1 Samuel 1-2; Psalm 68:1-10; 2 Corinthians 7

1 Samuel 1
1-28 Samuel's Birth and Dedication

• Introducing Elkanah, a descendant of Zuph, of the tribe of Ephraim, who has two wives: Hannah, who is childless, and Peninnah.
• When Elkanah goes to Shiloh each year to sacrifice, he gives Hannah double what he gives Peninnah and her children, because he loves Hannah.
• Peninnah, on the other hand, provokes Hannah because of her childlessness. When they go to Shiloh, Hannah -- out of sorrow -- does not eat.
• One year Hannah "presents herself before the LORD," and as she is silently making a vow to God that if he gives her a son he will become a nazirite, Eli the priest sees her lips moving and supposes she is drunk.
• He scolds her, but when she explains her situation, he tells her that God will grant her petition.
• She goes back and eats and drinks with her husband, sad no longer. Later she conceives and names her son Samuel, "I have asked him of the LORD."
• She doesn't go back to Shiloh until Samuel is weaned, at which time she offers a 3-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and leaves her son with Eli. I can't imagine how difficult this would have been. I suppose that even before Samuel's birth she had prepared herself for this moment. Maybe herein is a lesson for us. When our children are born, they're not ours at all, but the Lord's, and our chief purpose should be to prepare them for his service.

1 Samuel 2
1-10 Hannah's Prayer

• "My heart exults in the LORD...my mouth derides my enemies..." (Peninnah?) Hannah feels victory in giving her son to the service of the temple.
• 2 - "There is no Holy One like the LORD..."
• 4 - "The bows of the mighty are broken...the barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn." (Peninnah again?)
• This is similar in tone to some of David's psalms -- God will bless his faithful ones and will destroy his enemies.

11-21 Elkanah's family contrasted with Eli's Wicked Sons

• Contrast: Elkanah's young son stays to minister to God; Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are scoundrels, having "no regard for the LORD" or for their duties as priests.
• They take meat by force from those offering sacrifices before it is even sacrificed.
• Samuel ministers before God, and Hannah makes robes for him every year when she and Elkanah go to Shiloh to worship.
• Eli blesses them, saying "May the LORD repay you with children...." Hannah has three more sons and two daughters. (Not like the seven in her song.)

22-36 Prophecy against Eli's Household (and another contrast)

• Eli, now very old, hears that his sons sleep with the women who serve at the entrance of the tabernacle. He warns them against sinning against God, because "who can intercede for you?" But they will not listen, "for it was the will of the LORD to kill them." Another hardening of the heart?
• In contrast, Samuel "continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and the people." That sounds familiar -- like the description of Jesus in Luke 2:52: "And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."
• A man of God comes to Eli and tells him because he has failed to discipline his sons as he should, the priesthood will leave his family. All his descendants will die young. Both his sons, in fact, will die on the same day.
• God will raise up a faithful priest. I thought at first this meant Samuel, but Samuel is not in the family of Levi. The commentators say he is referring to Zadok, a descendant of Eleazar, who under Solomon replaces Abiathar, the last of Eli's line. See also Numbers 25:13, where this is prophesied.
  

Psalm 68:1-10 - Psalm of David - Praise and Thanksgiving

• 1-2 - Destruction of enemies
• 3-10 - But let the righteous be joyful...sing to God...who:
• rides upon the clouds
• gives the desolate a home to live in
• leads out the prisoners to prosperity
• led his people through the wilderness
  
• restored his heritage when it languished
• provided for the needy

2 Corinthians 7
v. 1 - See end of 2 Corinthians 6
2-4 Paul's Affection for the Corinthian church

• Again (v. 13) - make room in your hearts for us; we have wronged no one
• You are in our hearts; I boast of you.

5-16 Causes for Paul to Rejoice

• They were afflicted when they came to Macedonia, but they were consoled by Titus's coming, especially his news from Corinth.
• As a result of Paul's first letter, Corinth had repented
• He had written to them so they would realize their devotion to the apostles.
• Paul rejoices now, because he has complete confidence in them.