Jealousy Versus Humility: Where's Your Heart?

1 Samuel 18:1-30

At this point, David has defeated Goliath and all of Israel has taken notice...even Saul. Saul even asked the commander of his army about David's family and hometown. (Oddly, he already had this information from months before when David came to work in his court, playing the harp to sooth his foul moods.) In any case, David's victory over Goliath had earned him the hand of Saul's daughter in marriage; but, it didn't quite go down that way.

David told Saul that his father was Jesse and they were from Bethlehem. Then, David met Saul's son, Jonathan and became instant friends. From that point on, David was not allowed to return home as he had been previously. So, his and Jonathan's bond grew stronger and they made a pact of friendship - a huge deal in that day. And, Saul made him a commander over his troops because whatever he did was successful.

As the army returned from finishing off the victory that David started, by killing Goliath, the women came up with a victory song and dance. They sang that Saul had killed thousands and David ten thousands. Errrr. Say what? Now, we already know that Saul was an arrogant man. That's why his kingdom was in a slow downward spiral as it was. So, you can imagine his rage when he heard this.

Perhaps you recall that tormenting Spirit God put on Saul when David was anointed king. Well, it was back with a vengeance and a hatred for David. He was so jealous that ozone day, as David was playing the harp, Saul hurled a spear at him, hoping to pin him to the wall. But, David escaped...twice. So now, Saul has cycled through jealous anger to pure jealousy to jealous fear of David, all in a couple days. But, David stayed right there, just as humble as ever.

In fact, after Saul sent him away to command 1,000 troops in battle - which, of course he did successfully - he refused his rightful reward of Saul's daughter for a wife. So, a couple things with this. First, Saul surely dragged his feet in holding up this end of the deal. In fact, if he hadn't seen it as a way to possibly get rid of David, he may have never offered. Secondly, David's humility didn't allow him to bring it up, even though that reward was among his reasons for killing Goliath in the first place.

In any case, Saul told David he could marry his oldest daughter, Merab, if he fought the Philistines, hoping they would do his dirty work for him. David refused because he still identified with his humble beginnings and didn't see himself as worthy. But, then Saul's daughter, Michal, fell in love with David and Saul used that as a second chance to have David killed.

This time, Saul was more cunning. He had his men go to David and butter him up, so he wouldn't refuse Michal. David told them he couldn't afford the bride price. They reported this to Saul, so he made David an offer he couldn't refuse. He set the price at 100 Philistine foreskins, claiming that vengeance on his enemies was all he wanted. Of course, David was happy to oblige and even came back with twice the required price.

Well, now what? Not only did David not die in battle, he more than accomplished the mission and now Saul had to give him his daughter. Now, it became painfully clear to him that The Lord was with David and there was nothing he could do about it. So, his anger and fear and jealousy led him to become and remain David's enemy for the test of his life. Meanwhile, David remained humble, despite the fame he earned as he continued to be more successful than all his peers.

So, what can we learn from this story? As usual, that's a loaded question, but I will offer up a few ideas. The most obvious, I think, is that jealousy gets you nowhere. For all his rage and jealousy, Saul was still without God's favor and David still had it. Instead of trying to harm those who have things that we like or want out of jealousy, it would be more productive to focus on improving ourselves to get in a similar position - or one more suitable for us. Things that we see others with are not always good for us.

That feeds into the other major point here. When God does have something for us, we can't let pride get in the way of it. We have to remain humble, glorifying God for whatever it is that he has gifted us with and continue in it faithfully. David fought every battle in the name of The Lord and gave God the praise for every victory. We have to be the same in our lives, no matter how big or small we may think it is.

Thank you, Lord, for your justice. We know that we can trust your judgement in our lives, so we don't need to be aloud or arrogant. You know the plans you have for our lives and you are a rewarded of those who diligently seek you. Help us to be seekers, humbly doing your will and glorifying g you at every opportunity. Correct us when we let our flesh get in the way, so that we don't stray too far down a deadly path. We love you, Lord. Help us to always show you that love in the way we live our lives for you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Know Your Source

1 Samuel 17:32-58

Saul had summoned David after hearing of his inquiry about the reward for killing Goliath. When he got there, David told Saul not to worry because he would fight Goliath himself. Of course, Saul thought this was ridiculous because David was such a small, young boy and Goliath was a giant, trained from his youth to be a warrior. There was no way Saul was going to let David lose his kingdom to Goliath.

But David was persistent, and convincing. He explained how his experience as a shepherd, protecting his sheep from lions and bears, could help him. His true weapon, however, was his final argument. He told Saul that just as God rescued him from those animals, he would do the same against this Philistine who was defying the armies of the living God. With that, Saul could no longer relent and he allowed David to battle Goliath; even gave him his armor to do it.

Now, let's pause here for a bit and just think about what has taken place. For forty days, Goliath had taunted the Israelite army and they had run in fear. Then, David came along with his different perspective and turned everything upside down. All that time, the warriors of Israel had been seeing and thinking in the flesh. All they could see was a giant man whom they knew they could not physically defeat. David, however, saw the situation for what it was: a mere mortal defying his God, the true and living God! So, he knew that Israel already had the victory, they had but to claim it.

Now, back to our story. With that confidence, David prepared to fight Goliath, declining Saul's armor because it was too heavy and awkward. Instead, he used what he was familiar with, some stones and a sling and his shepherd's staff. As he approached, Goliath started with his smack talk about how he would feed David's flesh to the birds and wild animals. But, David gave it right back to him, telling him that when God defeats him, he would cut off his head and feed his flesh to the birds and wild animals...and all his men (so, aha)!

With that, Goliath moved toward David and David charged Goliath, using his small size and agility to his advantage. When he was closer, he pulled out a stone and used his sling to hurl it at Goliath, nailing him in the forehead. The stone sunk in and Goliath went down face first. Look at God! Then David used Goliath's own sword to kill him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that, they ran. Now, all of a sudden, the Israelite army gathered some courage somehow, and chased after them, killing them all the way to Gath and the Ekron gates.

There are so many lessons to learn from this story, not the least of which is acknowledging God's dominion over everything. When we look at life through the eyes of the Lord, things take on a whole new perspective. Problems that seemed too hard appear trivial, people who seemed so difficult become stepping stones, and life in general becomes a little bit easier to handle. Obstacles may not disappear, but our ability to deal with and overcome them improves when we put our trust in God. And, when we trust God openly, those around us are encouraged to do the same.

God, we thank you for your protection and strength. Thank you for defeating our enemies for us as we hide in the safety of your wings. Please help us to glorify you in all of our victories and praise you anyhow in our defeats. We love you, Lord, and we want to please you, but we sometimes let fear in our flesh get in the way. Encourage us, Lord, in those times and remind us of your omnipresence in our lives. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

One Giant

1 Samuel 17:1-31

Now that David had been appointed king, God took his Holy Spirit from Saul and replaced it with a tormenting spirit. When he was troubled and depressed - as he now, often was - members of Saul's court suggested calm music to sooth him, so he called for a musician to come play for him. His servants suggest, none other then, David because he was a skilled harpist and warrior. So Jesse sent David, bearing gifts and David played for Saul when he was troubled. Saul enjoyed it so much, he asked Jesse to let him just stay there to serve in his court permanently; and so he did.

So, Saul's reign is on the downslope and he has his successor working for him...he just doesn't know it yet. Meanwhile, the Philistines are ready to war, again, against Israel. The two forces lined up on opposite sides of  a valley and waited for each other to make the first move. At that time, a common battle tactic was to let the strongest warrior from each side fight each other and the loser's side would surrender to the winner's side.

Well, the Philistine's best warrior just happened to be Goliath. As I'm sure many of you know, Goliath was a formidable creature. He stood somewhere between seven and ten feet tall (depending on your source) and he wore massive armor, including a helmet, chest and leg plates, and a heavy, weighted javelin. Every day, he would come out and taunt the Israelites, daring them to come over and challenge him. But, they were afraid and dared not move. They just sat there in cowardice and took it, day after day after day - for forty days!

So one day, as David was bringing his brothers some food, per his father's instruction, he witnessed this embarrassment for himself. Goliath came out and did his usual taunting and threatening, and David couldn't believe his eyes - more about that later. Then the men told him about the king's reward for defeating him; his daughter for a wife and a tax free life for the whole family!

That caught David's attention. He began to ask around, getting verification from other troops that what he had been told was correct. It was true, but his inquiry angered his brothers and word of it got back to Saul, who then sent for him.

Sometimes, issues in our lives can seem like Goliath did to Israel; too big to defeat, too strong to challenge. We can't even think about the problem, much less face it, without cowering in fear or running from it. It seems insurmountable and makes us feel hopeless. Even the prospect of some reward for overcoming is not enough to push us into a fight against it. But, that is just a matter of perspective, which will be covered in the next lesson.

Lord, we know that you have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Please help us to walk in your Spirit; by faith and not sight. Remind us, when we forget, of  your love and promise of protection and victory. Let us not be afraid of the arrow by day, nor terror by night for you are our refuge and safety. Thank you, God, that we can trust completely in you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Everyone Is Replaceable

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Previously, Saul disobeyed God, curtailing his kingdom, but God continued to use him. He, with the help of his son, Jonathan, defeated the Philistines. However, as I mentioned in another post, Saul had an issue with arrogance. He took God's protection and grace for granted and often attributed his success to his personal ability. In case there's any question, that's never a good idea when dealing with the things of God.

Sure, God allowed him to also defeat the Amalekites, but that was only because that's what God wanted done. In fact, he went so far as to give Saul very specific instructions, via Samuel, on how to go about doing it. He was very clear that absolutely everyone and everything was to be destroyed; nothing was to be excluded, not even the babies. I know it seems brutal, but the Amalekites had pretty much brought God's judgment on themselves when they attacked the Israelites on their way out of Egypt. (see Exodus 17:8-16 and Deuteronomy 25:17)

But, what did Saul do? Whatever he very well pleased. He took God's favor, defeated the Amalekites and spared their king, kept some plunder and went on his merry way. He figured, he would keep what pleased him, offer some of it to God as a sacrifice and all would be well. Unfortunately for him, God didn't see it that way. God rejected Saul's arrogance and disobedience and told Samuel to get his boy. Samuel called Saul on his error and listened as he tried to defend his actions. Then he put the smack down.

Samuel went in on Saul, telling him how God had rejected him and his actions and would be handing him his pink slip. He made sure to educate Saul on God's ways regarding obedience - it is better than sacrifice. Do what God says, then you won't need to sacrifice. Sacrifice is for atonement, repentance for sin. If you obey God, there is no sin to repent for. Then Saul had his "aha! moment". But, it was too late. He had sealed his fate and his replacement was in the bullpen.

God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint Saul's replacement, the son of a man named Jesse. God instructed Samuel to go there under the premise of sacrifice in order to get the required audience without kindling Saul's suspicion. He gathered all the elders of Bethlehem and purified Jesse and his family for the ceremony. Then he had Jesse present all seven of his sons, one by one. Of course they were presented in the order of attractiveness and apparent fitness for the position. But God said no.

He warned Samuel not to look at the outward appearance because he was looking at their hearts. So Samuel asked Jesse if those were all of his sons, and he admitted to having another, the youngest, who was tending sheep. He sent for him and immediately, God said, "that's the one". So Samuel stepped forward and anointed David in the audience of his brothers and all who were gathered there. He was overcome with the Holy Spirit from then on. Samuel returned to Ramah, having completed his assignment.

And that, folks, is the danger of disobedience. God is a loving, patient and merciful God, but even he has his limits. When he gives us assignments, he has a reason. He knows what needs to be done and he knows he wants us to make it happen. On occasion, he will even go so far as to tell us exactly how to do it. When we disobey, it's a slap in the face; it's frustrating, and sometimes, it causes him to move on to the next. Don't let your assignment get taken away because of stubbornness, fear, arrogance or anything else. Because, just as Saul shows us, everyone is replaceable.

Help us to be obedient, Lord; doing just what you say. We know it won't always be easy or comfortable or fun, but you will never put more on us than we can bear. Help us to always honor you in our actions and attitudes, not letting our own desires get in the way of doing your will. Give us humility, God, so that you get the glory from all of our success. We know it comes from you and you alone. Thank you, Lord, for your favor. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Grace Under Fire

1 Samuel 14:1-23

In our previous lesson (1 Sam 10), Samuel anointed Saul as king and presented him to the Israelites in Mizpah. He had reminded them of God's goodness to them and how requesting a king, instead of trusting him, was a mistake. Nevertheless, God allowed it and provided for it, so they chose to move forward from there.

About a month after Saul's installation, the Ammonites attacked one of the Israelite towns. Instead of fighting back, they requested peace. The Ammonites agreed, but with the condition of disgracing them by gouging out every one's right eye. (Eww!) So the people stalled and told the Ammonites to give them seven days to find someone in Israel to rescue them. If they couldn't find anyone, they would surrender. Enter Saul. When he heard of their plight, Saul became angry and agreed to fight for the small town. He demanded that all the warriors in Israel fight with him, and they did.

They staged a surprise attack and defeated the Ammonites, and the people organized a solemn ceremony to proclaim Saul as king. Everybody was happy, the end...not so fast. Now that Saul had been confirmed as king over Israel, Samuel said his goodbye as judge. He reminded the Israelites, again, of God's position regarding their decision to have a king. He also encouraged them to continue to worship God and acknowledge his true rule over them. After calling forth rain out of season, Samuel promised to continue praying for Israel.

So now, Saul was set. He was anointed and appointed king over Israel and God was with him, despite his intention. But Saul was still a man, and he had a bit of a problem with arrogance, which is detailed later in the book. As they continued to war with Philistia, Samuel instructed Saul to wait for him at Gilgal for seven days before they went into battle. But Samuel was a little late coming, so Saul became impatient and decided to sacrifice his own burnt offering.

When Samuel arrived and saw what he had done, he chastised Saul, telling him his disobedience brought an end to his kingdom, which could have otherwise been established forever. Granted, this would not happen immediately, but he pretty much just added insult to injury. Israel wasn't supposed to have a king in the first place, and now he's just doing what he wants! Well, now they have to battle against the Philistines with their rag-tag warriors with makeshift weapons.

Perhaps fortunately, Saul's son, Jonathan, was as impatient as his father. As the Israelites were camped in preparation for war, Jonathan and his armor bearer snuck away from camp and conducted their own attack on the Philistine's outpost. Jonathan asked the Lord for a sign that he would be with them and give them victory. When God gave it, Jonathan and his armor bearer defeated the 20 or so Philistines, creating confusion and distress among the rest of their troops. That gave the Israelites the advantage they needed to defeat the Philistines.

Even though Israel had defied and disobeyed him at practically every turn, God showed them grace in his protection of them. He even went so far as to give them victory over their enemies, despite the fact that they had insisted on going about it their own way. And that is a testament to his character - sovereign and gracious. God's will shall be done, regardless of our actions. And, thankfully, God's love will remain, regardless of our actions.

Lord, please forgive us for our sins. Forgive our disobedience and rebellion. Give us a repentant heart to acknowledge our sins and vow to do your will. Thank you for your grace when we go astray. Thank you for your love when we make mistakes. You are so awesome and kind, God. We don't deserve your goodness and you don't deserve our grief. But you are our creator and first love - even before time began. Thank you for your immutability. Keep us on your righteous path, so that we can bring you glory. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Converted To Serve; At Your Request

1 Samuel 10:1-27

The Israelites requested a king, so God gave them a king. Once Saul's servants were sent away, Samuel anointed him with oil, kissed him and told him he did all that because he was the chosen one. God had appointed him to be ruler over Israel. No pressure. Then he told him to go back home because his father is more worried about him, since the donkeys have been returned.

Samuel prophesied to Saul about his returned trip. He told him who he would meet, what they would say, what he should do and what will happen next. The latter is the most important part. On his journey, Saul would come to a place called Gibeah of God, or Gibeath-elohim. In that place, the Holy Spirit would come over him and he would begin prophesying with the people he met there. He would be changed into a new person. Meanwhile, back on the farm, everyone was talking about Saul prophesying, but no one had heard about his anointing; and he didn't tell.

Later, Samuel finally made his way to Mizpah, where he called all the people together so they could receive their king. Of course, first, he had to remind them of what they were doing and how God felt about it. He said, 'God brought you out of Egypt and rescued you from your oppressors and misery, but you say you would rather have a king; God's not good enough'. Really? Hearing something like that about my actions or thoughts would really make me reassess and probably make some changes. But, the Israelites seemed to think that summed it up quite well, and were eager to "select" their new king.

So, Samuel brought all the tribes together and narrowed down to the king in the usual custom: tribe, clan, family, et cetera, until he got to Saul. Yay! Bring him up; he's our new king. We're so proud!...Where'd he go? Saul was hiding among the baggage (fairly ironic). They brought him out, standing tall amongst the crowd  and Samuel declared that he was the one God chose to be their king. Of course, they were all pleased, shouting, "Long live the king!"

Samuel, then explained the rights and responsibilities of the king, wrote them down and placed it before the Lord. At that point, he sent everybody home, including Saul with a group of men whose hearts God also touched. Now, there were obviously some naysayers - there's at least one in every crowd - but Saul ignored them.

God did not like the fact that his people were turning away from him, requesting a replacement for him. He made that very clear, but they insisted. So, he picked someone to fill the position, though he knew it was doomed from the beginning; because that's what his people wanted. That is not to say that God is a pushover and will do whatever you ask of him if you whine and cry about it enough. That is to say that he will give you what you ask for to show you that you don't always know what's best for you.

The most interesting point, to me however, is that the person he chose could not do it "as is". He had to be changed. It was not God's intention for Israel to have a king, so there wasn't one just laying around. I don't know what criteria God used to decide, but even the chosen one had to be converted, by the Holy Spirit, into someone God could work through. Israel thought they were choosing, but God had already decided.

Our lives are the same. God has not changed; and he won't. He is still in control of every aspect of our lives. We are his people and he loves us. He gives us instructions and guidance to get us to where he wants us to be - with him. But, he is also a gentleman. He give us options and respects our free will. He will not force anything on us. There may be some strong encouragement from time to time, but ultimately, the decisions are ours to make. God always wants us to choose him, but he will stay with us when we don't, so that when we realize our mistake, he can get us right back on track.

God, thank you for your faithfulness to your, sometimes, unfaithful children. Thank you for your wisdom and direction, even though we don't always take heed. Please continue to be with us as you promise in your word. Never leave us, nor forsake us, though we occasionally do that very thing to you. Have mercy on us, Lord, as you did on the Israelites. Protect us when we go our own way. Remind us of the right path and help us to make better decisions in the future. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Found In Pursuit Of The Lost

1 Samuel 9:1-21

The Israelites were not satisfied with all that God had provided them (surprise, surprise), so they demanded a king from Samuel. Even though he knew it was a bad idea, and was disappointed that they would even make such a request, Samuel prayed about it and God was merciful enough to grant them their request.

The man God had in mind was of the tribe of Benjamin; the son of a wealthy man named Kish, Saul was very tall and handsome. Kish's donkeys had strayed away, so he sent Saul and one of his servants out to look for them. They searched and searched through the entire land of Benjamin without success. Just as Saul was ready to give up, his servant suggested that they ask a seer (or prophet) for help. He remembered hearing about one in the town they were in.

Saul agreed and they went about looking for this seer. They asked some women who were drawing water from a well and they told them that he was in town and would be heading to worship soon. So, Saul and his servant went in that direction. As they were entering the town gates, Samuel was exiting them.

God had told Samuel the day prior that he would send the man who should be anointed king to him on this day. When they approached each other, God pointed Saul out to Samuel. Just then, Saul asked Samuel where to find the seer and Samuel identified himself. He told Saul to go to the house of worship so they could dine together and he would tell him everything he wanted to know the next morning.

He also told him that the donkeys he was looking for had been found, and he and his family would be the center of Israel's hopes. Of course, now Saul was confused. He wanted to know where the donkeys were, so what else was this seer going to tell him, since they had been found. And, how did he know about the donkeys? Oh yeah, he's a seer. But, how can my lowly family from the smallest tribe be the center of all Israel's hopes? He was so confused, that he got a little upset about it and asked Samuel why he was saying these things to him. That will be explained later.

Many times, when we are going about our lives, tending to the trivia and tedium of life, feeling purposeless or without direction, God is using us; placing us exactly where he wants us to be. Though we may not always be able to see our purpose, or feel best qualified to do God's work, God has a plan and he knows how to work it. We all have flaws, just as Saul did. But, if we just surrender to God whatever it is we have to offer, he can use it to build his kingdom.

Lord, thank you for using us in ways that we could never imagine. Thank you for your confidence in faith, which allows us to be vessels for your service. You are sovereign, God, and all that you say will come to pass; even when we - your people - sometimes try to get in your way. Help us to see ourselves the way you see us and submit to your will completely. Remind us of the blessing such obedience promises. Thank you, Lord, for your continued love and patience when we go astray and try to do things our way. Thank you for your mercy when we make mistakes. Please continue to cover us with your grace as we journey through this life. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

It Looks Bad, But Trust God

1 Samuel 8:1-22

As Samuel continued to be groomed and trained as a prophet under Eli (until he died), the Israelite army began to suffer defeat. The Philistines went to war against them and conquered them, capturing the Ark of the Covenant in the process. Apparently, they thought the power of the Ark was in the physical object because they took it with them thinking it would protect them in battle as it had the Israelites previously.

Little did they know, but soon learned, the power was not in the object (place, person, etc.), but the God that it represented. (That's something to think about.) Before long, God sent plagues among them over the period of about seven months. After being overcome by tumors and rats, they had enough and returned the Ark of the Lord to the Israelites in Kiriath-jearim. But the Israelites still felt the Lord's absence because, as usual, they had turned to idols and false gods.

So, Samuel told them to get rid of their idols and told them all to gather together at Mizpah so he could pray for them. It was here that he also became their judge. As they were praying and worshiping, the Philistines came to attack. But, because the Israelites were repentant, even as they feared further destruction at the hand of their enemies, God spoke. His voice from heaven caused so much confusion among the Philistines, that the Israelites were able to defeat them and run them out of the land.

And that brings us to the current chapter, where Samuel is much older now and his sons are also judges. Of course, Israelite generations never turn out quite like their predecessors, so Samuel's sons abused their position. This caused an issue for everyone, so the elders approached Samuel about appointing a king to rule over them. Now, it's understandable to not want to be led by corrupt leaders, but when God has a plan, it is best to follow through with it and not go off on your own. More to follow on that point in the lessons to come.

But, the elders insisted, so Samuel prayed about it. He knew that having a king was a bad idea because God wanted to lead them directly through judges, so he did what any suitable priest, prophet and judge would do. He asked God how he should proceed. God told him to give them their king, but warn them that the grass would not be greener in that field. Even after the warning, the elders still wanted the king, so Samuel did as the Lord said and went about finding the Israelites a king.

When things get rough in life, that is not the time to abandon God. God promised never to abandon us, so we can be sure that he won't. However, he may allow us to experience the consequences of our decisions and behavior. There is no time in this life or the next when our plan will be better than God's. Have you made decisions or done things that are contrary to what God has instructed you to do? Have you neglected to seek God's guidance on a major issue altogether? Things may go smoothly for a while and seem right, but if it is not God's plan, it will eventually crumble. Heed God's warnings, no matter how hard or painful it seems to be.

Thank you, God, for your grace and mercy that keeps us from feeling the pain that our behavior sometimes warrants. Thank you, also, for your justice and discipline. If we never suffer for our sins, we would lose sight of their reality and take your love for granted. Help us, Lord, to be better servants in your kingdom. Help us to always know that your plan is the best one, even when it doesn't seem that way in our eyes. Strengthen our faith, so we can follow you in complete obedience despite our circumstances. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

First Encounter

1 Samuel 3:1-21

 In her faith, Hannah gave her long awaited son, Samuel, back to God - literally and spiritually. However, instead of mourning his loss, she praised God that she ever had him. Awesome! Every year, on their pilgrimage to Shiloh for worship, she would bring him a new ephod - the traditional dress of the priests in the Tabernacle. But God is also faithful. Because of her attitude and integrity, God also gave Hannah five more children after Samuel. So now, she has six children when she only prayed for one; and the one she prayed for is being raised as a priest and prophet!

Samuel had been living with Eli, the priest at Shiloh, since he was three years old. By this time, he was older and had gained favor with God and the people of Israel, but this particular night was special - pivotal - for him. As he slept in the Tabernacle, Samuel heard someone call his name. He apparently assumed it was Eli, so he went to him and asked if he called. Eli said no and sent him back to bed. After he laid back down, Samuel heard his name again. Again, he went to Eli, and again Eli sent him back to bed.

When it happened a third time, Eli realized that Samuel was hearing God calling to him. This makes me all warm and fuzzy because I remember this feeling. I don't remember the exact moment or event when I recognized God's voice, but I do remember the difference between the time I didn't recognize it and now that I do. What an amazing transition! But I digress. Eli explained to Samuel that it was the Lord calling him, and the next time he did, he should answer, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening:". How often do we say that in earnest?

So, God called again and Samuel said just what Eli told him to say. Then God proceeded to tell Samuel the things he was about to do in Israel concerning Eli and his family. Quick recap - Eli's sons Phinehas and Hophni had been abusing their positions as priest, taking food from the people's offerings and seducing women who came for worship. Eli knew about it, but did nothing more than tell them to stop (1Samuel 2:12-25). Now, God was ready to carry out his judgment against them for their sins and he told Samuel just that.

The next day, Samuel was obviously not looking forward to facing Eli. I mean, who wants to hear bad things about their mentor and spiritual father - especially from God - and know that because of those things, they will be utterly destroyed? No one that I can think of. But, he had to face him and when he did, Eli demanded that he tell him every word the Lord had told him. So, Samuel did and Eli took it in stride. He had been warned previously (see 2:27-36), so this was just confirmation and he had nothing to say but, 'God's will be done'.

All that was left to do at that point was to watch it unfold. As it did, Samuel was confirmed as a prophet throughout the land and God continued to commune with him. Side note: at that time, direct communication and visions from God had become scarce, so this was a really big deal. Recognizing God's voice is a really big deal. Do you remember when you first recognized it for yourself? Are you still praying for discernment? Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit? Be faithful in your prayer, study and meditation and God will reveal himself to you. When he does, it is imperative to be obedient. Your relationship with him will be so enriched and energized. It really is a wonderful place.

God, thank you for your presence in our lives. Thank you for your sovereignty and love. Please help us to hear you, to know you, and to love you. Make our relationship more personal, more intimate, so we can know your voice, without a doubt. Help us to become and remain faithful to you and your will for our lives. It won't always be easy, Lord, but with your help, all things are possible. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Fervent Prayer

1 Samuel 1:1-28

First, let me begin by apologizing, again, for my absence. There is really no reason or explanation for it; I have just been slack, I guess. I have been continuing my study, however, so part of my delay in returning was trying to figure out where to pick up again - where I left off, or where I am now. In order to be complete, I decided it would be better to pick up where I left off, even if it does mean some time to review. After all, a little review and reflection can be a good thing! So, here we go.

Here we begin to learn about the life of Samuel. His life is important because it represents a major transition in the history of the Israelites and their relationship with God. He was Israel's last judge and the first priest and prophet to serve with a king. So, the miracle of his very conception cannot go unnoticed. It all started with prayer in faith.

Samuel's parents were Elkanah and Hannah. His father, Elkanah, actually had two wives (the other was called Peninnah). Peninnah had children, but Hannah was barren. Much in the way that women, unfortunately, behave, Peninnah never let Hannah forget her barrenness, teasing and taunting her about it. When they went on their annual pilgrimages to worship and sacrifice, Peninnah would rub it in Hannah's face when she received a greater portion to sacrifice because of all her children. And, every year, Hannah would become so sad and ill about her situation that she lost her appetite and became inconsolable.

This particular time, things were going as they usually did and Hannah just couldn't take it. She went away on her own and cried out to God, pouring out her heart to him and asking for his favor. She even went so far as to promise God that if he gave her a son, she would give him back to him, dedicating his whole life to him. She was so upset that when she prayed, no sound came from her mouth, only her lips moved. Eli, the priest at the time, saw this and accused her of being drunk. When she explained her situation to him, he understood and gave her his blessing, praying that God would grant whatever she had prayed for.

Here's where the story gets interesting to me. Now, up to this point and for many years, Hannah had been haunted and vexed by her infertility. She was at her wits end and could not be comforted, even though her husband was so loving and supportive of her. So, the first big credit to her character was that she knew only God could truly understand and help her situation. So, she took it to him; she was open and honest - and probably didn't mince words or try to sound fancy or super-spiritual. She didn't worry about who was looking or what she looked like. She just knew that she had a great need and only God could fulfill it, so she had to give it to him.

The next thing that impressed me about Hannah was her faith. Sure, she was praying out of despair, making big promises to God in order to get big results. But, she had total faith that her prayer would be answered. How do we know this? When Eli approached her about her state, she told him her truth. When he added his blessing to her prayer, she was good. Her whole countenance changed. In her heart, it was already done! She didn't have to be sad anymore; she didn't have to worry anymore. She prayed to God and received the priest's blessing, so she had no reason to worry that her prayer would be unanswered or denied. And she walked in it!

The last thing that bolsters Hannah's character, in my eyes, is her commitment. She had waited so long and prayed so hard for her son - Samuel - but, when the time came to fulfill her end of the bargain she made with God, she did just that. Even though it probably hurt her to her core to give up the son she so desperately desired, she told God she would give him back to be dedicated to his service for life, so that is exactly what she did. When he was three years old, Hannah left Samuel with Eli upon their return to the Tabernacle in Shiloh for worship.

Dependence on God, faith in God,and commitment to God. Hannah possessed each of these characteristics and exercised them in requesting, receiving and relinquishing her son. Do you know that God can handle your situation? Do you trust him enough to give him your problems and leave them alone? Are you willing to do what you need to do until your desire has come to fruition? God can and God will.

God, I thank you for who you are and all you have done. Thank you for hearing our prayers and giving us the desires of our hearts. Thank you for being a promise-keeper and dream-fulfiller. You supply all our needs and bless us beyond measure. We have but to trust you and live our lives in faith. Help us to do that, God. Help us to do our part and not doubt that you will do yours. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.