PRAYER - "Hannah's Song"Hannah blessed the LORD after the sorrow of her barrenness and the torment of her enemy was lifted. Her song in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 declares the everlasting truth that God ultimately favors the righteous over the wicked, no matter how present conditions appear.

 

1 Samuel 2:6-9 - "The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. ...He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail."

PRINCIPALS - "The Child Samuel"



Wake Up Call

While the child Samuel ministered to the LORD before the High Priest, God awoke him three times in one night to tell him that Eli would soon be judged severely "because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not." Samuel feared to show Eli the vision, but Eli pressed him. God has often used a child as mightily as any man. Men, take note! You can be replaced.

1 Samuel 3:18 - "And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good."


Heaven's Blessings

PRINCIPLES - "You Cannot Outgive God"

 
After many years of barrenness and sorrow, God gave Hannah a son. But she had vowed to the LORD that she would "give him unto the LORD all the days of his life." That was an unimaginable sacrifice for a mother, but she kept her vow. One day, while visiting her son, Samuel, at the tabernacle, Eli the priest blessed Hannah and her husband. God gave her five more children. God will remember your faithful, sacrificial giving and reward you gloriously.

1 Samuel 2:21 - "And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters."

PROPHECIES - "Death of Hophni and Phinehas"

Eli was the High Priest at the Tabernacle in Shiloh. His sons, Hophni and Phinehas were scandalous, having shameless greed for the offerings, and laying with the women who visited the tabernacle. God sent a messenger to Eli with dreadful judgment. Hophni and Phinehas would die in one day. God would raise up a new high priest (Zadok). Sin cannot prevail indefinitely. God will intervene.
1 Samuel 2:35 - "...I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house."