As we saw in the previous post, God speaks directly to Samuel. But why? God does not speak directly to the priests Hophni or Phineas. God does not speak to their father, the priest Eli. In today’s post, we learn how Samuel put himself in a position to hear directly from God. But first, weContinue reading “How humility is the foundational posture to hear from God – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 4”
Tag Archives: life of david
The primary characteristic of a disciple of Jesus – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 2
What do you think is the primary characteristic of a disciple of Jesus? Think about it a moment. There are numerous potential answers. You might even think of biblical passages that might provide some answers. I think the story that we’ve been following this week on the blog, a story found in 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a,Continue reading “The primary characteristic of a disciple of Jesus – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 2”
True or False: When you’ve heard from God, it wasn’t actually God – 1st Samuel 2:12-4:1, Preview
A couple years ago I taught a theology course for Lancaster Bible College, and one of the books students were required to read is Good News for Anxious Christians: 10 Practical Things You Don’t Have to Do by Philip Cary. As I read the book in preparation for the class, at times I was nodding in agreement,Continue reading “True or False: When you’ve heard from God, it wasn’t actually God – 1st Samuel 2:12-4:1, Preview”
How to pray when God doesn’t give us what we want – 1st Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 4
Last year my son and daughter-in-law excitedly gave us the news that they were pregnant with their second child! We rejoiced with them. A few months later, routine testing revealed the baby likely had a significant heart defect. Through the fall, I prayed for my granddaughter to be born and have no heart issues. IContinue reading “How to pray when God doesn’t give us what we want – 1st Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 4”
When life is painful, do people make stupid comments to you? – 1st Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 2
Hannah is in a precarious situation. She can’t bear her husband an heir, and yet her rival wife, Penninah is quite fertile. Hannah’s husband, Elkanah, could kick Hannah to the curb. What will Elkanah do? In 1st Samuel 1, verses 4-5, we learn that, “Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would giveContinue reading “When life is painful, do people make stupid comments to you? – 1st Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 2”
The biblical background to 1st Samuel – 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 1
Today we start a new blog series on the life of the great warrior poet king David of ancient Israel. We read about David’s life in the books of 1st and 2nd Samuel, 1st Kings briefly, and in the parallel account in most of 1st Chronicles chapters 11-29. This blog series will primarily follow theContinue reading “The biblical background to 1st Samuel – 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 1”
A Lament for Dark Days – 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11, Preview
“Hello darkness, my old friend.” Can you imagine singing that lyric during a worship service? No? Me neither. It’s the start of the Simon & Garfunkel song “The Sound of Silence.” Great song, but we probably wouldn’t sing it as a praise to God in a worship service. What about this line: “Why, O Lord,Continue reading “A Lament for Dark Days – 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11, Preview”
Engaging Scripture 