Short Reflection from 1 Samuel 1-17

[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!