1 Samuel Chapter 1

The Birth of Samuel

• Samuel was granted to Hannah, a virtuous and barren woman, as a result of her prayers and faith.
• Hannah's husband Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah, and would give Hannah double portions of the offering because she had no children.
• Hannah vowed to give a male child to the Lord if her prayers were answered, and she was no longer sad after praying so faithfully.
• The Lord answered Hannah's prayers, and she gave birth to Samuel.
• As she promised, once Samuel was weaned, she gave him to the Lord.

Hannah's Prayer and Samuel's Childhood Ministry

• Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 rejoices in the Lord for having been given a son.
• Hannah left Samuel with Eli the priest, as she promised to give the child to God.
• Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were corrupt and dishonored God by taking their portion and more of the sacrifice.
• Samuel, as a child, ministered to the Lord, and Hannah was blessed with three more sons and two daughters.
• Eli knew his sons were corrupt but did not truly rebuke them, and a prophet came to tell him that his priestly family would be destroyed.

Samuel's First Prophecy

• Samuel ministered to the Lord in front of Eli, and God called him three times.
• Eli knew it was the Lord who was calling and told Samuel to respond saying, "Speak Lord, for your servant hears."
• The Lord revealed to Samuel that he would judge the house of Eli because he did not restrain his sons from their evil ways.
• Samuel revealed this to Eli, and from that time on, all of Israel would know that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord.

The Ark of God Captured and the Death of Eli

• Israel went out to battle against the Philistines without sanctifying themselves or asking God's counsel.
• The Israelites were defeated, and they asked why the Lord allowed them to be defeated.
• Instead of repenting, they carried the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh to the battle with the corrupt priests.
• The Ark was captured from them by the Philistines, symbolizing God's presence departing from them.
• Hophni and Phinehas were killed, and Eli died on that day, fulfilling Samuel's first prophecy.

The Philistines and the Ark

• God allowed the Philistines to capture the Ark of the Covenant to chastise His people and make them realize they lost the dwelling of God in their midst.
• The Philistines were plagued with tumors and destructive rats wherever the Ark was taken.
• They decided to send the Ark back to the Israelites to avoid further casualties.

The Ark Returned to Israel

• The Ark remained with the pagan Philistines for seven months to confirm that what was happening to them was not a coincidence, but a sign of God's wrath on them.
• This period encouraged believers to offer an honest repentance and truly yearn to enjoy the presence of the Ark of the Covenant in their midst again.

Samuel Judges Israel

• Samuel prepared the people of Israel for repentance, and they repented, putting away foreign gods and preparing their hearts for the Lord.
• Samuel interceded on their behalf, and they overcame the Philistines through prayer, fasting, and sacrifice offering to God.
• Samuel went on to judge Israel all the days of his life.

Israel Demands a King and God Grants Them Saul

• Samuel was old, and he made his sons judges over Israel, but they were dishonest and corrupt.
• The people wanted a king to be like the kings of the surrounding Gentile nations.
• Samuel was offended by the demand, but the Lord told him that the people were not rejecting him but rejecting God's reign over them.
• God fulfilled their request, giving them Saul, a young and handsome man, to be their king.
• Samuel warned the people of the harmful consequences that would come with a king, but they continued to demand one.

Saul's First Victory and Samuel's Address

• Saul rallied all the people of Israel to help the people of Jabesh Gilead, and they defeated the Ammonites.
• Samuel gave a farewell address at Saul's coronation, reminding the people of the Lord's blessings and reproaching them for demanding a king.
• He opened a door of hope for them in the Lord who loves His people.

Saul's Unlawful Sacrifice and Saul Rejected as King

• Saul was in combat with the Philistines, and when Samuel was delayed, he impatiently offered a burnt offering to the Lord himself.
• Samuel told Saul that he had done wrong, and his kingdom would not continue.
• The Lord said that he would punish Amalek for what they had done to Israel, but Saul did not obey the commandment.
• The Lord regretted that he had set up Saul as king, and Samuel mourned for Saul, telling him that the Lord had rejected him from being king for his disobedience.

Learn about the birth of Samuel, granted to Hannah by God, and her remarkable story of faith and prayer.