Thur.’s Devo - The Rise of Samuel - a True Prophet

Read: 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22; John 5:24-47; Psalm 106:1-12; Proverbs 14:30-31 Eli had heard of all the terrible things his sons were doing. They were blaspheming the Lord by seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle. We already read where they stole the meat to be sacrificed for themselves. Eli told them to stop but he never disciplined their actions so they just continued. *** God sent a prophet to rebuke Eli for not disciplining his sons and told him that God was going end his family dynasty as the priests. All the members of his family would die young and would miss the prosperity that he was going to pour out on Israel. The ones who lived would grow blind and their hearts be broken. They would see their children die a violent death. In fact, his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas would die on the same day. *** God would give the honor of the priesthood to someone who would be faithful to Him and serve the kings he anoints forever. This person was Samuel who was growing up in the Tabernacle to fear and honor the Lord. *** God spoke to Samuel one night for the first time. Thinking it was Eli who called him, he went to his bed to ask what he wanted. Eli finally understood that God was trying to talk to Samuel so he sent him back to ask God to speak to him. *** God did speak to Samuel and told him that he was going to carry out the words the prophet had told Eli. Judgement was coming upon his family and there is no sacrifice that will save them. *** The next morning, Eli got Samuel to tell him what the Lord said. Eli knew it would come true. In fact, Samuel became a renown prophet whose words always came true. *** Meanwhile, Israel was at war with the Philistines and they were defeating Israel so badly that Israel decided to take the Ark with them into battle. Instead of it helping them win, they were greatly defeated and the Ark was taken by the Philistines. Hophni and Phinehas were both killed that same day in battle. *** When Eli hear the new, he fell over and died. When Phinehas’ pregnant wife heard the news she went into labor and died giving birth to a son she had named Ichabod. Ichabod means “the glory has gone”. *** God’s Word is true and just. When people obey it, their nation prospers and is safe. When they allow sin and turn from God, their nation is judged and is cursed. We have been a nation just like Israel who turned from God and his Word and allowed wickedness to rule. We are turning that around in great measures. This year our President offered prayers and praise to God for the death and resurrection of Jesus. Last year, the president declared the same day as a day of the celebration of sin. Thank God, we are headed in the right direction and we will see how God prospers a nation who makes the Lord their God. *** In John, Jesus talked of the day when the dead would rise from their graves to experience resurrection. This happened when Jesus resurrected. He went to hell and preached to those who were in chains waiting his death. He took all who believed to heaven with him. *** By the testimony of two, a thing is established. Jesus was one and John the Baptist was the other witness. John told the people what Jesus would do, and now he was doing it, proving that John was right. *** The religious leaders searched the scriptures thinking their knowledge would bring them salvation, but they rejected the one the Scriptures was talking about so all their knowledge would do them no good. One day, Moses will stand and accuse them for not believing who he wrote about, which was Jesus. *** Lord, help us to see with our spiritual eyes and not believe the traditions of men. You are doing a new thing in the land, may we not miss it.