Transcript

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch.1-2 NLV; Ch. 3-4 ERV, Ch. 5 CEV

Podcast Introduction

This History Tuesday. We’ll begin the book of 1 Samuel by reading the first five chapters.

And it’s the thirteenth of December, so we’ll have Christmas Question number 13 today, sent in by Lifespring! family member Berean, Brother John in Canada. Of course, our Christmas expert, James Cooper of whychristmas.com has an answer for him.

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Alireza Attari on Unsplash

Comments on 1 Samuel

Thoughts on 1 Samuel 1

About Samuel’s family. Elkanah, the man who would become Samuel’s father, seems to have been a devout man in a time that many people were far from God. Remember from our time in Judges how many times we were told “There were no kings in the land, and people did whatever they wanted.” Well, Elkanah made regular trips to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices. He was a Levite, which is the tribe from which God chose priests. 

But as Abraham and Jacob had done, he took two wives. This was not God’s ideal plan, and as had happened with these other two men, Elkanah found that this is not the way to a peaceful house. Peninnah was hard on Hannah because Hannah was childless and probably also because she knew that Elkanah loved Hannah more.

So Hannah cried to the Lord, asking Him to give her a son. And she made a vow to Him that was just flat out remarkable. She told God that if He would give her a son, she would give him back to Him.

How many times do we make promises to God in times of desperation, and then when the crisis passes, we forget our promise? I’m ashamed to admit that I have done this. But bless her heart, Hannah did not. Once Samuel was old enough to be weaned, she took him to Shiloh to fulfill her promise. 

As a father of three sons and grandfather of four grandchildren (soon to be five!), I can only imagine the grief I would experience if I were to give up one of my children after caring for them for the three years it is thought that Hannah had Samuel in her care. But Hannah remembered her promise, and she loved God enough to trust that He would see to Samuel’s welfare. What devotion and faith this woman had!

Thoughts on 1 Samuel 3 and 4

Sometimes I think the so called modern translations go just a bit too far in trying to simplify the language. In chapter 3, verse 3 there’s the phrase “the Holy Box”. In the original Hebrew, it is called “the ark of Elohim”. Elohim one of the Hebrew words that is translated into English as God, and it is the same word used in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth." 

It is also has another name in the Bible. Hebrews 9:4 tells us the contents of the Ark: "in which there was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant." And so now we know why it is also called the Ark of the Covenant.

So can we not just call it the Holy Box?

I’d like to share with you what F. B. MEYER wrote in his book, "Great Verses Through the Bible" about Samuel and how God called him that night while he tried to sleep in the temple. 

"And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel!" See the urgency of God! Four times He came and stood, and called. Mark how He stands at the door to knock. At first He was content to call the lad once by name: but after three unsuccessful attempts to attract him to himself, He uttered the name twice, with strong urgency in the appeal, "Samuel! Samuel! This has been called God's double knock. There are seven or eight of these double knocks in Scripture: Simon, Simon; Saul Saul; Abraham, Abraham. How may we be sure of a divine call? We may know God's call when it grows in intensity. If an impression comes into your soul and you are not quite sure of its origin, pray over it; above all, act on it so far as possible, follow in the direction in which it leads—and ...