1 Samuel 1

The Death of a Stranger

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And David said unto the young man that told him, “Whence art thou?” And he answered, “I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.” And David said unto him, “How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?”  And David called one of the young men, and said, “Go near, and fall upon him.” And he smote him that he died.  And David said unto him, “Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, ‘I have slain the LORD’S anointed.’ ”
2 Samuel 1:13-16

Some background for these verses. First of all David loved his king Saul, and Jonathan the king’s son. Even though Saul had tried to kill David or have him killed, David trusted the LORD with his life, and that of the king as well. Also, David had promised Jonathan and Saul that he would show favor to their family.

Now, David has been told by an Amalekite stranger that Saul, and Jonathan are dead. The stranger tells David a cock a maime  story of how he killed Saul, when according to First Samuel 31:1-6 Saul fell on his own sword, thus killing himself, when he saw that the war was lost, and when Saul’s armor bearer saw that the king was dead he killed himself.

The stranger did not know David. It appears that he sought David out seeking some kind of reward for killing David’s enemy. Only he did not know that Saul was not David’s enemy; Saul was David’s king, and David would not lay a hand on him, neither permit anyone else to do so. David was king Saul’s enemy and all because of envy.

David had two opportunities to take Saul’s life, and he would not do it, because Saul was the LORD’S anointed king (1 Samuel 24:1-9ff; 26:1-16ff). So for this Amalekite stranger to come to David seeking a reward for killing his king was very foolish. Later on after David has become king another two men kill a son of Saul – Ishbosheth – whom Abner tries to set up as king. Ishbosheth was not God’s chosen, or anointed king of Israel. These two men, Rechab and Baanah kill Ishbosheth while he is lying in his bed in the middle of the day. They think they will get a reward from the king for killing an enemy. Their reward is death (2 Samuel 4).

King David remembers the covenants he had made with Jonathan, and he keeps them. That shows us that David is an honorable man of God. He keeps his word. He is faithful to the LORD God as well.

From David we learn how to trust the Lord, our God, and Savior. As David was a man of his word, so ought the Christian to be people who will speak the truth in love, and when we make a promise, or a covenant with someone we keep it. Also, just because someone takes a hit at you, and they consider you their enemy; they do not have to be our enemy.

How can we live like that? How can we love a neighbor who hates us, and does whatever they can to destroy us? We need to first know the LORD, and His Son Jesus Christ. We must have a different heart than that the world has. Do not strike back. Difficult? Most certainly, but remember David’s refusal to strike king Saul.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. He died on the cross for our sins – your sins and mine – He was buried, and He rose again. We have a risen Savior who is forever living and He intercedes for us continually. Call on His name. He will hear you and He will deliver you (Romans 10:13).

Setting Things Up For A King

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.  And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, “O LORD of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Thine handmaid, but wilt give unto Thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.”  1 Samuel 1:9-11
And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.  Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the LORD.”
1 Samuel 1:19-29

First Samuel is seen, as is Ruth, of still being in the time of the Judges of Israel. The man Samuel being the last of the Judges.

In chapter one of First Samuel we have a man with two wives, Peninnah who had given birth to children, and the other was Hannah who had no children. Peninnah was mean and spoke harshly, and cruelly to Hannah, because she was without child. Hannah wanted a child, and preferably a son. Well, when they made their annual trip to Shiloh where the tabernacle, with the Ark of the covenant is, while there she was so grieved of not having a child that she would eat anything, and Elkanah saw her grief, and spoke with trying to get her to eat, but failed to do so.

Hannah had left the place of the meal, and went toward the tabernacle, and was near where Eli sat at the gate. She may not have even noticed Eli sitting there since she was grieving so terribly. Anyway she prayed the prayer that is above.

She asked the LORD specifically for a male child, and she made a vow to the LORD, that if He would bless her with a man child she would give him back to the LORD. I personally believe that every Christian mother and father ought to give their children to the LORD who is Most High, and knows how to deal with children. Going on now, God hears Hannah’s prayer and gives her a son who she gives the name Samuel. After Samuel is weaned she takes him to Eli, and gives him to the LORD, under the care of Eli.

Eli is a priest with whom the LORD God is not pleased, but God is doing a work preparing Samuel for bringing a king to provide leadership for the LORD’S people.

Hannah was God’s chosen vessel for giving birth to a man child who would grow to be a prophet and judge in Israel. Who would also be used to bring in the first king of Israel.

God, the LORD is still working in today’s world. Through the birth of a child, the broken heart of a woman desiring to have a child whether a son or a daughter. Through the deliverance of a man or woman from drugs, alcohol, smoking or just getting off the streets, and into a home to live. God is still calling people to Himself.

Today, no matter where you are physically, emotionally, or spiritually can you hear God calling you? Calling you, first of all to come to Him believing in His Son Jesus Christ, and His work of redemption by dying on a cross for the sins of the world, that He was buried, and that He rose from the tomb, and walked out alive to many witnesses. Calling you also to a place to serve Him, and to give your heart and life completely to Him.

If you hear Him calling you to Himself fall on your knees before Him, call on His name in repentance and faith in Him, and He will give you eternal life with Him.