May 7, Reading Notes

1 Samuel 1:1-2:21

1Samuel 1

So, just thinking out loud regarding this time in Israel's history, it is said that Samuel and Samson were alive at the same time. In this area of Israel, they were under Philistine dominance. Samson kept the Philistines at bay for 20 years and then destroyed the Philistine leadership at his death. No wars with the Philistines are mentioned during Samson's lifetime. No wars are mentioned during the early years of Samuel either. Later in Samuel's life, God uses the wars with the Philistines to clear out the evil in the priesthood and to test the reign of King Saul. I would guess that Samson was older than Samuel and that Samuel became known in Israel during the later years of Samson's life, during which years Samuel became established as a leader in Israel, though under Eli. After Samson died, in the vacuum of power following the deaths of the Philistine leadership, Israel probably began breaking way from Philistine control and the Philistines fought Israel to regain that control. These wars would have been the occasion of Hophni and Phinehas dying in battle and losing the Ark of the Covenant to the Philistines. By this time Samuel was already well established as both a prophet and priest; and when the death of Eli came immediately after the battle, Samuel was the only leader in Israel and was probably in his 20's or 30's.

So, I would guess that at the time of Samuel's birth, Samson was in his teenage years and beginning to notice girls.

It is interesting that the final two stories in Judges, then Ruth and now this story all take place in the area around Jerusalem. Also, 3 of the stories involve Levites. Although Elkanah is not identified here as a Levite, in 1 Ch. 6:35 he is said to be a Levite. This would make it possible for Samuel to be a priest. Elkanah was an Ephrathite by virtue of where he lived.

Rama, where he lived, was just north of Jerusalem and south of Shiloh.

Elkanah apparently had two wives because of Hannah being barren. Otherwise, it looks like Hannah would have been his one and only.

Vs. 4-11 There are a lot of things here, but notice that this awful situation is from the Lord.

Notice also that she is vowing that the son will be dedicated to the Lord as a Nazarite, just like Samson.

Again, the similarity to Samson can't be missed in that this, too, is an unusual birth situation.

All of what God led Hannah through was to produce this kind of intensity in her life. As disciples, this is why we need to keep our eyes on the Lord and bear up under trials. He is trying to produce something in us. If we become bitter over the "right and wrong" in a situation, or if we are defeated by our own sorrow, we miss the point. He is working, and very likely, to produce a kind of resolve or passion or dedication in us. There is no other way to burn certain things on our hearts apart from the blazing heat of failure, rejection and trial.

Vs. 12-18 Eli is included as a judge of Israel and his failure is with his sons. Still, his blessing here holds for Hannah.

Vs. 19-28 Rama was about 15 miles south of Shiloh. This was not a distance that meant Hannah only saw him once a year, but they didn't have cars back then and 15 miles of hilly country was a trip you didn't make every day.

In this time of the judges, Elkanah, like Boaz, comes away as a godly man. Hannah, obviously, was a godly woman, pushed closer to God by her God-given trial. I know the story is about Hannah, but still, it was Elkanah who took his family up to worship at Shiloh every year.

1 Samuel 2

Vs. 1-10 Like so many of the psalms, and like the Third Day song, you must go through the valley (trials) to stand upon the mountain of God (praising).

What do you understand from this praise from Hannah? From things I have experienced and in the situation I find myself now, I sense the strong confidence in God's sovereignty. God's control is something that we as disciples can never lose sight of, even in uncertainty and suffering.

 

Vs. 11-17 This gets us back to the description of the time of the judges we are used to. It is amazing that anyone came to Shiloh to worship. When you read this, you can understand how this would have created bitterness and disappointment among the devout and it would have given reasons to the rebellious to avoid Shiloh and to make God in their own image.

Note that what is mentioned here is how Eli's sons got food for themselves. That seems minor, but I think it is a big issue in this story, as we'll see later. Paul talks about guys like these, and other false disciples and servants of the church when he warns Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:5 …..men who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

When our lives as disciples are about anything more than following Christ in the harvest to save the lost and make disciples, not only are we prone to error, but we can pervert the good that God has given to assist us in our service in the harvest.

Vs. 18-21 Samuel was becoming true to God, in contrast to Eli and his sons. That Hanna brought Samuel a robe each year, means that's when she brought him the robe, not the only time when she saw him. Remember, they only lived 15 miles apart. According to the Law, all males had to appear before the Lord at the Tabernacle 3 times a year.

God blessed Elkanah and Hanna. Hanna had the kids and Elkanah had a happy wife, and both were in love with God.

John 5:1-23

Commentators usually see this feast as Jesus' second Passover. That would mean John is giving us a very abbreviated history here, just touching major points. It would mean that between the end of chapter 3 and here, a complete year has passed by in John. During this time, Jesus' popularity has skyrocketed. Jesus has recently healed the paralytic carried by 4 friends and He has preached through all of Galilee.

V. 5 Notice, that if Jesus had been to Jerusalem 3 times a year, He had seen this man often. Now, in verse 6, He is led by the Spirit to notice Him.

V. 8 Jesus did this quickly and quietly so as not to draw attention to Himself (v.13).

Vs. 14-18 This is the reason why John is including this event, to show why the Pharisees hated Jesus.

Vs. 19-20 This entire chapter is a very tight, logical argument. It is worth looking at it, finding the transitions in what Jesus says and then trying to figure out why He went from one theme to the next. This is probably Jesus' most ambitious try to win over the Pharisees and save them. In the course of this chapter, Jesus will declare Himself to be both Son of God and Son of Man.

Here, the point to the Pharisees is that He is the Son and if the Father is working on the Sabbath, He, the Son, has to be working too.

Vs. 21-23 The relationship is established between the Father and Son and therefore, the signs. The Father is working and Jesus sees that. Jesus moves on to describe why the Father has done this. The raising of the dead is seen here as authority to judge. The Son has been given that authority so that everyone may honor the Son as they do the Father. Jesus is saying here, that He is a pretty important person. You can't say you honor God, if you don't honor Jesus as the Son of God.

Psalm 105:37-45

Keep underlining "he." Notice that v. 45 appears to be the point of the psalm and of God's actions.

Proverbs 14:28-29

It looks like the success of verse 28 is determined by the character of verse 29. Kind of cool, huh?

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.

If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.