Review Of 1Samuel 2

– by Victor Fawole

Pastor Damilola loves to say that “many people know how to pray hard, but when they receive their requests, they don’t praise hard!” How true of many believers today. Welcome to Day 2 of our “No Bible, No Breakfast” spiritual exercise, as we continue to FACEBOOK.

Let us enjoy together…

HIGH PRAISES

1Sam. 2:1-2 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Hannah must be an anointed singer! She gave us one of the most powerful songs we sing in worship to God. Let us sing together: 

Hallelujah! Hannah’s worship was indeed a true worship. Let us consider:

a. Her Expressed Heart

My heart rejoiceth in the LORD…

True worship begins in the heart and is expressed in one’s whole being. True worship is saturated with joy. This, we see in Hannah’s drama here. Her joy is the joy of the LORD. In Chapter 1, her praying hard came from her great distress; in this chapter, her praising hard comes from her great delight. 

b. Her Exalted Horn

mine horn is exalted in the Lord…

In other words, my strength (ability) to conceive is restored unto me… my “pride as a woman” is blessed… I have been greatly helped by God… 

c. Her Expanded Happiness

my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies…

Her joy was so large that she could rejoice over her enemies. She has eventually had the last laugh over her mockers. Let’s be careful not to mistake her “boasting” for human arrogance or pride. She was clear when she said that her boasting is about the glory of God. “…because I rejoice in thy salvation…” The basis of her boasting is God’s salvation. As believers, our boasting is totally outside of us, and totally about God and His doings in our lives.

I can’t just get over Hannah’s words in this chapter. In verse 3, she rebuked the words of arrogance, she recognized the wisdom of God, and she referenced the weighing by God. She went on to emphasize the sovereignty of God in the affairs of men. Yes, God is in control, and He does His things for His good pleasure – for our favour as His children. We move on…

HORRIBLE PRIESTS

1Sam. 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.

Eli would have had a glorious priestly ministry, but for the waywardness of his sons – Hophni and Phinehas. Even though the father knew God, the sons did not personally know God for themselves. Spiritual knowledge cannot be transferred genetically. They repeatedly corrupted the sacrifices offered in the temple. Greed. Lust. Selfishness. Violence. Intimidation.

They selected the best parts for themselves. They took the sacrificial offerings for themselves – in its “raw” form (1Sam. 2:15). Obviously, it was not hunger that led them to this. They took the meat in raw form that could be easy to re-sell. They refused to give the fat for burning on the altar. They directly countered the Word of God – for “all the fat is the LORD’s” (Lev 3:16). They brought themselves under God’s curse (Lev. 7:25). Their sin was willful and rebellious: “I will take it by force!” They would not mind using violence (if necessary) to enforce their will on the people.

Hophni and Phinehas also turned the house of prayer into a hotel for sex. They turned a place for confessing sin into a place for committing sin. They turned “Bethel” into a brothel. They were committing sexual immorality with the women who came to worship at the tabernacle. They used their priestly positions to satisfy their lusts. Their sex scandals trended on social media. 

It is interesting to note how the Bible contrasts Samuel’s obedient service to the waywardness of Hophni and Phinehas. While they were stealing from God, Samuel was serving God. And the report about him was well pleasing.

1Sam. 2:26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men.

Samuel grew like Jesus grew (Luke 2:52). While Eli’s sons grew in grievous sins, Samuel grew in gracious service. He would go on to be a powerful Prophet and Judge in Israel. Faithfulness in service is very important (1Cor. 4:2). God honours people who honour Him (1Sam. 2:30).

As priests of God in this New Covenant, we have an admonition to walk worthy of our calling (Eph. 4:1, Col. 1:10, Phil. 1:27, 1Thess. 2:12).

May God keep us from falling and failing, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

See you tomorrow, beloveds.

Grace to you, Church!