CONTENTS We have in this Chapter, the song of Hannah in her devout thanksgivings to the Lord, for her Samuel. She had dedicated the child to the Lord's service, and then closes the subject with praise. Besides this, the Chapter contains an account of the increase of Elkanah's family: of the sin of... [ Continue Reading ]
(2) There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. I pray the Reader not to overlook the great warmth of devotion, expressed in those words. The unspotted holiness of Jehovah, calls forth we are told, the unceasing adoration of the blessed. Han... [ Continue Reading ]
(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. If the Reader looks closely to this, and the past verse, he will perceive, that Hannah is engaged to celebrate several of Jehovah's divine perfections... [ Continue Reading ]
(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. Some have thought, that Han... [ Continue Reading ]
(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 inh... [ Continue Reading ]
(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... [ Continue Reading ]
(11) В¶ And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest. While Elkanah returns to his home with his family, the child Samuel is left under the ministry of Eli. It is sweet and interesting to behold the early introduction of children into God's... [ Continue Reading ]
(12) Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. I beg the Reader not to overlook the expression, they knew not the Lord; that is, they knew not the Lord in a way of communion and fellowship. They knew him in the outward hearsay account of their Maker, but not in a way of grace... [ Continue Reading ]
(13) And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; (14) And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the pr... [ Continue Reading ]
(18) But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. (19) Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. As Rameh was not above ten or eleven miles from Shiloh, pr... [ Continue Reading ]
(20) And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home. (21) And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the L... [ Continue Reading ]
(22) Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (23) And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. (24) Nay, my sons; for... [ Continue Reading ]
(25) If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them. What a sweet verse is this, abstracted from the family of Eli, and applie... [ Continue Reading ]
(26) And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men. How the mind of the Reader is relieved again and again in this melancholy account of Eli's sons, in the relation that is given by the Holy Ghost, of the progressive state of Samuel in the ways of the Lord. R... [ Continue Reading ]
(27) В¶ 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? Observe with what a solemn introduction the man of God is here mentioned; and what a most awful message he brought. Pr... [ Continue Reading ]
(28) 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 wear 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? Aaron was very eminently chosen and set apart to th... [ Continue Reading ]
(29) 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? It should seem to be more than probable from hence, that though Eli did not himse... [ Continue Reading ]
(30) Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me forever: 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. Certain it is, that in the firs... [ Continue Reading ]
(31) 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. (32) 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 forever.... [ Continue Reading ]
(34) 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. (35) 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... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS READER! Stand still, and fully contemplate the character of Hannah, and observe, how the harp which was before hung on the willow, is now strung and sounded to the praise of Jehovah. See, how her note is changed. And the countenance which was before sad, is now lighted up in praise, and... [ Continue Reading ]