HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 615
1 SAM UEL 1
page 245
plish great things for him. He uses them despite the fact that they are flawed. But he
calls flawed people to acknowledge their sins, humble themselves before him, ask his
forgiveness, and submit to his ways.
We too are flawed people. Will we humble ourselves and lay our flaws at the feet of a
forgiving God, committing ourselves to serve him sincerely and begging him to use us
in some way that truly makes a difference? Or will we hide behind our flaws and believe
the myth that God cannot and will not use flawed people? The giants of 1 Samuel clearly
show what God is willing to do with flawed people who have willing hearts.
Key verses in 1 Samuel
3:10 And the Lord came and
called as before, “Samuel!
Samuel!” And Samuel replied,
“Speak, your servant is listening.”
8:19-20 But the people refused to
listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even
so, we still want a king,” they said.
“We want to be like the nations
around us.”
13:13 -14 “How foolish!” Samuel
exclaimed. “You have not kept
the command the Lord your God
gave you. Had you kept it, the
Lord would have established your
kingdom over Israel forever. But
now your kingdom must end, for
the Lord has sought out a man
after his own heart.”
15:22 But Samuel replied,
“What is more pleasing to the
Lord: your burnt offerings and
sacrifices or your obedience to
his voice? Listen! Obedience
is better than sacrifice, and
submission is better than
offering the fat of rams.”
Elkanah and His Family
There was a man named Elkanah who lived
in Ramah in the region of Zuph* in the hill
country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, of
Ephraim. 2 Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and
Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah
did not.
3 Each year Elkanah would travel to Shiloh to
worship and sacrifice to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies at the Tabernacle. The priests of the Lord
at that time were the two sons of Eli—Hophni
and Phinehas. 4 On the days Elkanah presented
his sacrifice, he would give portions of the
meat to Peninnah and each of her children.
5 And though he loved Hannah, he would give
her only one choice portion* because the Lord
had given her no children. 6 So Peninnah would
taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the
Lord had kept her from having children. 7 Year
after year it was the same—Peninnah would
taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle.*
Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears
and would not even eat.
8 “Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah
1
1:1 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads in Ramathaim-zophim;
compare 1:19. 1:5 Or And because he loved Hannah, he
would give her a choice portion. The meaning of the Hebrew
is uncertain. 1:7 Hebrew the house of the Lord; also in 1:24.
1:9 Hebrew the Temple of the Lord. 1:11 Some manuscripts
add He will drink neither wine nor intoxicants.
15:29 “And he who is the Glory of
Israel will not lie, nor will he change
his mind, for he is not human that
he should change his mind!”
16:7 “The Lord doesn’t see things
the way you see them. People judge
by outward appearance, but the
Lord looks at the heart.”
17:45 David replied to the
Philistine, “You come to me with
sword, spear, and javelin, but I
come to you in the name of the
Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be
downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?”
Hannah’s Prayer for a Son
9 Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest
was sitting at his customary place beside the
entrance of the Tabernacle.* 10 Hannah was in
deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to
the Lord. 11 And she made this vow: “O Lord
of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my
sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a
son, then I will give him back to you. He will be
yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that
he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair
will never be cut.*”
12 As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched
her. 13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no
sound, he thought she had been drinking.
14 “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded.
“Throw away your wine!”
15 “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been
drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am
very discouraged, and I was pouring out my
heart to the Lord. 16 Don’t think I am a wicked
woman! For I have been praying out of great
anguish and sorrow.”
17 “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May