The Birth of Samuel (1 Samuel 1-3)

For Starters...

The books of 1 & 2 Samuel are the recorded history of the nation of Israel in a transitional period of time. And yet, it also chronicles one of the most stable, secure and strongest eras of the nation's life. God has faithfully guided Israel as a small nation through specific judges, Samuel being the last. Having lost confidence in the future leadership of the nation through judgeship because of the inability of both Eli and Samuel to raise responsible leaders in their sons, Israel demands a king to rule and protect them. God grants them a king in the person of Saul, son of Kish, tall and handsome.

Though Saul's reign begins with promise, it ends in disaster. Saul may be courageous before the enemy but he is cowardly and disobedient before the Lord. The kingdom is torn away from Saul and given to a shepherd-boy named David. Afterward, Saul and his sons are killed in battle. David, son of Jesse, secures the kingdom of Israel from all her enemies and, through a devoted heart to the glory and honor of the Lord, also secures God's blessing on his house forever. David takes Jerusalem for his city from which he will rule. God blesses his reign with military; greatness and success. But David is mortal too. His inability to control his passions and father responsible children are his downfall and undoing. Discord and discontent follow him to his grave but not before he names Solomon, son of Bathsheba to be his successor.

In all this, God's will can be seen in His promises. Men are human and are prone to break promises, but God is the Mighty and Holy One of Israel who remains faithful to all His promises.

Homework:

Read 1 & 2 Samuel and note the following...

* the main characters and the roles they play
* the passions and emotions that play out in this history
* the presence of God in all this
* Pick out Psalms that David wrote and read them carefully
* as you read his story in these books.

What's the Story?

Hannah, who is one of Elkanah's wives, is not able to bear any; children because the Lord has closed her womb. She continually cries to the Lord and even makes a vow to turn him over to the Lord if she can have a child. God grants her request and Hannah bears a son named Samuel. Being true to her promise, she delivers him to the temple of the Lord to minister before the Lord for the rest of his life under the watchful eye of Eli, the priest. In time, by the will and power of God, Samuel becomes a mighty prophet of the Lord.

Just the Facts...

* Elkanah and Hannah are the parents of Samuel.
* Samuel is God's answer to Hannah's prayer for a son.
* Samuel is raised by Eli, the priest, while ministering before the Lord in the Temple.
* Samuel becomes Israel's last judge and a mighty prophet of God.

So What?

* God does hear and answer our prayers, even though we might not think so! Look back on some of your prayers and see if God didn't act on your behalf, even if it wasn't the way you thought He should. Don't lose heart, keep praying! God listens, and He does answer in His own way and in His own time.
* Irresponsible parenting can affect many people, not just the children themselves! Think of ideas and concepts that seem to go along with responsible parenting. What would be the outcome? How would you parent children so as to produce responsible children?