The Back to the Bible OT and NT Together Reading Plan
Samuel Brings About Transition
Today's reading 1Samuel 1-3
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia Links: 1Samuel 1; 1Samuel 2; 1Samuel 3
1Samuel 1
Israel is now moving from a reign of of Theocracy to where God is king to Monarchy where a man is king. Samuel was the last judge of Israel. Hannah was a woman who experience barrenness like some opf the other women in the Bible such as Sarah, Samson's mother and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Elkanah, her husband gave her double portions of meat because he loved her and the Lord had closed up her womb (v. 5). Penninah the other wife would taunt her because she could not have any children. One day Hannah went to the Temple, in her tears, she made a vow to God, if God gave her a son, she would give him to serve the Lord and no razor would touch his head. Eli thought that she was drunk but she told Eli about the vow she made. Eli said may God answer your prayer. The Lord remembered her and Samuel was conceived.
1Samuel 2 (v. 1-10)
Hannah sung a prayer of thanksgiving and to God. This song is very similar to the one that Mary sung in the New Testament in Luke 1.46-55. The Church knows Mary's song as the Magnificat. The song of Hannah is known as the Magnificat of the Old Testament.
In verse 12-26, Eli, the high priest, had two sons who were wicked men, and had no respect for God. They sinned by taking the meat before it was offered to the Lord in a burnt offering, and they would send a servant to take a portion of the raw meat even before it was boiled. In God's eyes they treated the Lor's offering with contempt. The sons had also slept with the women who served at the entrance of the meeting. place. Eli had tried to rebuke them but they would not listen to them.
In v. 27-36 a man of God came and prophesied against the House of Eli, for the sons had treated the offerings made to God with contempt, The prophet said that both would die on the same day. God would take away the priesthood from Eli's family and give it to another. The priesthood was given to the family of Zadok.
1Samuel 3
In verse 3.1-18 God calls Samuel. Samuel was given to the Lord to minister in the Temple. Eli's eyes were becoming so weak, and he was lying in his usual place, Samuel was lying down in the Temple of the Lord where the ark was. The Lord called Samuel. Samuel ran to Eli and said 'Here I am.' Eli said that he did not call to go back and lay down. God called again and Samuel ran to Eli and said 'Here I am, you called me.' Eli said that he did not call to go back and lay down. Samuel did not know the Lord yet. A third time, the Lord called Samuel. Samuel came to to Eli and said 'Here I am.' Eli realized that the Lord was calling, so he said to Samuel, when you hear Him calling, say 'Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.'
The Lord called again and Samuel said 'Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.' The Lord told him that He was about to something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle... God was going to punish the house of Eli because of the contemptible things that Eli's sons have done. The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice and offerings. This is very serious matter to God.
Samuel went back and lay down, he was afraid to tell Eli of the vision he saw. Eli called him and persuaded him to tell him about the vision. So Samuel told him. Eli's reply was 'He is the Lord, let him do what is good in his eyes.' What an answer! Eli although he had his faults, knew God and His holiness.
In verse 3.19-21 Samuel is known as a prophet. The verse in 19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up and he let none of his words fall to the ground. God was with Samuel. We should note that even in spiritual darkness, God will find
someone to show forth his light. He replaced an old priest with a young boy!!
1 Samuel 1, with Commentaries, verse by verse
1 Samuel 2, with Commentaries, verse by verse
1 Samuel 3, with Commentaries, verse by verse
Links to Commentaries and other References - 1Samuel
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia Links: Luke 8
Today's Readings Luke 8.26-56
Luke 8 with Commentaries, verse by verse
Luke 8.22-25; Matthew 8.23-27; Mark 4.36-41
Jesus wanted to go on the other side of the lake. Because of the geographical location of the Sea of Galilee, storms would oftne form. They got into a boat and started to sail to the other side. Compare Jesus with the apostles when the storm brewed. Jesus was asleep and had faith in God while the disciples were panicking and lacking faith. What can we learn from this? Jesus had compete trust in God that he was even sleeping during the storm. In the storms of life and there are guaranteed to be many, we can weather them when we have the faith to deal with them.
The Healing of Legion (Luke 8.26-37; Mark 5.1-20)
Legion was a demon-possessed man in the area of Gerasenes, in a Gentile area. He had walked around naked and had chains which he broke frequently. He asked Jesus 'What do you want with me, Jesus, son of the Most High.' Actually it was the demons questioning Him. Jesus asked him 'What is your name?' He said Legion because of the many demons living in him. The demons had asked Jesus permission to go into a herds of pigs nearby and they rushed down the steep bank by the lake and drowned. The townspeople were filled with fear and ran and told everyone in the town. They asked Jesus to leave. It seems that they would have been perfectly happy having Legion remained the way he was. Are we like those townspeople? Would we rather that Jesus did not come in and change things? Are we perfectly happy the way we are? Is there a stronghold in our life, an addiction that we cannot let go? Jesus came to cure that addiction or remove that stronghold in your life. He can heal you just like how he healed Legion.
Legion wanted to leave that town. Jesus told that he should stay there and to tell what God had done for him. Sometimes God wants you to be where you are. He wants you to be faithful as a witness to Him. Do you realize that you could reach people other Christians or ministers or missionaries could never reach? Why? Because God wants to use you as His witness.
Luke 8.40=56; Matthew 9.18-26; Mark 5.22-43
Two miracles took place in today's passage. One had to do with the resurrection of Jairus' daughter a little girl, and the other had to do with the healing of the woman with the issue of the blood. On the way to Jairus' house, Jesus and his disciples passed this woman. She was in a very desperate situation. She has been ill for 12 years, and spent most of her money on physicians to healed this issue of blood. She was running out of money but even worse because of her issue of blood and the Law, she was ostracized from society as a whole. She might as well be a leper! She thought to herself if she touched Him she would be healed. The crowd was pressing against Jesus and she touched Him! He turned around and said who touched Me? Now the disciples thought that was a ridiculous question because the crowds were pressing in on Him from every direction. Jesus said that all the power left Him. He turned to the woman and said that her faith healed her.
When Jesus reached Jairus' house he aid that the girl was sleeping and not dead. He should know, He is the Resurrection and the Life. He raised the girl from the dead.
In Luke 9.3-5; Matthew 10.9-15; Mark 6.8-11 Jesus called the Twelve and gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases and to preach the Kingdom of God. He told them not to bring anything for the journey, no staff, bag nor bread, money nor tunic. He want on to say that they should stay at people's houses where hospitality is shown and if hospitality is not shown, they are to shake the dust off their feet. How does this apply to us today? we should have the attitude and the spirit that the disciples have. WE should have the motivation and the zeal to serve the Lord, we should focus on the wealth of God's Kingdom rather than on the things of the world (Colossians 3).
">IVP Commentary on Luke 8
Links to Commentaries and other References - Luke
Bible Study Tools
Jesus Saves
How to Become a Christian
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.
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