1 SAMUEL 2 - KNOWING YOUR GOD
1 Samuel 2
1 Samuel shows the difference between those who know the Lord and those who do not. Chapter 2 displays a clear contrast between the Son of Hannah, who knew the Lord, and the Son’s of Eli’s, who did not know the Lord.
1 Samuel 2 begins with the prayer of Hannah, a woman who exulted in God. She was a faithful mother, who offered up her son born out of barrenness. Hannah’s prayer is filled with praise to the Lord, by calling him Savior, Rock, Teacher, Judge, Provider, Guardian, and King. Hannah overflowed with gratitude for how God had worked in her life through both the highs and the lows. (v. 1-10)
On the day of Hannah’s prayer, it was a low day. She was leaving her only son to be a servant in the temple alongside Eli the priest. It was what she promised to do (1 Samuel 1:11). Leaving Samuel behind, she had to go back home with Elkanah. This also meant she would face the rivaling wife Peninnah who would be sure to remind Hannah about her lack of children. However, this was also a high day for Hannah, because she was confident in how the Lord would use Samuel. She knew that God had great plans and purposes for her only son.
Samuel is shown in v. 11 as a young boy who ministered to the Lord in the presence of Eli the Priest. From that first day he made offerings in the temple, and it was pleasing to God. God saw the faith of Hannah and the service of Samuel and he counted them both worthy.
On the contrary, the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord (v. 12). They treated the offerings of the Lord with contempt by taking portions of sacrifices in dishonest gain. They exploited others by created man-made obstacles in worship. God saw their practices and he was abhorred by their sin (v. 13-17)
Nevertheless, Samuel continued to minister before the Lord. (v. 18)
Samuel would receive yearly visits from Hannah. She would make him new clothing as Samuel grew bigger and taller each year. During one of those visits, Eli took notice of Hannah’s faithfulness. She had sacrificially given Samuel, to be a boy clothed with an ephod. Eli blessed Hannah, and prayed that the Lord would give her more children. (v. 19-20)
Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord. (v. 21)
Even still, Eli’s sons continued in their perverse ways. Eli heard about his son’s sexually immorality and confronted them about it. The sons were unrepentant, and God was determined to put them to death. These men had forsaken the God of their father. They enjoyed the benefit of being priests of the Lord, but without ever knowing him. Their lack of relationship with God was evident in their actions. (v. 22-25)
It became even more evident that Samuel was called by God. Each year he grew in stature and favor with the Lord and also with man (v. 26).
Conversely, each year Eli’s sons grew in their wickedness until finally the Lord sent a man of God to announce judgment on the house of Eli. God cut off the line of Eli from being High Priest, and he raised up for himself a faithful priest - one who would do what was in the heart and mind of God. (v. 27-36)
Samuel would become that priest, but all of this was pointing to someone even greater! Years later, there was another young boy who was an only son. When he entered the temple he demonstrated his knowledge of God and amazed the priests with his wisdom (Luke 2). He also grew in stature and favor with God and man (Luke 2:52). This boy was the greater fulfillment of Hannah’s prophetic prayer: “The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” (v. 10)
The greater Samuel is Jesus Christ. Like Samuel, Jesus served the Lord from his youth. Like Samuel, Jesus was a faithful priest amidst corrupt religion. Like Samuel, Jesus knew God, and ministered always before him. Jesus is the Messiah King that everything in 1 Samuel points to. There is no one beside him; there is no rock like our God!