Chapter Ten the week of March 25

We close out the times of the Judges with the birth of the prophet Samuel and the crowning of the first king of Israel, Saul. The judges were making decisions and fighting battles in regional areas. Samuel was the prophet-judge who closed out this era and ordained Saul (and David) in the era of the kings.

P129  Elkanah had two wives. One would irritate the other, Hannah. Why was it not ordained for a man to have more than one wife  (remember Rebecca and Leah)?

P 130  Barrenness is such a difficult burden to bear. There is a strong desire to parent children and no children come. On this occasion God answered Hannah’s plea for a son when he gave her Samuel. God is hearing us whether we receive our requests or not. Do you have an illustration of this that comes to mind?

P 131 After Hannah finished nursing her son Samuel (meaning: because I asked the Lord for him) she brought him to Eli in the house of the Lord at Shiloh. She left him under the tutelage of Eli and would only see him yearly. Hannah had made a vow to the Lord when she had prayed. Though inconvenient, why was it important that she keep her vow?

P 132  Eli had blasphemous sons. Samuel was a child sensitive to God’s voice. When He spoke, Samuel wanted to listen and follow. This was in-house training, even when Samuel told Eli that God would bring judgment on Eli’s family. Why is it hard for good people to tell difficult things to people for whom they care? Does it require grace & truth?

P 133-5  In the midst of battle with the Philistines both of Eli’s sons died and 98 yo Eli also died when he heard of it. So Samuel led the nation by defeating the enemy and being vigilant in leading worship of the only true God. Things seem on the right track.

 P 135-6  As Samuel aged he thought of succession as he delegated leadership to his two sons. However, as they acted dishonestly Israel’s elders wanted a king, no more regional judges. Samuel took it personally but the Lord told him that it was God who was rejected. In telling the people, Samuel told that a king would take the best of the wealth, resources and people. But the people persisted that they wanted a king ‘like the other nations’. Samuel and the Lord dropped their resistance. The Israelites would get what they wanted. How did Samuel feel about this rejection? How did the Lord feel?

P 137-8  The Lord revealed to Samuel who would be the king and Saul was that man. Saul was a reluctant recipient and Samuel gave a couple of signs to convince him. Nonetheless, when Samuel was ready to anoint him King, Saul was hiding with the supplies. What an awkward beginning for a King!

P 139-41  Besides his height Saul did have some strengths. He rallied 330,000 men for a battle that was magnificently won. Now Saul was acclaimed king with fervor. Prior to stepping out of the picture, Samuel reminded Israel that the people and the king would still need to follow the Lord, not be on automatic pilot. Samuel does a wonderful thing of challenging AND praying for the people, even though they had done the wrong thing in asking for a king. Can you remember an experience like this where you were both chastised and encouraged?

P 141-3  Saul is like everyman: dissipating his approval by God and people by relying on his strengths and not relying on what God says for him to do. The greatest of these was being impatient and conducting a burnt sacrifice that only a priest could do. So Samuel prophesied that the Spirit would leave Saul and go to another. For a personality like Saul, these were fearful and fighting words. How are all of us like Saul, our own worse enemy? When shown we are wrong, why do we dig in and defend our actions?