Bible Verse Synopsis 5-17-25
1st Samuel 2:
Hannah opens the next chapter in prayer. Celebrating because of the Lord. Verse 2 - “There is none holy as the Lord; for there is none beside You: neither is there any rock like our God”. Hannah recognizes that God is the Holiest of all, exists over all things always, and she gives Him the traits of a rock; strength, immovable, calm, enduring. Have we internalized that God is all these things for us?
Hannah has more to share with us in her prayer. She recognized God as the Judge of the world being as He knows all things. We should not talk boastfully, as we know little in comparison to the Lord. The Lord has the power to take us to the grave or lift us from it, the power to make us rich or poor, in monies and representations of this world. We are called to be rich in His Spirit as Hannah is demonstrating. He has the ability to place the beggars amongst the royalty, for all are able to inherit the Kingdom of God. “..for the pillars of the Earth are the Lord’s, and He has set the world upon them.” - Verse 8. God remains at the top of the food chain. The Earth is His and He maintains it in totality. This verse is encompassing of everything we know, yet we were just told we know little. The vast Knowledge of God is unreachable for you or I, at least in this life. “For by strength shall no man prevail” - verse 9. We know that we are not strong enough on our own and this confirms it. Without God we cannot overcome life and an unsaved death is imminent. Have you confessed your weakness to the Almighty and asked for His help? He knows I need it, don’t you?
The priests of the Temple were corrupted. They took what they desired, over and above what they were supposed to have by the letter of the Law. “…but you shall give it to me now: and if not, I will take it by force.” - Verse 16. Verse 17 says “Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the Offering of the Lord.” The behavior of the priests made men shy away from the temple. Would you go somewhere where the Law didn’t apply fairly and the ones breaking the Law were in power?
Samuel ministered at the temple and his mother gave him a coat to wear under his robe. No Child was to serve by the old Law. Eli, the High Priest should have known this. But in his sin and corruption he worried not. God continued to work in these men and women and through their sacrifice and prayer, Sarah had children of her own. This was a prayer for the High Priest. Even the corrupt can used by God to achieve His mission. Can see God at work in mysterious ways in your life?
2 other priests in the Tabernacle were sinning against God and their father, Eli, the High Priest, recognized this and confronted them regarding their behavior. Verse 25 - “If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they heartened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them.” These men were too far gone in sin and there was no recompense. We do not have the same problem in our lives as Christ has died and held us up over even our darkest deeds. Do you repent to receive this blessing of the Lord?
A man approached Eli, the High Priest, and talked to Eli about the roots of the issues in His House. Eli is effectively named an accomplice in the behavior he has not condemned. What behavior do we not condemn that we see in our lives? Are we like Eli and an accomplice to those doing wrong amongst us? “… But now the Lord says, be it far from me; for them who honour Me I will honour, and they who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.” - Verse 30. This places us all on an equal playing field in God’s eyes. The standard is this and this alone. This man condemns Eli’s entire family to death and despair. Verse 33 tells us that plainly. Verse 36 is the prediction that they will reach out for bread. This illustrates how meek and weak we are without God and His love. Do not turn our backs on Him. Have you seen in your life how abandoning God affects you?