Last week we saw God moving forward His plan of redemption. This despite the people’s disobedience and lack of faith. Evil reigned in the hearts of men. Particularly, the evil of self-absorption and pride—everyone doing what was right in his own eyes. While at the same time believing themselves invincible because they belonged to God. Yet, there were always the remnant of faithful followers of God. We saw this in Boaz, who represented Christ as the kinsman redeemer. Now as we turn to the book of I Samuel, again we see the faithfulness of God who will one day present His Forever King Jesus. God Almighty Delights in His Son. One day He will anoint Jesus as Forever King over all the earth. Until that day, we are assured God will appoint His chosen, redeemed to be the lights into a dark world, proclaiming the salvation of the Lord.
We must take heart from Ruth, Boaz, Samuel, Jonathan, and King David. They foreshadow our Forever King Jesus. Furthermore, they stand as proof historical of the faithfulness of God. We can rely on His word and His truth. Amazingly God weaves the proof of Himself throughout history with exactness. The children of Israel lived in Egypt for 400 years—God although working His plan forward, remained silent until He sent Moses to take them out of captivity. For 400 years the people were ruled by judges. God protected them despite their lackadaisical faith. He spoke but only to a few through these times. Then comes Samuel on the scene who would prove to be faithful judge, prophet, priest, and a picture of Jesus.
Samuel, foreshadowing of Our Forever King Jesus
Samuel’s is the story of how sorrow blended with faith worked perfectly into the plan of salvation for the world. Hannah was barren. For this she mourned greatly. Yet, her only hope was to continue to pray and petition the Lord for a child. It was out of her depth of sorrow that Hannah prayed fervently.
she was in bitterness of soul and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. 11 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. 1 Samuel 1: (NKJV)
Then miraculously God opened her womb. Samuel’s birth was a miracle. Yet had it not been for her sorrow, would Hannah have offered her firstborn to the Lord? Mary also gave birth miraculously—albeit she was a virgin and conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Still as a young, betrothed female pregnant before the wedding, she was ostracized and criticized as well. Hers would be a road of blessings and sorrows mixed. Hannah suffered as well. Both women vowed to God their faithfulness in this matter. Both later had more children as well. Hannah and Mary both have beautiful songs of praise to God recorded in scripture.
A Call To Service
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.” I Samuel 3 (NKJV).
These scriptures are so packed with information. Notice: the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. This due to the corruption of the people’s hearts. Also, note that the word says, Eli was going blind. This in reference to both his physical sight and his spiritual sight. He had not heeded God’s warnings concerning His sons.
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.” I Samuel 3 (NKJV).
Samuel Called to Proclaim Judgement
The Sons of ELI were very corrupt. They were priests by name only, like many heretical church leaders. They “required sexual relations be provided by the women who came to sacrifice” and, also stole money and provision from the people. Eli had failed to judge them and only said, “Do Not Do that “. He let them continue in their posts as priests. They did not know or honor God.
Eli even ignored the warnings given him concerning them. God then chose a new priest, Samuel and pronounced judgement on Eli and his sons. These were God’s first words to Samuel.
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. I Samuel 3 (NKJV)
Samuel loved Eli, so it must have been hard to pronounce this judgment. Jesus loves the world but will have to pronounce judgement on all who reject His gift of salvation.
18 Then Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he (ELI) said, “It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him.” I Samuel 3 (NKJV).
God Defends His Glory as Forever King
A big battle then began between the Philistines and the Israelites. As a ploy to try to win, the Ark of the Covenant was brought out to the battleground accompanied by the sons of Eli. Again, despite failing to worship God they wanted to use His power to save themselves by just placing the Ark there. The philistines won the battle, killed the sons of Eli, and took the Ark of the Covenant back to their land. Eli heard and fell over dead. His daughter in law cried out in childbirth, ““The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”. She named her son Ichabod meaning inglorious.
The Philistines took the Ark of the Covenant and placed it in front of the Statue of Dagon (their fish god). When they left, the statue fell face down before the Ark. They stood it up again.
4 And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon’s torso was left of it. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. 6 But the hand of the Lord was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. I Samuel 5 (NKJV)
God was quite capable to defend His Own Glory against every false witness against His name. The Philistines move the Ark several times; however, finally sent it back to Israel laden with Golden treasures as gifts. God does not need us, but by Grace shares His glory with us.
A King is Named for Israel As They Reject God’s Rule
13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places. 17 But he always returned to Ramah, for his home was there. There he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the Lord. I Samuel 7 (NKJV)
But when Samuel was old and his sons did not follow God as they should, the people began to demand a King like all the other nations. God told Samuel to heed their desires and first God gave them Saul. But Saul would not follow God with all his heart. He let pride and power overtake him. So, God told Samuel to choose David and anoint him to be the next King. It would be years of struggles before he was to take over the throne. In those years God molded and trained David to be the King after His Own heart and to be the line from which His Son would be born one day. The Forever King Jesus would be born to suffer and to die that all who accept Him as Lord and Savior might be saved eternally to be with Him.
Another Portrait of Christ’s love Displayed in Jonathan
As God prepared David to be the next king, He placed David inside the King’s Court as musician to King Saul. While there he also learned to be the armor bearer. It was through this training that David also knew Jonathan. Jonathan loved David with a perfect love of friendship that surpassed that of most loves. Jonathan was willing to lay down his life to defend David. He knew that it was David God had chosen to be the next King. However, Jonathan did not become envious or wish it not to be. That meant he was willing to lay aside his throne because he loved David that much.
Jesus also laid aside His throne for a time to come to earth and to bear the weight of the wrath of God against all of sin. He willingly came to die for us. For that reason, He, alone is worthy to open the scrolls and take possession of the deed to earth. To do so our Forever King, Jesus must open the seals and pour out judgement upon the earth, cleansing it from the evil. Thankfully, we will be raptured before this judgement begins according to the scripture.
The Forever King Jesus in the New Heaven and New Earth
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. Revelation 22
Let Him Come Quickly
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
14 Blessed are those who [g]do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelation 22
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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