Welcome to the Bible in a Year for 2025. Intro to this series and resource links available here, plus here’s how I’m approaching this year.
Scriptures for Today:
Reflection:
We begin the OT book of 1 Samuel today. This is a book of transition from a group of (loosely) confederated tribes toward a unified nation of Israel. In the large story of the Bible, there was a problem at the end of the book of Judges. “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes,” which was a way of saying there was moral chaos. The solution in the eyes of the book of Judges is repeated in the last few chapters in the form of an explanation for the current state of things: “There was no king in Israel.” The book of Ruth, in addition to being a wonderful story of grace, character, faithfulness, and redemption, indicates that God is working to solve the big problem identified in Judges through ordinary people in a small village (see the genealogy that culminates in King David - Ruth 4:18-22).
For now, we will begin with faithful families coming to worship the Lord and make their prayers before Him.
Receiving correction well (1:9-17) - Hannah is distraught over her lack of a son and prays fervently to God, even promising her son to the Lord if He will answer her prayer. A small nugget that I appreciate about this story is the interaction between Hannah and Eli the priest, who mistakes her lips moving in silent prayer for drunkenness. He confronts her, but she is willing to speak up and correct his misunderstanding. Rather than having his honor offended, he receives her correction and adds his blessing and prayers to hers. May both of their kind increase!
Returning praise to the Lord (2:1-11) - Hannah prayed desperately to the Lord and He answered her prayer with the son she asked for. Significantly, she doesn’t forget God’s faithfulness, but returns praise to Him for answering her prayer. In my favorite verse in her praise song, she acknowledges God’s unique holiness and faithfulness.
“There is no one holy like the Lord ; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” (1 Samuel 2:2)
Samuel’s calling (3:1-10) - This is one of the great calling passages in the Bible. Here are a couple of notable features to me. First, that Samuel (Hannah’s boy) doesn’t understand that he’s being called. It’s not easy to recognize the voice of God. Second, Eli (once he figures out what’s going on) helps Samuel respond to the calling of God. Third, I appreciate Eli’s humility in welcoming the word that Samuel was given, even though it was a word of judgment on Eli’s household because of his wicked sons. It’s hard to accept a word of conviction, but Eli does.
Questions:
When has God answered a big prayer for you?
How did you return praise?
Has someone ever helped you discern some guidance from God for you? What was that like?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, draw me to pray for all the burdens on my heart and to entrust them to your wise and loving care. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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