Category: 1 Samuel

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The glory departs from Israel! Phineas and Hophni did not realise this, Phineas’ wife did. Would you realise when the Glory has departed from our church or people? The Gospel is preached to the Philistines – they see that the Lord is God. He throws down their idol Dagon. Philistia has a different spirit to the city of Gibeon, who heard and believed and therefore did everything to join Israel.

SJA Notes

* God of Light, please listen to our prayers O God, do not ignore our pleas. We call upon You, and trust in Your salvation.

“The glory has departed from Israel!”

The ark is captured, the glory of the Lord departs Israel.

A very low point, similar to that in Ezekiel as we see the glory of the Lord departing the temple, as the exiles were taken and living in Babylon (Ezekiel 10).

Israel at this time seemed to want to use the ark like a magic spell, a genie in a bottle – For the Lord to appear, or His power to be at work and conquer their enemies.

God doesn’t work this way.

Both Philistia and Israel see the truth of this clearly in the passage today.

Eli dies. One of the very last judges of Israel.

When the Philistines capture the ark, while Israel was soundly defeated, this has no bearing on the Lord’s sovereignty and power!

“The hand of God was very heavy there.”

God afflicted the Philistines, so much that their cry went up to heaven.

It is good for us to be reminded that our Lord God is the LORD – There is no other!

His ways are beyond our comprehension, we cannot plumb the depths of His mind – And yet He gives us His word, He reveals Himself to us.

We read in Isaiah 46,

“… For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, …”

This is our God!

* God Above,

You are God, there is none like You.

Please help us understand You better today.

Please help us figure out a little more of how to take the growing understanding and work it into our lives – Please teach us Lord God!

You are sovereign, we are not.

Your plans cannot fail, Your will is absolute, there is none that can overpower You.

Amen, and Hallelujah!

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

This is one of those precious records of where the Lord makes someone aware of Himself in a wonderful way. Paul’s meeting with Christ is equally dramatic and determinative for the future well-being of His people. This chapter makes the point that it was important that all of Israel recognized that God had attested Samuel as His prophet!

SJA Notes

* Faithful God, save us by Your Name and vindicate us by Your might. Please hear our prayer, give ear to the words of our mouths.

“And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.”

After the terrible moral depravity we see in Judges, and then with the promise of hope we read of in Ruth, here we have the calling of Samuel to be a prophet before the Lord.

A young boy is called by the Lord.

We know from previously that Samuel has been ministering before the Lord since he was very young, growing in the presence of the Lord – in both stature and favour with the Lord and also with man.

But here Samuel is CALLED.

How encouraged we can be from Samuel’s response (heeding Eli) – “Here I am!”

This is a good encouragement for us, to respond as Samuel did, to say, “Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.”

We today have God’s word become flesh, having dwelt among us – Jesus, the Lord’s Christ in TRUTH, God in the Person of the Son – GOD’S WORD TO US.

This truth is never old or dusty, we are able to wrestle with it and chew on it all our days.

Let us be encouraged today to be like Samuel, to thank God for Jesus, through whom we are reconciled with God, called to be His people.

* Gracious Father God,

Please write Your word on our hearts today that we might not sin against You.

Please plant Your word deep in us, and grow it, that we might be good soil and bear much fruit.

Please open the eyes and ears of our hearts, that we might see and hear what you have for us today.

Please sink us in self that we might rise in You!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Life is never smooth and has never been smooth. Godliness gives strength in difficulties, not escape from them. What speaks to your heart and soul in Hannah’s prayer?

SJA Notes

* God of Wonders, we are fools if we think You do not exist, that there is no God. You look down from heaven – May we be found seeking You.

“For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world.”

There is much wisdom in Hannah’s prayer, no doubt hard-won and tested through tribulation.

We can be reminded of Job – Of who God is and how we view  His actions, and our own reactions to His work.

Hannah knows that God makes poor and makes rich, He brings low and He exalts, He takes life and He gives life.

These are real truths that strongly impacted Hannah in her life, and they are to be the same for us.

Hannah was humbled before the Lord, and her thanks for His blessing upon her is heartfelt and deep.

In Job we read,

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.”

And further,

“Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?”

We do not command the morning.

We do not cause the dawn to know its place.

We cannot loose the cords of Orion or send forth lightnings.

The Lord does these things, He is God!

Creator, Sustainer, Life-Giver – There is none like Him!

* Gracious God,

You are the great Creator God – Praise You!

Help us please to know You better today, Your power and Your majesty.

Please write Your word on our hearts today.

Amen.