Study on Samuel: Part one : Introduction on who is Samuel.
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The Early years of the Kingdom of Isreal
The Early years of the Kingdom of Isreal
Okay this morning we are going to be starting our study on the early kingdom of Isreal and the first couple of Kings. the first king we are going to be looking is King Saul, but in order to know who Saul is we must start with the history of Samuel. lets turn in our Bibles to 1st Samuel 1:1-8
1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. 4 And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.
8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
From this passage what are some things that we can notice? we come to understand that this is not Saul but the Samuel the Prophets family. we come to understand this later. Elkanah is the father of Samuel, Elkanah comes from the tribe of Levite, part of the most honorable Kohathites within the tribe of Levite. we come to see this in 1st Chron 6:33-34
33 And these are the ones who ministered with their sons: Of the sons of the Kohathites were Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, 34 the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
What is something that we know about the Levite Tribe? The Levite Tribe was the Priest tribe among the Israel people. they attended to the Tabernacle of the Lord. we come to see the history of Samuel family. one of Elkanah ancestor was Zuph who was an Ephrathite, that was from Bethlehem in Juda. Which was called Ephrathah. we come to find this out in Ruth 1:2
2 The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there.
another thing to think is the God had move his priest around in order to serve his people. we come to understand that because God is the true king of his people. we also understand Isreal will eventually want a worldly king like the other nations around them. now back history of Samuel the Prophet. we come to understand that Elkanah was a decedent of Mich who move from Ephrathah to Mount Ephraim. Lets turn in our Bibles to Judges 17:8
8 The man departed from the city of Bethlehem in Judah to stay wherever he could find a place. Then he came to the mountains of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.
What can we notice about the history of Priest? if you notice they move around often. Priest and their family, that happen still today depending on the where God want to send his ministers. usually many priest are taken from their homeland. another thing to think about is the the Ephrathites were showing their alliance to King David later on. So now lets turn our focus on the location for moment of Samuel father Elkanah. Elkanah lived in Ramah or Ramathaim. Which was known as the double Ramah with lower and higher towns. there is a possibility that there was school for Prophets here. because there is talk about the watchmen which was kind of a early term for Prophets at the time. we come to understand that a prophecy was revealed before the birth of Samuel Lets turn in our Bible 1st Samuel 3:1
1 Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.
we come to understand that there was hardly and vision from the Prophets at this moment from Levite tribe. We also come to understand that there has been no mention of prophets of Lord since Moses. Judges 6:8
8 that the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage;
we also come to understand that there is a possibility that there was no school for Prophets until Samuel had founded it. Lets turn in our Bibles to 1st Samuel 19:19-20
19 Now it was told Saul, saying, “Take note, David is at Naioth in Ramah!” 20 Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
From this few verse we come to understand who Samuel is, where he was raise, who his family was. Samuel becomes the Prophet who ministers to King Saul and to King David. This allow us to look more into his Family. what are some things we come to know about Samuel’s Family just from what we read here? (1). the first thing we should notice about Samuel’s family is that they were devoted. From the history of the Israelite People we come to understand that they were all devoted to following God. The Levites on the other hand were in charge of being priest for the Lord. there was a pattern within the Levite tribe most of them who were born Male would follow in there fathers steps as Priest. we should also notice how Elkanah would go to Solemn feast and provide sacrifices to Lord of Host God. We can probably assume because Elkanah was came from the country side he did not require office days and or need to be at the Tabernacle, but he went to tabernacle to encourage his fellow neighbors. some problems that they face during this time period of the Isreal people was that (1) there were people would not come to the temple and provide sacrifices, today we still have many people who do not come to church everyday or maybe once month. some of them begin to worship other gods from other nations. from this we come to understand that Elkanah mange to keep his faith by doing the things God had commanded his people to keep. Just like Joshua Elkanah family chose to serve the Lord. this allow us to look at (2) thing here. Which was Hophni and Phinehas the sons of Eli were in charge of the Lords house at the time. These two who were in charge of the house of the Lord were ill suited for job. we Come to understand that Elkanah would continue to do his duty for God even if his priest were not doing the right things also. these people of Isreal were to go to one place and to do things that God had commanded them to do, while today those who chose to follow God can chose to where they worship. Lets turn in our Bibles to Eph 4: 11-12
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
Today we are in charge of our own salvation needing helpers that provide guidance and knowledge of the scriptures. Helper with our Holiness, and Joy. not those who do such things out of gain, scandalous or immoralities. Which leads us to the (2) second point about Samuel’s family. because of these things that happen it had cause division among the family, instead of unity. (1) the original cause of this division was Elkanah marrying two wives, which was a transgression of the institution of God’s law of marriage. to which we come to understand that Christ reduce it in Mt 19:5-8
5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
7 They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”
8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
we come to understand from the beginning in Genesis mankind was order to multiply and fill the earth, it made mischief in Abraham family eventually Jacob’s family, and now we see here in Elkanah family too. There is a good chance the Elkanah married Hannah first, but could not bear him any children, then Elkanah married his second wife Peninnah who eventually bore him children. this eventually became a thorn in Elkanah life. so here are what some things we can understand about Elkanah? (1) Elkanah was devoted man to God, so it was his duty to mange his attendance at God’s alter. if we think about this we come to understand that this could been very difficult for Elkanah because of having two wives and they disagree with everything. the (2) thing to keep in mind here is that He did all he could to encourage his first wife Hannah. Elkanah was trying everything he could do to keep Hannah spirits up because she could bear any children back in verse 1st Samuel 1:4-5
4 And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb.
another thing to think about is how Elkanah treated his first wife compare to his second wife? we come to see that Elkanah did not show any favoritism to any of his wives, but show love to both them as Christ did to church let’s turn in our Bibles to Eph 5:25.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
Elkanah would give portions to Peninnah and all her sons and daughter. Elkanah would double Hannah portions, what does this mean, well it could mean that Elkanah would give the best to Hannah out of love for her. From this we come to see that Elkanah was very devoted to both his wives, but Elkanah was trying to encourage the one who was tormented, and low in spirit. we come to understand that Elkanah probably would show his love by the share he gave her of his peace offering. as we continue to look at Samuel’s family we come to understand that Elkanah second wife Peninnah was peevish and provoking towards Hannah Elkanah first wife. we come to understand that Peninnah despised Hannah because of her being barren. Peninnah would used provoking language like as one heaven did not favor. we can probably assume that Peninnah would do this on their way to worship God, which was wrong to do because they were there to worship. another thing to think about is that this probably the only time these two saw each other. we come to understand that it is Satan’s job to lead God’s people astray from the faith and we can see that is what is happening between Hannah and Peninnah, Elkanah wives. lets turn in our Bible to Job 1:6
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.
when it comes to worshipping God, as his people God wanted them to present themselves with humility when they come to worship God. even today God still has expectation for us as Christians. he wants us to worship in certain ways when we come together as God’s family. We come to understand it is our duty not add burden’s to our brothers and sister in Christ. we come to see that Peninnah was doing the exact opposite. we come to understand that Hannah could not bear the insults in verse 7 of 1st Samuel 1:7
7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.
From this point view we come to understand that Hannah was very miserable. Lets turn in our Bibles to Deut 26:14
14 I have not eaten any of it when in mourning, nor have I removed any of it for an unclean use, nor given any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that You have commanded me.
we can also tie in Lev 10:19 with this also.
19 And Aaron said to Moses, “Look, this day they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, and such things have befallen me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been accepted in the sight of the Lord?”
We come to understand that Hannah was an enemy to herself because she wanted a child but could not have one. she was a fretful spirit, thinking on worldly terms, which would not allow her to accept the joys of the Lord provided. we can tie Mal 2:13
13 And this is the second thing you do:
You cover the altar of the Lord with tears,
With weeping and crying;
So He does not regard the offering anymore,
Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.
We also see how Elkanah would go and try to comfort his wife Hannah because of her grieving. we see that here in verse 8 of 1st Samuel 1:8
8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
Elkanah tried his very best to comfort his wife the best he could within his ability within himself as man. we come to understand that those who are married are one in the flesh and one within the Spirit also. they share in troubles also. it would be hard to be joyous while the other grieved. again we come to understand Elkanah had his troubles with two wives but he love both them for who they were. Elkanah do his best to comfort his wife Hannah. Lets turn in our Bibles to Eccl 7:14
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful,
But in the day of adversity consider:
Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other,
So that man can find out nothing that will come after him.
we come to understand that world has much to offer in comfort but we must bear our crosses and forfeit our comfort also. because this will become a double edge sword for all Christians. this allow us to look at verse 9-18 here in 1st Samuel 1:9-18
9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!”
15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”
17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”
18 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
Okay from this passage here in Samuel one what are some things that we should notice about Hannah?
we come to see that Hannah decided to eat with the family, we also come to understand that Hannah, we also come to understand that Hannah cheered herself up, and did not fall into disappear.