Day 98, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): 1Samuel 1:1–4:1a; Psalm 113
Removed and Replaced
We replace light bulbs when they go out. We do this to see better and to have more light. Similarly, most of us have witnessed the need to remove and replace an employee, player, coach, or leader. When someone is not productive or is a distraction from the organization’s purpose, he becomes like a light bulb that needs to be changed. If the management will not adequately handle the problem, there is discouragement. We may quit or find other places to live, work, play, or minister.
Before we take that final step, we should pray for God to intervene. The LORD cares about us and our dark situations. He can replace individuals so that there is hope once again, and He can bring light to the darkness.
The dark days of the Judges
In this period of Israel’s history, there is much chaos, immorality, and idol worship. God’s blessing is not on Israel. Because of her wickedness, she is often oppressed by neighboring nations for whole generations. These are days of darkness.
Hope for Hannah
Elkanah, an Ephraimite man, had two wives. His first wife, Hannah, was barren for a long time. Perhaps, this is why Elkanah took a second wife, Peninnah (this was allowed in that culture, but God did not condone it). As might be expected, this caused tension between Hannah and her rival.
Since Peninnah has given birth to many children and Hannah does not even have one child, Peninnah provokes and mocks Hannah until she cries. Elkanah tries to comfort his wife, Hanna, but it is difficult for them to understand why God keeps her from getting pregnant.
At the tabernacle in Shiloh, Hannah earnestly prays for a son. She is in anguish, and after she explains this to Eli, the High Priest, he promises her that she will have a son.
What about Us?
Do we have something in our lives that is causing anguish or anxiety? God cares. Pray to him and let him know how you feel. Let it all out. Pray that He might be glorified in His answer to your prayer. Stay in the Word. Go to church if you can. Keep praying and trusting in God that he can do something great if He pleases. Then, when the LORD blesses you, sing about it! Tell others!
God answers Hannah's prayer
Shortly after Eli's blessing at the tabernacle, Hannah gets pregnant. She composes a song praising the LORD’s strength and how he delivers and raises his people from oppression (mainly from her rival).
Psalm 113 is a song later composed in memory of Hannah. The priests and people will sing this song of praise at festivals such as the Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacle feasts.
After Hannah weans Samuel, she gives him to the LORD (Samuel would have been three years old). Samuel’s mother takes him to Shiloh to live with Eli and help with the tabernacle duties. It is difficult to give up her only son, but God enables Hannah to conceive seven more children in return. Eli is elderly, so the young child becomes his eyes and hands. Since Samuel is Eli’s constant attendant, he learns to be a good boy. Unfortunately, Eli did not give the same attention to his sons.
Eli’s sons are serving as priests and need to be removed and replaced. They are unfit for their positions because they treat the LORD’s offering with contempt—they help themselves to the best of the meat and leave God with the rest. In their worship at the tabernacle, they also engage in prostitution with women. This is disgraceful behavior! They are as evil as the nations Israel dispossessed (1Samuel 2:12-17, 22-25). but Eli does not restrain their actions. Eli neglects the discipline of his sons. Unfortunately, Samuel will later follow Eli’s bad example in raising his sons (1Samuel 8:1-5).Children are our responsibility
Parents, we must take responsibility for the rearing of our children, or they may become rebels. We must not be too busy to do it. We need to pay careful attention to this task for the future of our family and nation. How will our children and grandchildren turn out? In large part, that depends on us. What can we do? Here are some ideas:
- Set a godly example. Children often repeat what they hear and see.
- Let the LORD be part of our daily conversation, wherever we are.
- We need to discipline them if they do wrong and praise them for doing right.
- Take them with us to our house of worship and include them in helping us serve the LORD and others.
- Encourage the godly disciplines of Bible reading, prayer, service, and worship
- Pray for them and with them.
- Share stories of faith.
- Challenge them and let them struggle to own their faith.
No parents are perfect (I am certainly not), but most children will follow our faith in God and obey him if we try to do these things consistently. They will experience God’s blessings and make a difference in the world.
If some of us are not parents, we can still make a difference in children’s lives. We can give them attention, encourage them to do what God says, teach them to respect others, be disciplined, and discourage them from doing wrong.
Samuel grows to be a faithful priest. He lives with integrity and honors God. He is recognized by all the people to be a prophet (1Samuel 2:30). Do we want our children to succeed? We must teach them to be faithful.
According to a prophecy given by an unnamed man of God, Eli and Eli’s sons will be removed as priests and killed on the same day. Not only that, but God will remove their descendants from the priesthood for failure to honor him (1Samuel 3:20). The first part of the prophecy is near fulfillment. The other will be fulfilled later (1Kings 2:26-27, 35).
According to the apocyphal book, 2 Maccabees 7:27, children were weaned at age 3; The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament, edited by Walvoord and Zuck, © 1985, p. 434
Focus Verse
1Samuel 2:30b (NIV) “But now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.’”
What should we do if our situation is dark?
How has God brought light into our lives?
Why should we take the time to train children? How should we do it?
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to mtbiblestudies@gmail.com
Looking Ahead: In this Bible study we see a young boy who is faithful to the LORD. In our Next Lesson we see another boy who grows strong and also helps Israel— however, he is strong-willed. What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of working with someone who is Strong-Willed? Join us!
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