1 Samuel 2:1
Sometimes we are always quick to run to the Lord with our problems, drop them before him and get back about the business of life. Hannah comes in rejoicing and presents her joy and her heart before the Lord. To 'smile at my enemies' was to state that even those who war against me can't spoil this joy. This joy is a joy from the Lord, hidden in the Lord and not based on other external circumstances.
1 Samuel 2:2-11
Hannah summarizes the sovereignty of God over all of life. All around her, others were chasing other gods; false gods of other nations. Men were trusting in other things and sacrificing to demons. Hannah states the joy and comfort of knowing The Living God who reigns supreme over all. Hannah's prayer is profound and gives insight to her beliefs at that time.
- She saw God solid as a rock.
- He's the one who knows what we do (even when no one else sees).
- He is sovereign over all the affairs of people.
- He is the supreme judge who will administer perfect justice.
Samuel stayed with Eli and began his training as a priest. It was probably no secret to the people that there were problems even at the temple. The sons of Eli were corrupt and doing things that were forbidden by the Lord. Leaving their son there with Eli shows their faith in God.
Parents have to deal with their children going to school for the first time. They seem so small and the school so large. It's overwhelming and full of emotion. This might be similar to what Hannah felt, but worse. Hannah was leaving her son in the hands of the priests and going home. This had to be very difficult for her.
1 Samuel 2:12-17
The 'corrupt' of verse 12 is the word Belial; it means 'worthless' but is also the name of a false god. Belial is also used to refer to Satan and is reference to the ultimate wickedness and evil. This is just a sampling of the kind of things these two sons did. An offering was brought before the Lord and there was a prescribed way for it to be offered. The fat was thought to be the best portion and this was given to the Lord (Lev 3:3-5); the best was always to be given for God. Then the priest received a portion and the one offering the sacrifice received a portion. These men had created their own selfish way of doing what God had already prescribed. They took whatever portion they wanted and they specifically took the Lord's portion. Why did these boys want raw meat? We don't really know, but maybe to cook the way they saw fit or to sell it to others. These young men were wicked.
1 Samuel 2:18-21.
In contrast to what Eli's boys were doing, Samuel was ministering before the Lord. The fact that he had a plain linen Ephod (a vest like garment) showed he was a priest in training. The priest's ephod was decorated with all sorts of symbolic items.
1 Samuel 2:22-26
Eli knew of his son's activity and their sins. Eli was very old, which means his sons weren't very young. We have to ask where Eli's correction of his sons was for all those years. As the priest ministering before the Lord he should have put a stop to this long ago. We get a glimpse of how far things had fallen during the days of the judges. These men were even sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Verse 25 says they didn't listen to Eli's rebuke because it was the Lord's will to put them to death. I believe this shows that there is a line you can't cross. When God has had enough there doesn't seem to be any turning back. We are not to tempt the Lord our God.
1 Samuel 2:27-36
A "man of God" came to Eli. He tells Eli he is in the line of Aaron and scolds him and says he will cut short his family and that all his descendants will die in the prime of life. Eli was guilty of honoring his sons more than he honored the Lord by not dealing with them when they sinned against God. He knew what was going on but did nothing about it. See 1 Kings 2:26-27 for the fulfillment of this prophecy. Zadok was priest under David & Solomon; the faithful priest in immediate view is Samuel, in the ultimate faithful priest is Jesus.
©2015 Doug Ford
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