Day 88 · Part 7: The Kingdom
Samuel (1 of 2)
In the Story
In context
The books of Samuel begin about 1100 BC at Shiloh, where the Tent of Meeting had stood since Joshua’s day (Joshua 18:1). Each year Elkanah went up there to worship with his two wives: Peninnah, who had children, and Hannah, who had none (1 Samuel 1:1–7). Hannah prayed so silently that Eli the priest thought she was drunk. She vowed that if the Lord gave her a son, he would be the Lord’s all his life (1:9–14). She named him Samuel, which sounds like the Hebrew for “heard by God,” the WEB notes (1:20).
Hannah’s song praises the God who “raises up the poor out of the dust,” and it ends with a king, “his anointed,” though Israel had no king yet (2:1–10). Eli’s sons, the priests Hophni and Phinehas, took what they wanted of the people’s sacrifices, threatening force, and they “didn’t listen to the voice of their father” (2:12–25). A man of God warned Eli that both would die on one day (2:34).
“Yahweh’s word was rare in those days” (3:1). Then the Lord called the boy Samuel by name in the night, and Samuel answered, “Speak; for your servant hears” (3:10). As he grew, all Israel, “from Dan even to Beersheba,” knew that he was a prophet (3:20).
He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the needy from the ash heap, that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother of children. Praise Yah!
Psalms 113:7–9 · Hannah sang that the Lord “raises up the poor out of the dust”; Psalm 113 sings it too, and of the barren woman made “a joyful mother of children.”
For families
When Hannah wept, Elkanah asked her, “Am I not better to you than ten sons?” (1:8). After Samuel went to live at Shiloh, his mother made him a little robe every year and brought it when she came up with her husband for the yearly sacrifice (2:19). The Lord gave Hannah three more sons and two daughters (2:21).
Hannah made Samuel a new robe every year. What has someone in your family made for you?
In the Bible
World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).
1 Samuel 1
Loading…
1 Samuel 2
Loading…
1 Samuel 3
Loading…
A hymn for today
Sweet Hour of Prayer · words by William W. Walford
- Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!That calls me from a world of care,And bids me at my Father's throneMake all my wants and wishes known;In seasons of distress and grief,My soul has often found relief,And oft escaped the tempter's snareBy thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
- Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!Thy wings shall my petition bearTo Him whose truth and faithfulnessEngage the waiting soul to bless;And since He bids me seek His face,Believe His word and trust His grace,I'll cast on Him my every care,And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
- Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!May I thy consolation share,Till, from Mount Pisgah's lofty height,I view my home and take my flight:This robe of flesh I'll drop, and riseTo seize the everlasting prize;And shout, while passing through the air,Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!