[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (PG as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
[6:19
pm, 19/02/2022] S.R: 𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙:𝟚𝟛
"Elkanah
her husband said to her, ‘Do what seems best to you. Remain until you have
weaned him; only may the LORD confirm His word.’ So the woman remained and
nursed her son until she weaned him."
ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟!
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟚:𝟚𝟞
"Now
the boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with the LORD and with
men."
One
of my favorite Bible verses to quote on birthdays!
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟛:𝟙𝟠
"So
Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, ‘It is the
LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him.’"
I
agree with Eli, it's good to submit to the will of God even if he should slay
me in the words of Job. 🙏
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟜:𝟡-𝟙𝟘
“‘Take
courage and be men, O Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as
they have been slaves to you; therefore, be men and fight.’ So the Philistines
fought and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent; and the
slaughter was very great, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot
soldiers.”
God
used men of courage to win the battle either for or against the Israelites.
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟝:𝟜
"But
when they arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to
the ground before the ark of the LORD. And the head of Dagon and both the palms
of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to
him."
I
wish this happen again and again in our time also!
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟞:𝟙𝟡
"He
struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the
ark of the LORD. He struck down of all the people, 50,070 men, and the people
mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter."
Of
all peoples, the people of God should have the greatest reverence for God, not
familiarity because of its privilege. And I am afraid I and many of us are in
great danger!
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟟:𝟙𝟘
"Now
Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to
battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day
against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were routed before
Israel."
Should
we pray to God to confuse Putin and his armies to go back to Russia? 🤔🙂
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟠:𝟛
"His
sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain
and took bribes and perverted justice."
There's
no guarantee that our children will be Christians. Eli's sons were killed by
God. Aaron's sons. Judah's son. Even David's sons.
In
our times, Francis Schaeffer' son, John Piper's son. May the Lord save our
children! Let's not be presumptuous. Rather, let's be like Job praying for his
children every day!
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟡:𝟚
"He
had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a
more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and
up he was taller than any of the people."
Saul
was handsome and tall. A perfect combination for greatness those days. Yet,
God's favor didn't last long with him.
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟘:𝟠
"Then
it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart; and
all those signs came about on that day."
Changed
by God.
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟙:𝟞
"Then
the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he
became very angry."
Anger,
after all, is not a sin in itself. There's righteous anger and sinful anger.
Deliver me from the latter one, Lord!
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟚:𝟛-𝟝
“"Here
I am; bear witness against me before the LORD and His anointed. Whose ox have I
taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I
oppressed, or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? I
will restore it to you." They said, "You have not defrauded us or
oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand." He said to them,
"The LORD is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day
that you have found nothing in my hand." And they said, "He is
witness."”
Oh!
Samuel grew up like Jesus Christ. And He challenged the people to find fault in
him like Jesus Christ. And he prayed for his people like Jesus Christ. I want
this man's integrity!
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟛:𝟙𝟛
"Samuel
said to Saul, ‘You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of
the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have
established your kingdom over Israel forever.’"
Fear
of man vs Fear of God. Foolishness vs Wisdom. Destruction vs Prosperity!
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟜:𝟜𝟜-𝟜𝟝
"Saul
said, "May God do this to me and more also, for you shall surely die,
Jonathan." But the people said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who has
brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives,
not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God
this day." So the people rescued Jonathan and he did not die."
The
brave people resisted the mad coward king to protect the righteous warrior!
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟝:𝟙𝟙
""I
regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and
has not carried out My commands." And Samuel was distressed and cried out
to the LORD all night."
Will
the Lord regret me for commissioning me to His service because of my
unfaithfulness!? 🥶
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟞:𝟙
"Now
the LORD said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have
rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I
will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself
among his sons.’"
For
every rejection of Sauls there must be Davids. 🤔
𝟙 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟟:𝟚𝟞
"Then
David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, ‘What will be done for
the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For
who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the
living God?’"
David
was zealous for the honor and fame of God's name! May that be seen in me by
all!