1 Samuel 2 vs 1-12

1 Samuel Chapter 2 Verses 1 – 2

·    When Hannah says here that her “horn” is exalted in the Lord, that speaks of her strength. Being built up inwardly and outwardly. Biblically the horn speaks of strength or authority and it makes sense because the strength of an ox could be displayed in its horn. The shofar that is blown at the time of battle or congregation or proclamation is a horn of a ram, goat or sheep.

·    “I smile at my enemies” can be taken as a statement of satisfaction in revenge but it also can be considered an ability to still be joyful even though there are enemies. Enemies are bad news and don’t typically incite responses of happiness but the principle here is her hope and trust is in the Lord, not the circumstance. Creates a supernatural ability to smile at your enemy…

·    And notice, she sings a song of worship and her heart rejoices in the Lord, and she is strengthened in the inner person all on the same day as her losing the most important thing to her, her miraculous son. That’s why we read here that she rejoices in the Lord, not in her loss. Her loss is no doubt grievous…

·    Isaiah 53:10 says, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief…” Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” We certainly don’t rejoice in the circumstance always, but we can always rejoice in the Lord knowing that as we follow where He is guiding, He is leading us to a victory.

1 Samuel Chapter 2 Verses 3 – 8

·    I love that characterization of the plan and procedure of God in the life of someone who trusts in Him. They could be seemingly down-and-out or truly explicitly fiscally practically poor and ash-heap beggar status. And the Bible teaches us of diligence. The Word of God instructs us to discipline. The callings of God and enabling of God, the fruit of the Spirit, are things like long suffering, goodness, faithfulness, grit and self-control. Hard work beats talent all the time. It’s like scissors to the paper, the paper never wins!

·    This is the promise of God upon His name and integrity. Allow His guidance, revere His counsel and you also will find that the righteous are never forsaken…, definitely not by the Lord but also most-definitely not by the enemy! Oh, maybe you’ve never heard, all that the enemy wants to do in a life if forsake it…, for the sake of him! And yet Psalm 37:25 says, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging for bread!” Forsaken by whom? YUP….

·    Psalm 1:1-3, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper!” God LOVES to do this in the life of a sinful believer because it smiles even at HIS enemy!

1 Samuel Chapter 2 Verses 9 – 10

·    Verse 10 is extreme! Why? Because this is the first explicit mention in the Bible of the Messiah, using that word! The Hebrew word “masiah” is used four times in the book of Leviticus but it is translated and used to describe the office of the priest and definitely is not speaking of the coming Messiah because it speaks of the sin of the priests which cannot be Jesus. This is the first mention of Jesus in the Bible explicitly speaking of the coming Messiah!

·    And notice, verse 10 says He will come to judge and verse 10 says not only is He the coming Christ but He is also the coming King! What? There are no kings! No kings yet! Saul isn’t yet on the scene! This is the first mention of a coming King for the people of Israel, the judge thundering from heaven, and the Savior, the Christ of the people! All from the prophecy of Hannah!

1 Samuel Chapter 2 Verse 11

·    I love that verse! Biblical solid proof that children can serve the Lord right alongside of adults! Also, it speaks to just being little in the Lord and not knowing much. Not having much ministry experience on the resume or not knowing much of anything of doctrine or systematic theology.

·    If you have a pulse, you can serve the Lord. The important factor is not what you know or what you’ve done. What is required is that pulse is emanating from a heart given over to the Lord. That is what ministers to the Lord! And the primary ministry unto the Lord and for the Lord is just good ole’ fashioned simple kindness. Do any other ministry out there and do it without kindness and its not ministry… So kindness, important ministry, and anyone with a heart for the Lord can do it…

1 Samuel Chapter 2 Verse 12

·    I’m not sure at all what happened with the King James translators with this statement. There is no “corrupt” in the Hebrew here. What is actually stated is far more descriptive. In the original text, in the Hebrew, what is actually given here is “Ben Eli, ben Bliyaal.” The sons of Eli were the sons of Belial. Belial is the chief of the false gods. Another name for Satan himself.

·    The sons of Eli were worthless…, that’s another way to say this or translate this as Bilial was the god of worthlessness. They were destructive and caused ruin. And although they served as priests in the Tabernacle, they didn’t know God. How did they not get fired!? Eli significantly failed here which ultimately caused the harm of many and even his own death (we will see later). Why were they not dealt with? Because they were his sons… I’m sorry because this isn’t going to land well, but that fact has to take a back seat when what they are doing and who they are becoming is dark, evil, and ruining them and people around them.

·    Proverbs 13:24 says, “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.” Proverbs 29:15 says, “The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” Proverbs 23:13-14 says, “Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell.” Sounds harsh…, hell is harsher…

·    This is the environment of example Samuel has to serve in and yet we never hear of him serving Belial. A testament to the fact that as Christians we are not to be thermometers but we are to be thermostats. We aren’t shaped by the temp of the room or situation. We are to set it… And if folks around you aren’t serving the Lord, you serve Him all the more… Why? Because you know Him!

1 Samuel Chapter 2 Verses 13 – 15

·    The idea here and what we are witnessing is that they were taking their portion before giving to the Lord His portion. It’s a wildly offensive thought to the Spirit-filled Christian! If we aren’t willing to give to God first and of our first fruits then how is it that we believe we actually trust Him? How is it that we believe we actually live a life of worship!? We have been given much. Each of us… And there is a requirement, whether you call it the tithe or not, there is an underlying truth that as we have been given so much, each of us, it is natural that we give to the Lord and if we give to the Lord, how is it that some do not give first unto the Lord before giving to themselves? This is the indictment and proof text used to reveal that these are wicked men…

·    Jesus healed ten leapers once and sent them away to see the high priest and the Bible says on the way one of them perceiving the power of God and that he was healed turned back and ran back to Jesus and simply thanked him, before making it to the priest to take care of himself!

·    Check this out, Jesus said to him, Luke 17:17-19, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner? And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you complete.”

·    That day 10 were healed of their infirmity but only one, (interestingly enough 10%), was healed completely. Spiritually, emotionally, physically, completely… Also, check this out, only one enjoyed a personal experience with Jesus. The other nine enjoyed a group experience… One got one on one with Him….

1 Samuel Chapter 2 Verses 16 – 17

·    No, they didn’t! Someone says that’s not what it says! It just says that they didn’t give to God first but made sure they themselves were taken care of! They paid their Hulu bill and T-Mobile bill and gym membership bill and cable bill and refilled their Starbucks card and then with what they had left, they honored the Lord! I get it… However, to not love the offering and honor God in it is to abhor the offering… You and I may just not see it that way… God does…

·    The wickedness of these two is truly horrible. They are in the position of serving the Lord and in that they are to perfectly serve the people. That’s the calling and the standard and that is the instruction laid out with clarity in black and white text in the law… And instead of serving them with perfection unto the Lord they threaten the people. I can’t wait for God to deal with them!