Category: 1 Samuel

1 Samuel 3:19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.  

I feel certain that I am not the only one who sometimes speaks and wonders if anybody is actually listening, if anyone is hearing the words coming out of my mouth. The idea of none of my words falling to the ground (v19) is actually quite appealing to me….

1 Samuel 3:20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.

…but when I truly think about that idea–none of my words fall to the ground, the all hit their mark–I realize that being heard is a powerful thing, and I’m not always careful with my words–especially when I am angry, frustrated, bitter, tired–so sometimes I intentionally lob words intended to wound. I don’t want those words to land. I don’t even mean those words beyond my fear or frustration.

1 Samuel 3:21a The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the power of words. Help me to be more careful with the words that I say–especially when I am upset, angry, bitter, tired. I want my words to edify, to build up others, to point them to You. I don’t want my words to hurt or tear down. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

1 Samuel 3:21b …and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

Have a blessed day.

1 Samuel 3:17a “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. 

According to tradition, Samuel is 12 years old in this chapter. Can you imagine delivering the news he had to deliver to Eli at 12 years old? I cannot. Interestingly, in my church devos this week, we are in the latter verses of Luke 2, when Jesus is 12 years old and His parents inadvertently leave Him at the temple.

1 Samuel 3:17b “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” 

Those two twelve year olds have me thinking about children, God, growing up, capability, trust. Twelve seems so young, I think definitely younger now than in biblical times, yet God’s got our kiddos–those we gave birth to, those we helped raise, those we love and want the best for, those who pluck our last nerve–He’s got them all. He’s leading and guiding them, even now. And He allows us to assist Him and them. How beautiful is that?

1 Samuel 3:18a So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the many, many young people You have placed in my life over the years. Thank You for allowing me to assist You and them as they grow. Help me, as a responsible adult who loves You and loves others, to help them find their feet, to help them learn to trust themselves, to help them see the value of course-correcting when they see they have veered off course. Amen.

1 Samuel 3:18b Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”

Have a blessed day.

1 Samuel 3:8a A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” 

What strikes me about today’s verses is the patience and perseverance of God. In verse 8, Samuel is called for the third time, and while he responds to every call, he responds to Eli because he thinks that is who is calling him. It takes Eli a while to catch on as well. It isn’t until the third call that Eli realizes that since he isn’t calling Samuel, it must be the Lord.

1 Samuel 3:8b Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 

Even when Eli makes that realization, he doesn’t panic. “OMG! That must be God calling. Go back to your room! Listen! Hope He calls again!” Eli says, *if* He calls you (for a fourth time), say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’

1 Samuel 3:9a So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” 

Precious Savior, Thank You for Your patience and perseverance. Thank You for calling until we figure out that it is Your voice we are hearing. Help us to listen. Help us to hear. Help us to respond. Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening. Amen.

1 Samuel 3:9b So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Have a blessed day.

1 Samuel 3:4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 

Once again, the last verse is the one that has caught my attention: “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.” I know over the years there have been times when I read God’s word and thought, “What in the world is this saying?!?” and there have been times I’ve read His word and thought, “This! He hears me. He knows me. He’s got me. Thank You, Jesus!”

1 Samuel 3:5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

And there have been times when I have felt God calling me to deal with a certain situation or trait or issue, one that I continue to struggle with or still haven’t dealt with. Part of that, I think, is Christian maturity. He calls me to tasks as I have matured enough to handle them. Part of that is human fallibility. I should have dealt with that last time I encountered it, but I didn’t, and here it still is. Regardless, I am thankful that He continues to call us until we listen, until we hear, until we respond.

1 Samuel 3:6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

Precious Savior, Thank You for revealing different aspects of Your personality to me over the years as I continue to grow and develop as Your deeply loved child. Help me never to lose the wonder of Your first call. Help me to listen, to hear, to respond. Always. Amen.

1 Samuel 3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

Have a blessed day.

1 Samuel 3:1a The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. 

The second part of verse 1 caught me off guard this morning. “In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.” I know I am guilty more than once of thinking how often folks had visions in the Old Testament and wondering why we don’t see God like that any more. Apparently, my perception was off as the second part of verse 1 indicates it was not very common then either.

1 Samuel 3:1b In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

1 Samuel 3 is the scripture that my church focused on last week during devo reflections. The theme of the week was WONDER. As I mentioned yesterday, the opposite of wonder is EXPECTATION. I have come to realize in the past few days that I am so guilty of approaching life, approaching God with expectation instead of wonder. Jesus, Help me.

1 Samuel 3:2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for opening my eyes to the fact that I have fallen into the trap of expectation. Help me, daily, to approach You with wonder and not expectation. Help me to see You, experience You, and introduce You to others with every breath. Help me never to lose my childlike wonder for You. Amen.

1 Samuel 3:3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was.

Have a blessed day.

1 Samuel 8:20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

As I read 1 Samuel 8:20, Exodus 14:14 came to mind: “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” The Israelites had this promise, but they wanted to “be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us….” Honestly, it makes me sad. They had something so beautiful–a heavenly King to fight for them–but they wanted to be like everyone else instead.

1 Samuel 8:21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 

It doesn’t seem so different to me from the scenes when Jesus was led to His death. The people wanted a savior to overthrow the Romans, someone who could save Himself and them. They thought political freedom was the end goal. They didn’t realize that Jesus’s goal was much higher, much broader, much better.

1 Samuel 8:22a The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”

Precious Savior, Forgive us for all the times we get it so very wrong. Help us to have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to recognize You. Root us in Your love, Your mercy, Your grace. Amen.

1 Samuel 8:22b …Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”   

Have a blessed day.

1 Samuel 8:12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.  

I said it before, and I’ll say it again: Conformity exacts payment, and sometimes that price is pretty steep. Today’s verses coupled with yesterday’s verses aren’t even a complete list of the cost that will be exacted. As the infomercials say, “But wait! There’s more!” However, the elders have made up their minds.

1 Samuel 8:13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 

I wish I could shake my head sadly and talk about what idiots the elders are being. But I can’t stand in judgment because I’m guilty of the same thing–Knowing the cost of conformity and willingly paying it because I thought it would provide a feeling of security and belonging that I craved. Spoiler alert: Only God can provide those things. This world, which is not our home, can never satisfy us.

1 Samuel 8:14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants.

Precious Savior, Forgive me for the times I have willingly consented to pay the cost for what I thought I wanted and needed. Thank You that You hold my heart in the palm of Your hand, that You know what I truly need, that You provide all my needs. Help me to trust You always. Even when I am afraid. Amen.

1 Samuel 8:15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants.   

Have a blessed day.