I Samuel 1-7: Week in Review

Ok, so it's more been more than a week.But naturally, as a teacher at heart, I need to step back and review!

I Samuel 1  
Hannah reminded me that God is trustworthy with my children's hearts. I am not omnipotent. He is. I am not omniscient. He is. Because of that I need to seek His face to keep them on the path He has laid out for them. (Proverbs 22:6)
And on that note, we all need to be careful not to presume that you know the path God has laid out for the children of another family. But that is another topic entirely! :)

I Samuel 2a and 2b
 In chapter 2, Hannah sings this incredible song after saying good bye to her little boy, her only child, leaving him to serve the Lord. This song, so relevant to today. She reminds us who is in charge, in a world that seems to be spinning out of control.  Her words brought me deep comfort.

  “ The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory.

 “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord ’s, And He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.

 “For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed.”

The end of the chapter finishes with a pronouncement of judgement on Eli's sons for their desecration of all things holy. For the unrepentant man, God's patience does come to an end.  “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions…God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”  (Romans 1:26, Romans 1:28)  

I Samuel 3
Despite the Word of the Lord being rare in Samuel's day, he received a message directly from God. But it was not good news for his boss, his mentor, his father figure. And he was afraid to deliver the message. I can relate. These days people don't want to know what the Bible says unless it is happy and makes them feel good. But this chapter demonstrates the importance for truth to be spoken even if it is painful. Eli actually accepted the word. He knew. As Christians we are afraid to speak the truth for fear of rejection, or being attacked, but there are many that are just waiting to hear. Also, God's word is not rare anymore, in fact it is so available that we take it completely for granted.

I Samuel 4
Chapter 4 gets real. It is war, it is death, and it is a side of the Bible that some are afraid of. I am not. God is love. And He defines love. Period.  I don't pretend to understand everything about God and or the Bible. I also don't pretend to know everything about quantum physics. There are laws and corollaries in science that I know to be true whether I understand them or not. Just like there are truths about God I know to be true whether I understand them or not. God is good, and He is love.
 
I Samuel 5
In chapter 5 the presence of God destroys the god of the Phillistines. And the heathens take notice!
 I love this poignant reminder of the power of God's presence. Crank the praise music, call on the name of Jesus and watch those idols and strongholds crumble to the ground!

I Samuel 6
 ²⁰ And the men of Beth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? In Chapter 6, God's people get lesson in the fear of the Lord. And it causes them to wonder if there is anyone good enough to stand before God. And no one could, until the blood of Jesus.
Now we, who are clothed in the righteousness of Christ, who have called on his name, can and must go boldly before the throne of Grace, making our requests know to God, all the while respecting the presence of God in our lives.

I Samuel 7
Once again God forgives and receives His people. And that same forgiveness is extended to us. Even when we blow it as parents. 
³ Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreth from among you, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” ⁴ So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.