Transcript of Radio Show #405:
Book 1st Samuel, Part 1
Continuing on the series in the Old Testament,
now with the Book of 1st Samuel, Part 1

Radio Show...

This program continues on various series of different topics of Bible studies and theology such as end times, prophecies, Old Testament, New Testament, daily living, etc. as the subject matter comes up.

The e-book on End times, Prophecies and Revelation, answering the questions “where are we in the events of the end times?” and “Are we now in the tribulation?” is available on this web site, which you can find throughout the pages.

Opening Narrative

Hello and welcome to another exciting radio program today on end times and prophecies and scriptures to live by... which is all about old-time gospel and worship music, praying for needs and preaching the Word of God....

And remember this radio programs Virtual Church for the Spiritual Unchurched is broadcast every Sunday at 7 am and 7 pm pacific time... and if you unfortunately miss it for whatever reason at any time, you can hear the program any time after that for 4 weeks...at my web site TimingRevelation.com

And I did mention to you before that with this series begins the start of the 9th year of these radio programs Virtual Church for the Spiritual Unchurched.

So, we continue today, with the new series in the Old Testament, now in the

Book of 1st Samuel, Part 1...

We will begin here right after this opening music, prayer and worship...

Prayer
Praise God Doxology
Worship music

Narrative 1

Alright so we pick up today from last week, in the book of 1st Samuel. We read about Hannah's prayer and vow that she made to God in her petition to bear a male child, whom she then dedicated to the Lord ... let's read that,

verse 11 of 1st Samuel, chapter 1,

“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.”

Samuel is born and dedicated

Now before I get into this, I need to make a correction from the last program... in chapter 1 and verse 18, I commented about the way that Hannah spoke to her husband in such nice formal manner... however, I made the mistake of taking Eli for her husband... in other words I was thinking that her husband was the priest at the temple at that time, but that is not the case.... so the man speaking to her at that point in verse18 is actually Eli the priest -- another person altogether... so I apologize for this which I just realized as I was reading —it dawned on me just then of what I had mentioned in the last program... but my comments there about communication between husbands and wives still applies.....

Alright so let's get back to our reading today from the New King James Bible...

now in verse 19 still in chapter 1,

Samuel Is Born and Dedicated

19_”Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah – her husband -- knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.

20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.” That's what Samuel means.

21 Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow.

22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever.”

For those who may wonder what weaning was in ancient times, it was a time of about 2 to 3 years of development, with certain significant cultural variations, even extending to three years or more... sometimes longer with boys than with girls.

Verse 23_”So Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the Lord establish His word.” Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young. My Jewish Study Bible here says 'even though he was just a child.”

v.25_ “Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli.

26 And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord.

27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.

28 Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” Some translations say 'I have given him to the Lord“.

So they worshipped the Lord there and then.

Music interlude...

Narrative # 2

Alright let's continue now with chapter 2 of 1st Samuel...

verses 1 to 10...

Here we have a prayer of Hannah, which is called a song of Hannah in different Bibles. It is said that this prayer is like or perhaps even a Psalm that she recited... it is a long prayer or psalm, or song, of rejoicing and worshipping the sovereign Lord for His goodness and judgment...

It is a beautiful discourse of 10 brimful verses to the glory of God which I strongly encourage you to go and carefully and reverently read on your own after the program.

Verse 11...
“Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. and the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.

In the next verses, we read about the sins of Eli's sons...

Still in chapter 2, lets look at
verses 12 to 17

The sins of Eli's sons.

12 Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord.

13 And the priests’ custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling.

14 Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the fleshhook brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.

15 Also, before they burned the fat, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who sacrificed, “Give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw.”

16 And if the man said to him, “They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires,” he would then answer him, “No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.”

17 Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. So this was verses 12 to 17.

So the explanation of this passage from my Complete Jewish Study Bible is this:
“Eli's sons were scoundrels. As priests in the Temple, Eli's sons neglected to faithfully follow God's regulations in offering sacrifice than they were supposed to according to the Torah... and they ate the fat that was to be offered to God... they also took meat by force...

Music Interlude

Narrative #3

Alright let's continue with Chapter 2,

now verses 18 to 21...

Samuel’s Childhood Ministry

18 But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod.

19 Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

20 And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “The Lord give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was given to the Lord.” Then they would go to their own home.

21 And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the Lord.

Now verses 22 to 25

Prophecy Against Eli’s Household

22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

Wow, even then the Lord had problems with some ministers of the gospel !

v. 23 So he (Eli that is) said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.

24 No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the Lord’s people transgress.

25 If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?” (In other words, he was saying God will intercede for Hymself—and there will be God's judgment.)

“Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the Lord desired to kill them.” (In other words God had already decided their lot.)

Verse 26 to 36

God's plan for Samuel

26 And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men.

27 Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?

28 Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?

29 Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?’

(Oh Oh we now hear that Eli was just as guilty as his sons...)

verse 30_” Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.

31 Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.

32 And you will see an enemy in My dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever.

33 But any of your men whom I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart. And all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age.

34 Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas (peenehas) (and I'm sure that I'm not pronouncing many of these names correctly but I'm reading them as they appear in the English translation) : in one day they shall die, both of them.

35 Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.

36 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and say, “Please, put me on one of the priestly positions, that I may eat a piece of bread. (So in other words they will be coming begging to Samuel).

Music Interlude

Narrative 4

and now chapter 3, verses 1 to 10

Samuel’s First Prophecy

v.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.

2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see,

3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down,

4 that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!”

5 So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”

And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down.

6 Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!”

So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.”

7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.)

8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.”

Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy.

9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

v. 11 to 15, still in chapter 3,

11 Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.

13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.

14 And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”

15 So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision.

Now v. 16 to 18,

16 Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!”
He answered, “Here I am.”

17 And he said, “What is the word that the Lord spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that He said to you.”

(Wow we can see that Eli was just like his sons... and it seem that he must have been feeling guilty knowing that the Lord would speak about him... threatening people for not speaking or doing what they wanted to do or hear...)

18 Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him.”

v. 19 So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord.

21 Then the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord. (and of course Shiloh is a place-- a city.)

Alright so next we will hear about a time when Israel was defeated by the Philistines and how they captured the ark, and the death of Eli the bad priest.

But for this we will have to wait until next week because unfortunately, again we've run out of time... so we will pick up from here in the next program.....

-End-

Closing Narrative…

Oh how wonderful to appreciate what Jesus has done in our lives to save us from sin by Grace... and how He continues to keep us by His on-going and unlimited Grace...

...that wonderful Grace that comes into our life the moment that we receive Him as for who He is -- the Saviour of mankind and of every individual like you and me personally...

... and this Jesus the Son of God who came to give His life for you and me is the same Jesus who's life we've been reading about in these series of programs right now, and who's death on the cross we will see as we go through the gospel story to where He gave Himself as the sacrificial Lamb of God that took the sin of the world...

...but right now, the question is:

...do you know this Jesus that we're talking about? If you don't know the Lord...

...Just say this prayer, “Lord come into my heart, come into my life, I turn to you right now and ask for forgiveness, I repent of my sins and receive your work on the cross... I receive your gospel as it was delivered through your blood shed on the cross in my place, and I thank you, Amen...

The Blessing

Before I dismiss the service today, I want to read to you the Blessing that was read to the people of God in Numbers 6:24-26 which is the benediction from God to you today:

“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."

I hope and pray that you will come back next Sunday at SpiritFM.ca, 7 am and 7 pm pacific time. And if you want to hear the service again at any time, you can go to my website at TimingRevelation.com, and click on the Radio Shows navigational tab along the left side. The replays are available there for five weeks, then they are transcribed into articles as new radio shows are put up.

I encourage you to go to your Bible and read further on the scriptures that were given throughout the program today. And if you like these programs and you've been blessed, call or write the station and let them know... if you said the prayer and have accepted the Lord or you've been healed or touched in some way by the Holy Spirit, write to me on the contact form of this web site...

...and this web site is also where you will find the Free Offer of the “Christian Growth and Maturity Chart” that I talked to you about in the last weeks... you will see the graphic on any page called “Get your free CGM Chart”, click on it and it will take you to a page that will tell you about it and how you can subscribe to my newsletter to get your free copy of the Chart sent to you.

Until next week, Maranatha, the Lord is coming, very soon. Goodbye and Blessing.

/DMH

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