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| Welcom to larom.org. This section of Bible studies continues our look at Bible pictures of God's character. It is amazing how this study helps you see what a loving God we have. He was willing to take risks to win our love and admiration. He is honored by our love and faithfulness even during poverty and sickness. He treasures His children and hears every cry for help. Even his punishments describe what He is like. |
| I Samuel is filled with events that describe God. Whatever it takes to get the attention of His people, God will do it, even if it is a child prophet. |
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God Chooses a Child to Speak for Him A Prophet at 12 yrs He became counselor to a whole nation. Psalms 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD [is] upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; Zechariah 2:8 ... he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him... |
 SCRIPTURE SONG: Be delighted in the Lord
and He will give you all your hearts desires, commit everything you do to
the Lord and He will help you . Psalms 37:4,5
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I Samuel 1 Now there was a man Elkana, who had two wives. One was Hannah, and the other Peninnah. Year after year Peninnah provoked Hannah to tears taunting her that because Hannah had no children she was a reject. Many years passed with this family feud causing tremendous grief for Hannah. Many sons and daughters were born to Peninnah. Hannah wept and could not eat. She went to the tabernacle of the Lord to tell God her sorrow. She was noticed by the high priest Eli. He saw that her lips were moving but he could not hear anything. When a woman who loves God is persecuted in her own home, she develops the habit of praying quietly in her heart. This avoids anyone overhearing and scorning and bellowing or striking her while she is talking to God. |
| Poor Eli did not have good Spiritual discernment because of his own personal problems and his relationship to God. He looked at Hannah and thought she was drunk. |
| Earnestly she pleaded that God would take away the curses on her and give her the precious gift of a son to hug and cuddle and train for Him. She made a solemn vow that if her request were granted, she would dedicate her child to God, even from its birth. Hannah had drawn near to the opening of the tabernacle, and in the anguish of her spirit she "prayed, . . . and sobbed." She communed with God silently yet her lips were moving. No sound came out of her. |
  In those evil times
no one really prayed with such emotion. Wild parties, feasting and even drunkenness were not uncommon, even at the religious festivals; and Eli the high priest,
watching Hannah, supposed that she was drunk with wine. Thinking she
needed scolded, he said sternly, "How long will you be drunken? Put away
your wine." Pained and startled, Hannah answered respectfully and gently, "No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Don't think I am a daughter of Belial or Satan: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken." Eli told her God would grant her request. She reached her hand of faith into God's hand and believed this to be God's promise to her. |
| Hannah's prayer was granted; she received the gift for which she had so earnestly
prayed. As she looked upon the child, she called him Samuel--"asked of God."--PP 569, 570 (1890).{DG 41.1} During the first three years of the life of Samuel the prophet, his mother carefully taught him to distinguish between good and evil. By every familiar object surrounding him, she sought to lead his thoughts up to the Creator. In fulfillment of her vow to give her son to the Lord, with great self-denial she placed him under the care of Eli the high priest, to be trained for service in the house of God. Though Samuel's youth was passed at the tabernacle devoted to the worship of God, he was not free from evil influences or sinful example. The sons of Eli feared not God, nor honored their father; but Samuel did not seek their company nor follow their evil ways. His early training led him to choose to maintain his Christian integrity. What a reward was Hannah's! And what an encouragement to faithfulness is her example!-- Sometimes the promised child rebels and does not want to do God's work. God respects their choice. The grief that pierces the hearts of his parents is very painful. Sampson made things so hard. The best thing is to please God in all things. |
| Every day he was the subject of her prayers She did not ask for her son worldly greatness, but she earnestly pleaded that he might attain that greatness which Heaven values--that he might honor God and bless his fellow men. |
| In 1Samuel chapter 3 God passed by His
high priest to speak to a young boy of 12 years.
"God will pass by old, experienced fathers connected with His work if they neglect their duty in their home life." Letter 33, 1897 I Samuel 3:20 "And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD." |
In choosing a little boy to represent Him and speak for Him, God shows that He treasures an obedient person who is teachable. Age is not important to God. Neither is it important if the person is a man or a woman. To see other pictures of God in 1 Samuel click on these options below.
