3 NLT
3 “If you present an animal from the herd as a peace offering to the Lord, it may be a male or a female, but it must have no defects. … ³ The priest must present part of this peace offering as a special gift to the Lord. This includes all the fat around the internal organs … ⁵ and Aaron’s sons will burn them on top of the burnt offering on the wood burning on the altar. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
… ⁹ The priest must present the fat of this peace offering as a special gift to the Lord. … and the fat around them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver. These must be removed with the kidneys, ¹¹ and the priest will burn them on the altar. It is a special gift of food presented to the Lord.
¹⁴ The priest must present part of this offering as a special gift to the Lord. This includes all the fat around the internal organs … ¹⁶ and the priest will burn them on the altar. It is a special gift of food, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. All the fat belongs to the Lord.
¹⁷ “You must never eat any fat or blood. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation, wherever you live.”

Leviticus 7:31 NLT
³¹ Then the priest will burn the fat on the altar, but the breast will belong to Aaron and his descendants. 

¹⁶ The man offering the sacrifice might reply, “Take as much as you want, but the fat must be burned first.” Then the servant would demand, “No, give it to me now, or I’ll take it by force.” 

“I’ll take it by force.”  The wishes of the people offering the sacrifices were ignored.

¹⁷ So the sin of these young men was very serious in the Lord’s sight, for they treated the Lord’s offerings with contempt.

• The sin of these young men was very serious in the Lord’s sight, for they treated the Lord’s offerings with contempt.

• Eli’s sons disregarded God’s instructions. 

¹⁸ But Samuel, though he was only a boy, served the Lord.

In sharp contrast to the sons of Eli.

• Samuel went above and beyond the expectations of the Levites.

The Levites, members of the same tribe, but who were not descendants of Aaron, served as aides to the priests, doing things like helping to prepare the sacrifices. They took care of the temple, making repairs when needed, and served as musicians, singers, doorkeepers.

The Levites lived for the greater part of the year in their own cities and came up at fixed periods of time to take their turn of work.

Numbers 8:24-25 NLT
²⁴ “This is the rule the Levites must follow: They must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five, ²⁵ and they must retire at the age of fifty. 

Deuteronomy 18:6-7 NLT
⁶ “Suppose a Levite chooses to move from his town in Israel, wherever he is living, to the place the Lord chooses for worship. ⁷ He may minister there in the name of the Lord his God, just like all his fellow Levites who are serving the Lord there. 

• In sharp contrast to the sons of Eli, Samuel served the Lord.

He wore a linen garment like that of a priest. 

Samuel dressed like a priest.

Samuel functioned as a priest.

Samuel makes sacrifices on behalf of the people, and offers intercessory prayers to God for them.

1 Samuel 7:9 NLT
⁹ So Samuel took a young lamb and offered it to the Lord as a whole burnt offering. He pleaded with the Lord to help Israel, and the Lord answered him.

All priests were Levites.

Not all Levites were priests.

Was Samuel a Priest? (Support your answer.) 

¹⁹ Each year his mother made a small coat for him and brought it to him when she came with her husband for the sacrifice. 

• Hannah would visit Samuel on a yearly basis to help with some of his material needs.

²⁰ Before they returned home, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the Lord give you other children to take the place of this one she gave to the Lord.” 

Blessing was one of the functions of a priest.

Review:

It was the duty and privilege of the priests to bless the people in the name of the Lord.

Numbers 6:22-27 NLT
²² Then the Lord said to Moses, ²³ “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:
²⁴ ‘May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
²⁵ May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
²⁶ May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.’
²⁷ Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.” 

Lev 9:22-23 NLT
²² After that, Aaron raised his hands toward the people and blessed them. Then, after presenting the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offering, he stepped down from the altar. ²³ Then Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle, and when they came back out, they blessed the people again, and the glory of the Lord appeared to the whole community.  

• A blessing from God’s high priest was an assurance that Hannah’s prayer would be answered.

²¹ And the Lord blessed Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters.

• The Lord blessed Hannah, giving her three sons and two daughters, more than what she asked for.

Meanwhile, Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord. 

²² Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel. 

• Eli was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel.

• Eli lacked good parental skills.

1 Timothy 3:4 NLT
⁴ He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him.

Titus 1:6 NLT
⁶ An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. 

He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 

Religious prostitution was common among Israel’s Canaanite neighbors.

Deuteronomy 23:17-18 NLT
¹⁷ “No Israelite, whether man or woman, may become a temple prostitute. ¹⁸ When you are bringing an offering to fulfill a vow, you must not bring to the house of the Lord your God any offering from the earnings of a prostitute, whether a man or a woman, for both are detestable to the Lord your God.

This verse may not apply directly to this situation, but we do know that this behavior was detestable to the Lord and was a desecration of his house. 

• Seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle was behavior that was detestable to the Lord and was a desecration of his house. 

²³ Eli said to them, “I have been hearing reports from all the people about the wicked things you are doing. Why do you keep sinning? ²⁴ You must stop, my sons!

Eli rebuked his sons but did not remove them from office.

• Eli’s discipline was too little, too late.

Proverbs 22:6 NLT
⁶ Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Deuteronomy 6:4-8 NLT
⁴ “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. ⁵ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. ⁶ And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. ⁷ Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. ⁸ Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.

The reports I hear among the Lord’s people are not good.  

²⁵ If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?”

These are serious offenses by priests against God.

Psalm 145:20 NLT
²⁰ The Lord protects all those who love him,
but he destroys the wicked.

Nahum 1:3 NLT³ The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great,
and he never lets the guilty go unpunished.

Psalm 51:4 NLT
⁴ Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just. 

• God never lets the guilty go unpunished.

But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death.

• Eli’s sons had persisted in their evil ways so long that God’s judgment on them was already determined.

²⁶ Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people.

In contrast to Eli’s sons, Samuel was maturing both spiritually and socially.

Luke 2:52 NLT
⁵² Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. 

• Scripture includes Samuel’s name in a list of men of faith. (Hebrews 11:32)

Hebrews 11:32 NLT
³² How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets.

 ******************************** 

• As a Levite, the boy Samuel performed services that assisted Eli, the high priest.

• The sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord or for their duties as priests.

• The sin of these young men was very serious in the Lord’s sight, for they treated the Lord’s offerings with contempt.

• Eli’s sons disregarded God’s instructions.

• Samuel went above and beyond the expectations of the Levites.

• In sharp contrast to the sons of Eli, Samuel served the Lord.

• Hannah would visit Samuel on a yearly basis to help with some of his material needs.

• A blessing from God’s high priest was an assurance that Hannah’s prayer would be answered.

• The Lord blessed Hannah, giving her three sons and two daughters, more than what she asked for.

• Eli was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel.

• Eli lacked good parental skills.

• Seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle was behavior that was detestable to the Lord and was a desecration of his house.

• Eli’s discipline was too little, too late.

• God never lets the guilty go unpunished.

• Eli’s sons had persisted in their evil ways so long that God’s judgment on them was already determined.

• Scripture includes Samuel’s name in a list of men of faith. (Hebrews 11:32)

 

Hannah’s Prayer of Praise

1 Samuel 2:1-10 NLT
^2:1 Then Hannah prayed:
“My heart rejoices in the Lord!
The Lord has made me strong.
Now I have an answer for my enemies;
I rejoice because you rescued me.
² No one is holy like the Lord!
There is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
³ “Stop acting so proud and haughty!
Don’t speak with such arrogance!
For the Lord is a God who knows what you have done;
he will judge your actions.
⁴ The bow of the mighty is now broken,
and those who stumbled are now strong.
⁵ Those who were well fed are now starving,
and those who were starving are now full.
The childless woman now has seven children,
and the woman with many children wastes away.
⁶ The Lord gives both death and life;
he brings some down to the grave but raises others up.
⁷ The Lord makes some poor and others rich;
he brings some down and lifts others up.
⁸ He lifts the poor from the dust
and the needy from the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes,
placing them in seats of honor.
For all the earth is the Lord’s,
and he has set the world in order.
⁹ “He will protect his faithful ones,
but the wicked will disappear in darkness.
No one will succeed by strength alone.
¹⁰     Those who fight against the Lord will be shattered.
He thunders against them from heaven;
the Lord judges throughout the earth.
He gives power to his king;
he increases the strength of his anointed one.”

Examine the Scriptures

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

1 Samuel 2:1-10 NLT
Hannah’s Prayer of Praise

Hannah’s prayer is also known as a song or a poem.

Hannah’s prayer celebrates Samuel’s dedication to the Lord’s service.

Hannah’s prayer is a song of praise and thanksgiving to God.

There are similarities between Hannah’s Prayer of Praise and Mary’s Song of Praise (Luke 1:46-55) and some commentators say Mary incorporated parts of Hannah’s prayer into her song of praise.

This song has sometimes been termed the “Magnificat of the OT” since it is so similar to the Magnificat of the NT (Mary’s song).

Hannah’s Prayer of Praise and Mary’s Song of Praise both emphasize God bringing down the rich and powerful and exalting the poor and downtrodden.

Hannah’s Prayer of Praise also has similarities to David’s Song of Praise in 2 Samuel 22.

It also has certain resemblances to the “Benedictus” (the song of Zechariah, Luke 1:67-79).

 

Consider the reasons this prayer is included in Scripture.

A Model Prayer of Praise – Full of theology

Themes:

Attributes of God.

How God treats people.

(It is not a prayer about Samuel.) 

^2:1 Then Hannah prayed:
“My heart rejoices in the Lord!

This was a prayer of joy, unlike her prayer in chapter one.

1 Samuel 1:10 NLT
¹⁰ Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord.

The source of Hannah’s joy is not the child, but in God who has answered her prayer.

Hannah has been delivered from disgrace to a position of honor and strength.

Philippians 4:4-8 ESV
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Isaiah 61:10 NLT
¹⁰ I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!
For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation
and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding
or a bride with her jewels.

A reminder to:

• • Rejoice in the Lord always. (Philippians 4:4 NLT) 

The Lord has made me strong. 

Isaiah 41:10 NLT
¹⁰ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Psalm 23:4 NLT
⁴ Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.

Philippians 4:13 NLT
¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 

Psalm 18:1-2 NLT
¹ I love you, Lord;
you are my strength.
² The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.

Isaiah 12:2 NLT
² See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.”

Isaiah 40:31 NLT
³¹ But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

Habakkuk 3:19 NLT
¹⁹ The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights.

Psalm 46:1-3 NLT
¹ God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
² So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
³ Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! 

Joshua 1:9 NLT
⁹ This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

A reminder that:

• • God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1 NLT) 

Now I have an answer for my enemies; 

This prayer can be used by Hannah to respond to her enemies (Peninnah).

The Lord gave Hannah words to say.

 I rejoice because you rescued me.

More rejoicing.

Psalm 5:11 NLT
¹¹ But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them sing joyful praises forever.
Spread your protection over them,
that all who love your name may be filled with joy.

Philippians 4:4 NLT
⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

Psalm 66:1 NLT
¹ Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! 

• I say it again—rejoice! (Philippians 4:4 NLT) 

² No one is holy like the Lord! 

Hannah recognized the fact that God was a holy God. 

Isaiah 6:1-3 NLT
^6:1 It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. ² Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. ³ They were calling out to each other,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!” 

Revelation 4:6-8 NLT
(A portion of John’s vision)
⁶ In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.
In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. ⁷ The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. ⁸ Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” 

A reminder that God is holy, perfect, and without sin. 

• • “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” (Revelation 4:8 NLT) 

 There is no one besides you;

Isaiah 44:6 NLT
⁶ This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies:
“I am the First and the Last;
there is no other God. 

Isaiah 45:5-6 NLT
⁵ I am the Lord;
there is no other God.
I have equipped you for battle,
though you don’t even know me,
⁶ so all the world from east to west
will know there is no other God.
I am the Lord, and there is no other. 

Jeremiah 10:6 NLT
⁶ Lord, there is no one like you!
For you are great, and your name is full of power.

God is unique. 

• • Lord, there is no one like you! For you are great, and your name is full of power. (Jeremiah 10:6 NLT) 

   there is no Rock (strength) like our God.

A Rock symbolizes strength, stability, and security.

Hannah recognized God’s uniqueness.

Psalm 18:31 NLT
³¹ For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock? 

Isaiah 44:8 NLT
⁸ Do not tremble; do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago?
You are my witnesses—is there any other God?
No! There is no other Rock—not one!”

A reminder that God is the stability in our lives. 

• • There is no other God. There is no other Rock-not one. 

³ “Stop acting so proud and haughty!
Don’t speak with such arrogance!

Peninnah typified this attitude.

1 Samuel 1:6-7
⁶ So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children. ⁷ Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat.

This also typifies the attitudes of Eli’s sons, the Philistines, Saul, Nabal, Goliath, Absalom, Shimei and Sheba as recorded in 1^st and 2^nd Samuel.

By contrast Hannah was humbly dependent on God.

For the Lord is a God who knows what you have done; 

Psalm 147:5 NLT
⁵ How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension!

1 John 3:20 NLT
²⁰ Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

he will judge your actions.

• The Lord is an all-knowing, righteous judge.

God humbles the proud.

God exalts the humble. 

⁴ The bow of the mighty is now broken,
and those who stumbled are now strong.
⁵ Those who were well fed are now starving,
and those who were starving are now full. 

God often works contrary to natural expectations and brings about surprising reversals.

The childless woman now has seven children,

Seven children communicates the picture of a women blessed with a house full of children.

1 Samuel 2:21 NLT
²¹ And the Lord blessed Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.

and the woman with many children wastes away. 

The Lord gives both death and life;
he brings some down to the grave but raises others up.
⁷ The Lord makes some poor and others rich;
he brings some down and lifts others up.
⁸ He lifts the poor from the dust
and the needy from the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes,
placing them in seats of honor.
For all the earth is the Lord’s,
and he has set the world in order.

Hannah celebrated God’s sovereign ability to radically reverse human circumstances.

The Lord demonstrates His sovereignty in human affairs.

• Life and death, as well as prosperity and adversity are all determined by the sovereignty of God. 

⁹ “He will protect his faithful ones,
but the wicked will disappear in darkness.
No one will succeed by strength alone.

God is able to reverse fortunes.

The Lord blesses His faithful ones, but brings the wicked to destruction. 

¹⁰     Those who fight against the Lord will be shattered.
He thunders against them from heaven;
the Lord judges throughout the earth.

• The Lord will impose His righteous rule on all the nations and peoples.

• Those who fight against the Lord will be shattered. 

He gives power to his king;
he increases the strength of his anointed one.”

Scripture frequently has multiple messages.

This is prophetic, anticipating the establishment of kingship in Israel. The kings of Israel, especially David, foreshadowed the Lord’s ultimate anointed king, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Luke 1:69 NLT
⁶⁹ He has sent us a mighty Savior
from the royal line of his servant David,

 *********************** 

• Rejoice in the Lord always. (Philippians 4:4 NLT)
• God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1 NLT)
• I say it again—rejoice! (Philippians 4:4 NLT)
• “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” (Revelation 4:8 NLT)
• LORD, there is no one like you! For you are great, and your name is full of power. (Jeremiah 10:6 NLT)
• There is no other God. There is no other Rock-not one.
• The Lord is an all-knowing righteous judge.
  God humbles the proud.
  God exalts the humble.

• Life and death, as well as prosperity and adversity are all determined by the sovereignty of God.
• The Lord will impose His righteous rule on all the nations and peoples.
• Those who fight against the LORD will be shattered.