Scripture readings are from the living Bible
today we start a series on the book of Samuel
This introduction to the book of Samuel comes from a Charles Stanley’s Bible called the life principles Bible
AS Charles Stanley writes”the book up for Samuel describes the transition of leadership in Israel from judges to Kings.Three characters take prominent roles in the book: Sanyo, the last judge Emperor’s profit;Saul, the first chain; and David,who had been anointed but not yet recognized as Saul’s successor.
God had chosen the nation of Israel greatly blessed the world, and his plan to do that involved putting David (his choice) and not Saul (the People’s choice) on the throne as King. While David many times appeared to be certain death, God kept him from permanent harm, allowing him to take a storied place in Israel’s history and gain a vital place in bringing to pass God’s ultimate plan for the salvation of all humankind.
The books of one and two Samuel — named for the prophet who anointed both Saul and David as king — originally formed one block in the Hebrew Bible, known as the book of Samuel. This name has been variously translated “the name of God,” his name is God, “heard of God,” and “ask of God.” The Septuagint divided Samuel into two books, even though this division artificially breaks up the history of David. A great title for Samuel is “books of the kingdoms” and refers to the latter kingdoms of Israel and Judea. The Latin Vulgate originally called the books of Samuel and Kings, “books of the Kings.” Later, a combine the Hebrew and Greek titles for the first of these books, calling it the “first book of Samuel.”
Theme’s: God is faithful and sovereign and keeping his promises to his people, even in the face of human mistakes, sin, and rebellion. For Samuel demonstrates that God protects and empowers those he has chosen and called for a specific purpose.
Author: unknown
time: first Samuel covers a period of about 94 years, getting at the time of Samuel (around 1100 BC), Israel’s final judge; moving through the ascension of Paul to the throne as the first king of Israel (1050 BC)
this concludes the introduction from the life principles book written by Charles Stanley
1 Samuel; chapter 1
this is the story of Elkanah, a man of the tribe of Ephraim who lived in Ramathanim-zophim, in the hills of Ephraim.
His father’s name was Jeroham,
his grandfather was lihu,
his great-grandfather was Tohu,
his great great grandfather was Zuph.
He had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah, Peninnah had some children, but Hannah hadn’t.
Each year Elkanah and his family’s journey to the tabernacle at Shiloh to worship the Lord of the heavens and to sacrifice to him. (The priest on duty at that time were the two sons ofEli-Hophni and Phinhas.) On the day he presented his sacrifice,Elkanah would celebrate the happy occasion by giving presents to Peninnah and her children; but although he loved Hannah very much, he could give her only one present, for the Lord had sealed her womb; so she had no children to give presents to. Peninnah made matters worse by taunting Hannah because of her barrenness.
Every year it was the same –Peninnah scoffing and laughing at her as they went to Shiloh, making her cry so much she couldn’t eat.
“What’s the matter, Hannah?” Elkanah would exclaim. “Why are you eating? Why make such a fuss over having no children? Isn’t having any better than having 10 sons?”
One evening after supper, when they were at Shiloh, Hannah went over to the tabernacle. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance. She was in deep anguish and was crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord.
And she made this vow; “oh Lord of heaven, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you, and he will be yours for his entire lifetime, and his hair shall never be cut.”
Eli noticed her mouth moving as she was praying so silently and, hearing no sound, but she had been drinking.
“Must you come here drunk?” He demanded area to “throw away your bottle.”
“Oh, no, sir!” She replied, “I’m not drunk! But I am very sad and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. Please don’t think that I am some drunken tramp!”
“In that case,” Eli said, “cheer up! May the Lord of Israel grant you your petition, whatever it is!”
“Oh, thank you sir!” She exclaimed, and then happily back and began to take her meals again.
The entire family was up early the next morning and went to the tabernacle to worship the Lord once more. Then they return home to Rama, and when elkanah slept with Hannah, the Lord remembered her petition; in the process of time, a baby boy was born to her. She named him Samuel (meaning “asked of God”) because, as she said, “I asked the Lord for him.”
The next year Elkannah and Penninah and her children went on the annual trip to the tabernacle without Hannah, for she told her husband, “wait till the baby is weaned, and then I will take him to the tabernacle and leave him there.”
“Well, whatever you think best,” Elkanah agreed. “May the Lord’s will be done.”
So she stayed home until the baby was weaned. Then, though he was still so small, they took them to the tabernacle and Shiloh, along with a three-year-old bull for the sacrifice, and 35 L of flour and some wine. After the sacrifice they took the child to Eli.
“Sir, you remember me?” Hannah asked him. “I am the woman who stood here that time praying to the Lord. I asked him to give me this child, and he has given me my request; and now I am giving him to the Lord for as long as he lives.” So she left him there at the tabernacle of the Lord to use.
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