Posts that reference the book of 1 Samuel

1 Sam

Praying

And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. 1 Samuel 2:1

Hannah was childless. 1 Samuel chapter 1 describes her frustration and despair in the face of infertility. It also records her petition to God at Shiloh. Chapter 2 records her prayer after receiving her petition.

We looked at this chapter at a recent worship retreat, and honestly, it troubled me. Hannah got what she wanted. It is easy to praise and worship God when He gives us our heart’s desire. What happens when He doesn’t? What about the people who earnestly pray but never receive their petitions? How do they find the words to praise or the heart to worship? How do we get to the place where the prayer in Chapter 2 happens regardless of every other circumstance?

Often I’m better at asking questions than answering them, but let me offer some points to consider.

Our definition of answered prayer is messed up. The truth is God answers every single prayer we offer. Every one. We tend to only count the answers we like. When we get what we want, we testify to answered prayers. When we don’t … we bemoan God’s silence or His inattentiveness.

Let’s look at an example from Hebrews 11, the roll call of faith. We celebrate that litany of victory and deliverance, but things change in verse 35:

Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Hebrews 11:35

Did you catch that? Some were raised from the dead. Some were tortured to death. They are listed side by side. The outcome is not the final word on faithfulness. In the same way, the outcome is not the final verdict in answered prayers. However, the answers are always rooted in a plan that most of the time we will not see or understand. That is a hard thing to accept.

If you’ve been with me for a while, you know that several years ago we were certain that God was leading us to pursue adoption. The process took years. It was frustrating, with lots of red tape and hoop-jumping, not to mention the financial end of things. Then days before things would be final, it all collapsed, and we were left empty-hearted. In our bewilderment, the question God posed was, will You still trust Me? Who else can I trust? You have the words of eternal life.

Those words, eternal life, that’s what I need. My wants, even my heart’s desires, are usually focused squarely on the here and now. My needs are much deeper. Which brings me back to Hannah. If you read the entirety of her prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1-10, she doesn’t mention the baby. Not once. She mentions God’s sovereignty, His power, His might and His salvation. I think that was her takeaway. God was going to meet her greatest need, for salvation. He was going to provide Israel with a judge. In time He would send His anointed Deliverer. She understood her needs outweighed her wants.

God challenges me to look beyond those wants to my needs which He graciously fulfills. This is not to say it’s an easy thing to accept when you don’t receive. On the contrary, it’s painful, and it can’t be covered over by praise songs, or devotionals, or platitudes. But it forces me to face the question: do I love God or just the things He gives me?

No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2

Think back to a time when you didn’t receive your petition. How did you respond? How did you grow as a result?

Looking at the Heart

By Paula Wiseman

For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

God isn’t concerned with your height or weight.
Or even with the wrinkles or gray hair.

God doesn’t worry so much about your status or position.
Or even your progress or promotions.

God doesn’t take stock of your possessions or your wish lists.
Or even your 401(k) or debt.

God doesn’t give bonus points for the books you read or your vocabulary.
Or even how well you construct or cook.

He cares about your heart.

Is it obedient?
Is it seeking Him?

Not even, is it perfect,
But, is it committed to Him alone?

Study Tip: Esther

By Paula Wiseman

The last history book in the Old Testament is Esther. Although Nehemiah, Ezra and Malachi include a few later events, Esther closes the story of the Jewish nation until the arrival of the Messiah. On the surface, it's an almost Disney-ish story of an orphan girl who wins a beauty contest and becomes queen. With a more careful consideration, we find it is so much more.

Esther is one of two books in the Bible named for women. It is not quoted in the New Testament, and the name of God is never mentioned. However, there is no question that a drama of cosmic proportions is unfolding. Satan raises up a willing instrument, Haman, to destroy God's chosen people, but the Jews respond with confident faith in God. Esther provides a unique perspective on how God's providence looks from the outside.

(An interesting side note: Haman is called the Agagite when he is introduced in chapter 3. Agag was the king of the Amalekites, whom Samuel the prophet executed nearly 600 years earlier in 1 Samuel 15. Haman was carrying a serious grudge.)

In the background of Esther, between the call for all eligible girls and the selection process, is the battle of Thermopylae, and Ahasuerus' humiliating defeat. This is the battle where the Spartans under King Leonidas make their courageous stand.

The easiest, most natural way to study the book of Esther is to follow the four main characters – Esther, Mordecai, King Ahasuerus, and Haman.

What evidence do you see of Esther's and Mordecai's faith?
What difficult situations do they face and how do they respond?
Is Ahasuerus a good king? Notice his interactions with various people. How might his military defeat be a factor?
What are Haman's character flaws? Are they exaggerated or do they follow a natural course?

Another way to approach Esther is to watch for God's involvement.

What events are the result of divine intervention?
Does this help you recognize God's involvement in your own circumstances?

What have you learned from studying Esther?

Study Tip: 1&2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles

By Paula Wiseman

I'm considering 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles together because they cover the same main subject – the life and times of David. Volumes have been written about David and I can't possibly cover him in one quick blog post. However, if you undertake this study there are a number of different ways to approach it.

Character study – David's life divides into three phases: Shepherd, Renegade and King. What kind of man is he? How does he grow and change through each phase? What is the dominant aspect of his relationship with God during each phase?

David's triumphs and failures – He had plenty of both. Note how he responds to God in each situation.

A who/what study – Who does David come in contact with? What happens? What does he take away from the encounter?

David's prayers – What prompts the prayer? What does he say about God? What does he ask for?

Consequences – None of these books shy away from portraying sin or its effects. Keep track of the sins – not only of David, but others like Eli, and Saul – and how the individual sins impact others and even the nation itself.

If you're really ambitious, follow your footnotes and read the Psalms that are cross-referenced to the events in David's life. This gives a uniquely intimate look at his relationship with God. I love being able to look at his "journal". Also the range of emotions he records is reassuring.

David's walk with God wasn't all hearts and rainbows, and by allowing us to see his failures as plainly as his great victories, we see God's mercy and grace on full display.

What's your favorite story about David?

Study Tip: The Old, Old Stories

By Paula Wiseman

One of the keys to getting something from your study time is staying engaged. This is easier said than done with some passages. I have a good friend who is a pro when it comes to Bible study, but she has absolutely no interest in details like the tabernacle, and will read over those descriptions. Genealogies, lists, building details, battles all present challenges in keeping focused. However, I find one of the toughest kinds of passages to study are the very familiar.

A few weeks ago, I had to teach David and Goliath for Sunday school. I've been in church since I was a kid and I don't think it's an exaggeration to say I've heard or read this story thirty or forty times. Here are some ideas to keep the story fresh.

1. Read it out loud – We have a tendency to read 'over' things we think we know. (This is what makes me a terrible proofreader for my own stuff.) Reading out loud forces us to slow down and pay attention to each word. You also get the added benefit of hearing the words as well as reading them. If you're in a class, try reading in parts rather than verse by verse. Have someone read David's dialogue, someone for Goliath's, Saul's and any of the other people and then have a narrator fill in.

2. Details – David makes a point of describing his efforts to protect his father's sheep. Then Scripture tells us he takes his shepherd's staff and put 5 stones in his shepherd's bag. What's the connection? I think David was going out to protect his Father's sheep- Israel- from an attacker. Oh and some folks believe the reason he picked up 5 stones was because Goliath had 4 brothers. David may have figured he'd have to whip them too before the battle was done. (2 Samuel mentions the deaths of Goliath's brothers in battle.)

3. Other characters – We have a fair idea what the battle was like from David's and from Goliath's perspectives, but what about Saul's? Or David's brothers? Or the foot soldiers on either side? Do you think the witnesses told that story for the next 30 or 40 years? I bet they did.

4. Common elements – Sometimes there's a connecting idea tying all the characters end events together. My teacher's materials had an exercise that encouraged us to go through the story identifying whose power each person was relying on. (The only person who gained a victory was the person relying on God's power and not his own. Now there's a lesson.)

God's word is living, and it is a limitless well of wisdom and insight. Ask Him what new angle He can give you on some of these old, familiar stories.

What new insights have you gained on a well-known story?

(This is a repost.)

Let It Begin With Me

By Paula Wiseman

If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God.
1 Samuel 12:14

I had to give up watching the news. Oh, I still read the headlines on the internet, and I still get email updates, but no more news broadcasts on any network for me. I found that they were contributing to a general discouragement and made me harbor some unsanctified thoughts about some of my countrymen. However, I cannot deny that our country is in deep trouble. Court rulings, legislation and political policy seem increasingly hostile to God’s authority and His standards.

As I read Scripture, the remedy won’t be found in the halls of Congress or on a picket line outside. (This is not to say that people shouldn’t avail themselves of whatever means God leads them to use to speak the truth.) The key to good God-honoring government resides in my heart and the hearts of others. If you fear the Lord, serve Him, obey Him and don’t rebel against Him – did God make Himself clear, or what? – If we as citizens commit ourselves to personal holiness, then our leadership will follow suit.

I am one person. I can vote, but how much influence do I really have on Washington D.C.? I can control my own actions, though. I can choose to fear God and honor Him. If THAT catches on, then the nation will change. If we live out genuine faith, if we become vessels of honor, sanctified, cleansed and prepared, we become part of God’s solution to the ills of our society. True healing is only found in Jesus Christ.