Witnesses Have Samuel’s Back

A search of I Samuel 12:1-5 (KJV):

Samuel, a judge of Israel, listened to the people to make a king over them.  With Saul anointed as king, Samuel said to Israel, “And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.  Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.  And they said, Thou has not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither has thou taken ought of any man’s hand.  And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand.  And they answered, He is witness” (vs. 2-5).

Storm Survivors: You Will Overcome!

Love is the greatest of faith, hope and love.  Since love is the greatest, love never fails.  God is love.  God is the greatest.  God never fails.  Accept the never-failing God into your heart to overcome your tribulation.  We shall have tribulation in the world, but rest in knowing that Jesus has overcome the world.  Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.  With Jesus, you will overcome your tribulation.  You will overcome!

This blog entry comes from the following search of scriptures in the King James Version: I Corinthians 13:8, 13; I John 4:4,8; John 16:33; Romans 10:9,10.

Saul Becomes King before the Lord

A search of I Samuel 11 (KJV):

Nahash, an Ammonite, set up camp against Jabesh-gilead where the men there agreed to serve him if he made a covenant with them.  Nahash’s answer to the men of Jabesh was on the condition “…that [he] may thrust out all [their] right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel” (v. 2).  With that covenant answer, the elders of Jabesh requested a seven-day respite in order to find someone in all of Israel to save them.  If they did not find someone to save them, the elders agreed to come out to Nahash (v. 3).

The people of Gibeah were the first to receive word from the messengers of Jabesh-gilead which caused all of them to lift their voices and weep (v.4).  Saul was following after a herd, when he asked, “What aileth the people that they weep?”  This was when Saul heard the news (v. 5).   “And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.  And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen.  And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.  And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.  And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help.  And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.  Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you” (vs. 6-10).

“And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were sacattered, so that two of them were not left together” (v. 11).

“And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.  And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel.  Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.  And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace-offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly” (vs. 12-15).

Storm Survivors Exemplify Faith, Hope and Love

When I think of the storm survivors across the southern states, I think of I Corinthians 13 which involves faith, hope and love.  The people who I have seen interviewed for the news have shown faith, hope and love.  Of these three, love is the greatest (vs. 13).

The people have already shown love by pulling together to help one another.  One person described her faith in God as she uttered prayers for safety as the storm passed over.  Another person explained that the loss of material things was nothing, but they have life in referring to the survivors of her family.  She showed a strong hope of picking up and rebuilding one day at a time.  One man said all he can do is start over.

I hope you will continue to join me in praying for the ones affected by the storms.  Pray that the people hold strong to their faith, hope and love.  Especially love.  For without love, faith and hope will amount to nothing.  Also remember the ones who had loss of life among their families and friends.  Amen!

Prayers for the Southern Folks Caught in the Tornadoes

Heavenly Father, I pray for the southern folks caught in the destructive storms path.  My hope is that they find comfort in You during this trying time and you lead them to your pathway of life!  Amen!

Samuel Anoints Saul as King

I Samuel 10 (KJV):

1) Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

2) When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

3) Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:

4) And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.

5) After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:

6) And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

7) And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.

8) And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt-offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.

9) And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.

10) And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

11) And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

12) And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?

13) And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.

14) And Saul’s uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.

15) And Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.

16) And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. but of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.

17) And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh;

18) And said unto the children of Israel, thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:

19) And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us.  Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands.

20) And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

21) When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.

22) Therefore they enquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come thither.  And the Lord answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.

23) And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

24) And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.

25) Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord.  And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

26) And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

27) But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents.  But he held his peace.

Saul Shall Reign Over Israel

A search of I Samuel 9 (KJV):

Kish, ‘a mighty man of power’, in Benjamin had a son named Saul who was the choicest young man of all the Children of Israel (v.1).  Literally, Saul stood head and shoulders above the rest because he was taller than all of them.

Kish’s asses were lost so he sent Saul along with a servant to try to find them.  On their search, Saul and the servant “…passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not” (v. 4).  When the two reached the land of Zuph, Saul wanted to return home because he feared that his father would start worrying for them.

The servant told Saul about an honorable man of God in a city where they should go to possibly have him to show them their way because ‘all that he saith cometh surely to pass’ (v. 6).  “Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way” (vs. 7,8).

The servant explained to Saul that “(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)  Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go.  So they went unto the city where the man of God was” (vs. 9,10).

“And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here? And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place: As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden.  Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.  And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place” (vs. 11-14).

“Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.  And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.  Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is.  And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and tomorrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.  And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found.  And on whom is all the desire of Israel? is it not on thee, and on all they father’s house? And Saul answered and aid, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me” (vs. 15-21)?

“And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.  And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.  And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul.  And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people.  So Saul did eat with Samuel that day” (vs. 22-24).

“And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.  And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away.  And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.  And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God” (vs. 25-27).

Scriptures Taught through Jesus and Holy Spirit

Jesus explained all the scriptures from Moses and all the prophets about Himself to Cleopas and another on the way to Emmaus.  Today, Jesus’ Words are taught to us and brought to our remembrance through the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:13,18,27;John 14:26).

Lord willing the journey through the Old Testament will resume in PAT tomorrow.

God Knows All Our Thoughts

Have you ever had something on your mind and then turn to the bible where God speaks to you through His Word about what is or was on your mind?  God speaks to you about the matter through the Word.  You know God is speaking to you because the very verse where He led you pertains to what is or has been on your mind.  Your heart ‘burns’.  Your faith increases because you have witnessed the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit.  Here are some related scriptures you might consider searching: Job 42:1,2; Luke 24:32; John 14:15-18; John 14:26,29.

Our Lord Jesus is Risen!

Words from Luke 24 (KJV) to celebrate our risen Lord:

1) Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

2) And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

3) And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

4) And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

5) And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

6) He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

7) Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

8) And they remembered his words,

9) And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

10) It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

11) And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

12) Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

13) And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

14) And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15) And it came to pass, that , while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

16) But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

17) And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

18) And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

19) And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

20) And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

21) But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

22) Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

23) And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

24) And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

25) Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26) Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

27) And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

28) And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

29) But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.  And he went in to tarry with them.

30) And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

31) And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

32) And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

33) And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

34) Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

35) And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

36) And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

37) But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

38) And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39) Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

40) And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

41) And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

42) And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

43) And he took it, and did eat before them.

44) And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45) Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

46) And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

48) And ye are witnesses of these things.

49) And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

50) And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

51) And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

52) And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

53) And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Jesus is Hung on the Cross

Luke 23:33-56 (KJV)

33) And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34) Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.  And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

35) And the people stood beholding.  And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

36) And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

37) And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

38) And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39) And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40) But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41) And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42) And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43) And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

44) And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45) And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

46) And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

47) Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

48) And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

49) And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

50) And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

51) (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

52) This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

53) And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

54) And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

55) And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

56) And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

PAT Will Continue for You and Me

Thank you for your prayers and patience while I helped Gary during his hospital stay.  We are home and Gary has a good start on recovery.

In the last blog entry, I mentioned my need to discern the future of PAT, the spiritual blog.  It actually did not take long for God to reveal to me what He wants me to do through the verse of I Timothy 4:16—“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

In bringing this verse to my remembrance, God has motivated me to continue with PAT to save you and me.  To save you and me from eternal life in hell through belief in God’s doctrine that God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins and that Jesus arose from the dead.  A sacrifice of love from God to cover the sins of you and me with the blood of Jesus so we can spend everlasting life in heaven with God if we believe.  “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9, 10).  I have faith that your faith will grow through the words of God you “hear” in PAT—“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Discernment of PAT's Future

Currently there is a stop to blog posts in PAT, a spiritual blog. I am taking some time to help out a family member and discern whether PAT is to continue.

Israel Seeks a King like All Nations

A search of I Samuel 8(KJV)

In his old age, Samuel made his sons, Joel and Abiah, judges in Beer-sheba.  It turned out that Joel and Abiah were unlike Samuel and corrupted their judgement by their ways.  The Elders of Israel saw that Samuel’s sons were in their roles for the money and bribes, so they went to Samuel to place a king over them.  “…A king to judge [them] like all the nations” (v. 5).  Samuel was not happy with the Elders for wanting a king; therefore, he went to the Lord in prayer.  “And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.  According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.  Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them” (vs. 7-9).

“And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king.  And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.  And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.  And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.  And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.  And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.  And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.  He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.  And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day” (vs. 10-18).

“Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.  And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord.  And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.  And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city” (vs. 19-22).

Israel Turns Worship Back to the True God

A search of I Samuel 7 (KJV)

The men of Israel came out of Kirjath-jearim to retrieve the ark of the covenant that had been in the hands of the Philistines.  The ark was placed under Eleazar’s keep for twenty years in the house of Abinadab.  “…[A]ll the house of Israel lamented after the Lord” (v. 2).

Israel had not solely worshipped the real God.  They had turned their hearts to the empty worship of false gods.  “And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines” (v. 3).  The Children of Israel listened to Samuel and turned to the one and only true God.

“And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord.  And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord.  And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.  And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel.  And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.  And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines” (vs. 5-8).

“And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt-offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.  And as Samuel was offering up the burnt-offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.  And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car” (vs. 9-11).

“Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.  So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.  And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines.  And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites” (vs. 12-14).

“And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.  And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.  And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the Lord” (vs. 15-17).

Ark of God Returned to Israel

A search of I Samuel 6 (KJV)

After having the ark of the Lord in their possession for seven months, the Philistines approached the priests and diviners about what to do to the ark.  The Philistines said, “[T]ell us wherewith we shall send it to his place” (v. 2).  The priests and diviners said, “If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass-offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you” (v. 3).  Then the Philistines asked, “What shall be the trespass-offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.  Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.  Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed? Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them: And take the ark of the Lord, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass-offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.  And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Beth-shemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us; it was a chance that happened to us” (vs. 4-9).

The Philistines did as the priests and diviners said.  “And the kine took the straight way to the way of Beth-shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Beth-shemesh.  And they of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.  And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Beth-shemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt-offering unto the Lord.  And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt-offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the Lord.  And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.  And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass-offering unto the Lord; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one; And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the Lord: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Beth-shemite” (vs. 12-18).

“And he smote the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the Lord had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.  And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall he go up from us? And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the Lord; come ye down, and fetch it up to you” (vs. 19-21). 

Ark of God Travels with Destruction in Path

A search of  I Samuel 5 (KJV)

The Philistines traveled from Ebenezer to Ashdod with the ark of God in their possession.  In Ashdod, they set the ark beside their god, Dagon.  The following morning the people found that Dagon had fallen face-down before the ark of God.  The people returned Dagon to his place.  On the following morning, the people discovered Dagon had fallen again.  This time he was face-down before the ark with his head and hands cut off with “…only the stump of Dagon…left to him” (v. 4).  “Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come  into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day” (v. 5).

The hand of the real God was upon the people of Ashdod  in an unfavorable way for He destroyed them and their god and ‘smote them with emerods’ (v. 6).  The men of Ashdod realized it was the god of Israel destroying them and inquired of the lords of the Philistines about what they should do.  The lords said to have the ark sent to Gath.  The ark was, therefore, sent to Gath with God’s hand falling against that city “…with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city , both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts” (v. 9).

Following the city of Gath, the people sent the ark of God to Ekron where “…the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.  So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that they slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.  And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven” (vs. 10-12).

Report of Battle Delivered to Eli

A search of I Samuel 4:12-22 (KJV)

An army man out of the tribe of Benjamin delivered report of the battle to the inquiring ninety-eight year old Eli.  The man said, “Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken” (v. 17).

“And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that [Eli] fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy.  And he had judged Israel forty years” (v. 18).

“And [Eli’s] daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.  And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou has born a son.  But she answered not, neither did she regard it.  And she named the child I-chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.  And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken” (vs. 19-22).

Ark of God Taken out of Shiloh

A search of I Samuel 4:1-11 (KJV)

“And the word of Samuel came to all Israel” (v.1).  A battle took place between Israel and the Philistines with four thousand army men of Israel slain.  The elders of Israel asked, “[Why] hath the Lord [beat] us…before the Philistines” (v. 3)? They said, “Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh…when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies” (v.3).

The people of Israel traveled to Shiloh for the ark of the covenant.  When the ark was within the camp, the people of Israel “…shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again” (v. 5).  The Philistines were confused about the noise from the Hebrew camp until they discerned that the ark of the covenant of the Lord was in the camp.  “And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp.  And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.  Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness” (vs. 7, 8).

The Philistines fought and defeated Israel with thirty thousand men slain.  “And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain” (v. 11).

God Speaks to Samuel

I Samuel 3:11-21 (KJV)

The Lord told Samuel that He would bring to pass all the things He had spoken against the house of Eli because Eli had not kept his sons from their iniquity.  God was so displeased with the house of Eli that sacrifice or offering would not erase the sins.

The following morning Samuel was afraid to tell Eli what God had spoken.  “Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son.  And he answered, Here am I.  And he said, What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.  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” (vs. 16-18).

“And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.  And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.  And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord” (vs. 19-21).

The Lord Calls Samuel

I Samuel 3:1-10 (KJV)

1) And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli.  And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

2) And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

3) And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

4) That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

5) And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me.  And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

6) And the Lord called yet again, Samuel.  And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me.  And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

7) Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.

8) And the Lord called Samuel again the third time.  And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me.  And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.

9) Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.  So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10) And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel.  Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

Corruption Surfaces Alongside Blessing

A search of I Samuel 2:12-36 (KJV)

Corruption surfaced alongside blessing during Eli’s priesthood.  The corruption showed in the sacrifices to the Lord where Eli honored his sons above God by taking for them and himself of the offerings made by the people of Israel.  The blessing showed through Elkanah and his wife, Hannah, who were blessed by Eli.  Their family grew in size.  Their child, Samuel, ministered and grew before the Lord.

Corruption showed up in Eli’s sons who did not know the Lord.  The sons would “…lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation” (v. 22).  Eli received the bad news of the evil his sons were doing and confronted them, “Why do ye such things?”, he asked. Samuel of Elkanah and Hannah continued to grow in favor of the Lord and men.

“And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to war an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.  Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.  And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.  And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.  And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.  And 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; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.  And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests; offices, that I may eat a piece of bread” (vs. 27-36).

Hannah Rejoices in the Lord

Judges 2: 1-11 (KJV)

1) And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

2) There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

3) Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

4) The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

5) They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

6) The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

7) The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

8) He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.

9) He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

10) The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

11) And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house.  And the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest.