Samuel Dedicated to The Lord's Work under Eli in the Tabernacle

Vol 2 - No 36, June 10, 2007

The witness of Samuel's Faith - Part 2

In Part 1 we examined God's grace and provision to Samuel's mother Hannah who by faith conceived and bore him, I Samuel 1:1 - 19, and the similarity of Samuel's conception with four (4) of his Hebrew predecessors, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Samson. This study will examine the condition of National Israel during Samuel's time and a brief look at God's plan/purpose for his life.

Samuel's Background: His father Elkanah was a Levite, I Chronicles 6:23 - 27, the priestly tribe of Israel. The Tabernacle of Moses was located in Shiloh where it had been since Joshua entered the land, Joshua 18:11 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.

, so it was to Shiloh that Elkanah and his family traveled each year to sacrifice to the Lord. After Samuel's birth Hannah told Elkanah she would forgo traveling to Shiloh until after she weaned Samuel, when she would fulfill her pledge and leave him at the Tabernacle to serve the Lord for life. According to George Williams Bible Commentary, page 138, when a woman had an only son in that part of the world and thought it probable she would have no other she would not wean him till he was seven or eight years of age. It was their belief that the later the boy was weaned the stronger he would be afterwards as a man. Therefore Samuel could have been seven or eight when Hannah and Elkanah took him, along with an offering for the Lord, to the Tabernacle at Shiloh where they worshiped. Samuel was left there to minister unto the Lord under the tutelage of Eli the High Priest - 1 Samuel 1:22 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

1 - 2821 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.

23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.

25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.

27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

; 2:11.

The Condition of Israel and the Priesthood: God originally chose Israel and promised to bless them highly among all the people of the world; they were to be a Nation holy, separated unto God to minister to the world as His Priests, & if they obeyed and kept His law, Exodus 19:5 & 65 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

. However, as the book of 1 Samuel opens it is apparent that Hannah's faith and service to God was an exception from the norm in Israel at the time for even the worship of God was corrupt. To begin with, Hannah's husband had two wives, 1 Samuel 1:2, which was contrary to God's will and the results were bitter strife between Hannah and the other wife Peninnah, 1 Samuel 1:2, 6 & 7. The fact Eli the priest thought Hannah was drunk when he saw her lips moving but not uttering a sound at the time of a worship feast at the Tabernacle, 1 Samuel 1:12 - 1412 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

, indicates the sin of drunkenness was prevalent, which was certainly dishonoring to God. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests unto the Lord, 1 Samuel 1:33 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

, and ministered in the Tabernacle, 1 Samuel 1:3, but they were wicked, totally corrupt and did not know the Lord, 1 Samuel 2:1212 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.

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God ordained several types of offerings in His law, each administered differently for particular circumstances (see the book of Leviticus.) For the peace offering the priests were to burn the fat thereof on the alter and take the breast and shoulder as their portion to broil and eat. The worshiper who brought the offering was to partake of the remainder of the meat, which also had to be broiled. However the priests under the leadership of Hophni and Phinehas stole more than their allotment and did so by force if necessary. They devised a "custom," (not God's law) whereby their servant/s would take a portion of fresh meat before it was cooked, which they "roasted" to eat. Then, after the worshipers began broiling their portions as commanded in the law the priest's servant/s would use an instrument with three (3) hooks to take an additional helping of meat out of their pots for the priests. Thus the priests disobeyed God's law and stole from worshiping Israelites, thereby mocking God, 1 Samuel 2:12 - 1712 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.

13 And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;

14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.

16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

. Hophni and Phinehas even stooped to taking advantage of their positions by fornicating with the Israeli women who came to worship at the Tabernacle, all of which of course caused resentment and sin by the Israelites who refrained from and abhorred worship, 1 Samuel 2:22 - 2422 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.

24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD's people to transgress.

. As an old man Eli mildly rebuked his sons for their sins and it appears he may have been a well meaning nice guy, but this was not enough because he was responsible both as the high priest and as a father to carry out his duties according to God's law, which even called for death to disobedient children, Deuteronomy 21:18 - 2118 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

; Exodus 21:1717 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

; Leviticus 20:99 For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.

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Hannah's Faith: She had to have been well aware of the sinful corruption at God's Tabernacle. Most mothers would have wanted their sons to stay as far away from such things as possible but Hannah's faith was not placed in the men running the Tabernacle; her faith was in the God who could give life to a son. So in spite of what she saw she promised to give Samuel to the service of the Lord as a Nazarite, I Samuel 1:11, and during the years she nursed him she also instructed him in the way of the Lord (and no doubt in what to expect at the Tabernacle) dutifully turning him over to the Lord at the Tabernacle where Samuel worshipped God, 1 Samuel 1:23 - 2823 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.

25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.

27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

. This is a beautiful picture of faith in God's Word by both Hannah and Samuel because neither knew what was in store for him after he was placed in that environment.

Faith is the substance or foundation of things hoped for, the evidence or proof of things that cannot be seen, Hebrews 11:11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

, and in a prayer/song Hannah revealed what she hoped for but was not visible at the time, based of course on what God's Word had promised. Her hope was in a Holy Lord who will bring salvation, comfort and justice to the weak and helpless from the mighty oppressors of this world while bringing the oppressors down, with the expectation that God would raise His King and bring justice everywhere on earth. Hannah witnessed and experienced the oppression of the lowly by those in charge during her time; the same experience of God's humble people throughout the ages but she expressed her hope in God's Word in a prayer/song found in 1 Samuel 2:1 - 101 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.

9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.

9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

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In life and prophecy Samuel points to "The" Prophet and King, Jesus Christ: Samuel is a type pointing to God's son Jesus Christ in many ways but to begin with, both were conceived through a woman's faith in God's Word and both were thrust into a sinful, corrupt environment, which was supposed to be the center of worship of almighty God. Furthermore, the prayer/song by Hannah, 1 Samuel 2:1 - 10, is echoed in a similar one by the virgin Mary many years later, Luke 1:46 - 5446 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

, and in these we see part of Samuel's mission, pointing to what will be fulfilled completely by the Lord Jesus Christ. We don't have space here to examine the respective prayers/songs of Hannah and Mary but both look forward to events and accomplishments not yet experienced at the time they were uttered. One example from Mary's: "He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away." - Luke 1:51 - 5351 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

. This statement is indeed the voice of faith because Mary is speaking with the understanding these things were accomplished when in fact Jesus had not even been born at the time. Furthermore, these truths have not been accomplished to this day; some 2007 years after the birth of Christ. Nevertheless, we can be assured by faith, along with Hannah and Mary, that their statements of faith will be fulfilled because after the Body of Christ is raptured into the heavens as taught by the Apostle Paul, 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 1813 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

, and the Nation of Israel goes through The terrible Tribulation period, Israel as a corporate body will in sorrow look upon Him who they rejected and in faith/obedience fulfill God's plan for them to bring justice and blessing to this earth for the first time since Adam's fall - Zechariah 12:7 - 147 The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.

8 In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.

9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.

12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;

13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;

14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.

; Isaiah 59:20 & 2120 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.

21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

; Jeremiah 32:37 - 4237 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:

38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:

39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:

40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

41 Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.

42 For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

; Romans 11:25 - 2725 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

; Revelation 1:77 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

. Like Hannah and Mary, this Word of God is for us to either be accepted by faith or rejected in unbelief.

To be continued.