Scripture

“Then I will raise up a faithful priest who will serve me and do what I desire. I will establish his family, and they will be priests to my anointed Kings forever.”

Observation

The sons of Eli had no respect for the Lord or for their role as priests. They would demand a portion of the meat of the sacrifice that was reserved for the family of the people making the sacrifice. They also slept with the young women who assisted at the Tabernacle.

Samuel, on the other hand, served the Lord faithfully. Each year, his mother would bring him aa new robe. Eli would pray for them and bless them to have children to replace Samuel. Hannah had three sons and two daughters.

Eli rebuked his sons for their behaviour, but to no avail. A man of God comes and prophesies that the two sons will die on the same day, and that the Lord will raise up a faithful priest who will serve Him and do His will.

Application

At this time, the priesthood under Eli and his sons was corrupt. But God was looking to replace the corrupt priests with a faithful priest who will serve the Lord.

This is a reference to Samuel. He wasn’t exactly a priest, but as the story develops, we see that he really is faithful to God even when all others around him are not. Since, He is also the faithful prophet who hold kings and rulers accountable to the Lord .

It is also a reference looking forward to Jesus who is the eternal high priest of God who is forever faithful to the Lord. We are His priests, a royal priesthood, that stands in the presence of the Lord forever.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for replacing the old system of sacrifices by being the perfect and eternal sacrifice for us. My sins are taken away and my guilt is extinguished. Amen.

Scripture

He will protect his faithful ones

The wicked will disappear in darkness.

No one will succeed by strength alone.

Observation

After bringing Samuel to the Tabernacle to serve the Lord, Hannah prays.

Hannah expresses joy that she ihas been vindicated before her enemies. The Lord [pulls down the arrogant and raises the humble.

The Lord is overturning all the accepted structures. The hungry are well-fed and those who are well-fed are now starving. The woman who had no children now has seven, but those with many children will waste away.

It is the Lord who gives and takes away. He will protect His faithful ones. Those who resist the Lord will be shattered.

Application

The world tells us that we must all look after our own interests first. But God promises to protect those who are faithful to Him.

With God in control, the strong and the wicked will not always get their own way. He pulls down down the proud and the arrogant to remind us that He is the Lord.

Nobody succeeds by strength alone. It is all the grace of God.

We should not be afraid or anxious about what might happen. God is in control. We should just trust Him.

The gates of hell will not prevail against the Kingdom of God. Those gates are strong, but God’s Kingdom is stronger. The powerful elites and embedded interests seem impregnable, but God is greater.

Prayer

Hallelujah! You O Lord are greater than all the powers and schemes of men. Please help me to trust you now and always. Amen.