This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the
books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
1SAMUEL
1 And the men of Kirjath-je'arim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath-je'arim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
That which should have brought joy (the Ark of God), was mishandled and thus it brought sadness and destruction instead.
3 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.
4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
6 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.
Since Eli died, we have not heard from Samuel. Now he appears on the scene as a leading judge and prophet of ALL ISRAEL.
7 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.
8 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.
The Philistines saw that all the Israelites were gathered in one place, and they felt like this was a great opportunity to destroy them. But Israel asked Samuel to be on a continual watch of prayer.
9 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.
10 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.
Samuel not only prayed, but offered a sacrifice to God. And just as the Philistines were coming to battle against Israel, God sent a tremendous "thunder." And this caused the Philistines to FEAR, and they began to retreat.
11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
The Israelites chased the Philistines and slaughtered them all the way from Kirjathjearim to Bethcar (which is probably Bethhoron, about 10 miles NW of Kirjathjearim).
13 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.
14 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.
The Philistines were not only beaten in battle, they were also "subdued." They cities they had taken away from israel were restored, and they did not bother Israel any more during Samuel's lifetime.
15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
17 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.
Samuel spent his whole life as a "judge" (or deliverer) of Israel. What a great testimony to a woman who prayed and begged God to give her a son whom she could give back to God!
Please continue to follow along with us in Bible Study.
CHAPTER 7
The Word of God is meant to bring us JOY - yet, when mishandled it will bring sadness and destruction.
The men of Bethshemesh implored the people of Kirjathjearim to take the Ark of God. They willingly took it with them. There it will remain for 40 years until David moves it to Jerusalem (1Chronicles 13:6).
The "twenty years" in verse two is reason to believe that Samuel wrote this; because he never saw the ark moved.
You will notice that the people of Bethshemesh placed the ark on a STONE out in the open (6:18). But the people of Kirjathjearim placed it within a HOUSE (7:1).
The Word of God (the symbol for which the Ark stands) does no good when only applied to the OUTSIDE of our hearts. It is when we get it INSIDE that it teaches, directs, and guides us. See Deuteronomy 6:6, Deuteronomy 11:18, Psalm 119:11, and Proverbs 7:1-3.
These people also "consecrated" Abinadab's son, Eleazar, to "keep" the ark. It was his duty to keep insincer people from the ark, and to keep it prepared so that sincere worshippers might come.
As Christians, we should be consecrated to see that insincere conversation about God's Word does not lead people astray (2Timothy 2:14). We should keep our conversation about God's Word in sincerity so that people will be led TO it.
Samuel calls to Israel to put AWAY idols, and turn to GOD (verse 3).
And IF the Israelites will do this, then God will DELIVER them from the Philistines. Verse 6 says Samuel "judged" the people. That word "judge" means "spiritually delivered."
The people obeyed Samuel's call, and fasted (verse 6). They poured out water to symbolize the outpouring of self before God. When we pour out SELF before God, THEN He is able to fill us with Himself!
We never know how God delivers us from enemies. He can take the natural elements and use them to our benefit.
Samuel took a great stone and set it up there as a memorial to what God had done. he named it "Ebenezer," which means "stone of help." AMEN! GOD is our "Stone of help!"
Have you ever stopped to think about how many ways God protects us everyday, even when we are unaware of it?
Samuel was a "circuit judge." He made a trip every year to the same places. His home became Ramah, and there he built a house. He also built a great altar there to pray and offer God sacrifices for himself and the people of Israel.
Our HOME should be the central point of our ministry to God!