If you haven't read part 1 yet, you can
read it by clicking here
" ²⁷ And there came a man of God unto
Eli, and said unto Him, Thus saith the
LORD, did I plainly appear to the house
of thy father, when they were on Egypt
in Pharoah's house?
²⁸ And did I choose him out of all the
tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer
upon my alter, to burn incense, to wear
an eprod before me? and did I give
unto the house of thy father all the
offerings made by fire of the children
of Israel?
²⁹ Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and
mine offering, which I have
commanded in my habitation; an
honournest thy son's above me, to
make thyself fat with the cheapest of
all the offerings of Israel my people?
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's me: for them that honour
me will I honour's, and them that
hateth me shall lightly be esteemed.
1 Samuel 2:27-30"
Judging by the verses that follows, it sounds like God has had enough of the Levitical priesthood. As you read through the remaining text, it seems like He is gong to cut them off.
Chapter 3 opens by reminding us, yet again of Samuel.:
" ¹ And the child Samuel ministered unto
the LORD before Eli. And the word of
the LORD was precious in those days;
there was no open vision.
1 Samuel 3:1"
The next 2 verses says that Eli's eye's waxed dim, and the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Seems like God has washed his hands of them. Not quite yet. Let's not forget about young Samuel. He was laid down when he hears the call of the LORD the first time, only he thinks it's Eli, and goes to him, as he did not know the LORD yet. This would happen two more times, and Eli precieved that it was the LORD calling him. He instructs Samuel to go back to bed, and if he was called again, to say, " speak LORD, thy servent hearth." v3-9.
" ¹⁰ And the LORD came and stood, and
called, as at other times, Samuel,
Samuel. Then Samuel answered,
speak; for thy servent heareth.
1 Samuel 3:10"
Samuel basically gets told the same thing that the man of God already warned Eli about.
Why is He going to going to do these things? the last part of v13 answer that question.
" ¹³ ... his sons made themselves vile,
and he restrained them not.
1 Samuel 3:13(b)"
The next morning comes. Samuel is afraid to tell Eli the vision. v15. Eli tells Samuel to tell him the vision, and not to hold anything from him. v17. So Samuel tells him everything.
" ¹⁹ And Samuel grew, and the LORD was
with him, and did let none of his words
fall to the ground.
²⁰ And all of Israel from Dan even to
Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was
established to be a prophet of
the LORD.
²¹ And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh:
for the LORD revealed himself to
Samuel in Shiloh by the word of
the LORD.
1 Samuel 3:19-21"
One would think that since the nation knew that Samuel was a prophet of the LORD, that they would cling to every word he said, but, we still have to get to the point where God preform the thing He said he was going to do, which it does. Both of Eli's son's die in the battle, and when Eli heard that the ark of the covenant was taken, he fell backwards and broke his neck and died. His daughter in law died also after giving birth and naming the child I-chabod, meaning, the glory is departed form Israel. For the ark was taken.
1 Samuel 4:17-22. Was this the end, or the cutting off of the Levitical priesthood?
Read more about the origins of the name
I-chabod, and the tragedy the nation was in at Biblehub.
I appreciate that in the above linked study of
I-chabod's name, that it points to the fact that the people placed their faith in the objects,
(the ark) rather than the glory of God, that it represented in remaining obedient to God's commands (guidance).
The last time we read Samuel's name is:
" ¹ And the word of Samuel came to all
Israel. Now Israel went out against the
Philippines to battle, and pitched
besides Eben-ezer; And the
Phillistines pitched in Aphek.
1 Samuel 4:1"
We won't see Samuel's name again until
1 Samuel 7:3.
As I was reading the study in the linked article above, it helped me to see something that I otherwise may have missed.
After The Phillistines wiped the floor with Israel in 1 Samuel 4:2, the following verse says that the elders in the camp suggests that they go and fetch the ark of the covenant of God. They do v5, and alert the Phillistines by all the shouting,
The Phillistines seem to be aware that these people have placed their faith into the object that ark of the covenant of God is meant to represent, rather than the God the made the covenant. With that knowledge, all the Phillisines had to do was just go and steal the object of their faith. v.6
(Can we understand why we should never place our faith into an object? Loose the object, loose the faith)
You can continue reading to see how well that worked out for them. They had their own God called Dagon, and when they set the ark of the covenant up beside of dagon, twice it fell over, the second time, it was in more then one piece. So they sent the ark back, with gifts.
It's during that time that the ark of the covenant of God was taken that everything happened with Eli, his son's, and his daughter,-in-law.
Chapter 6 ends by saying:
" ²¹ And they messengers to the
inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, saying,
the Phillistines have brought again
the ark of the LORD; come ye down
and fetch it up to you.
1 Samuel 6:21"
They did so, and took it to the house of Abinadab, in the hill, and sanctified his son, Eleazar to keep it; and it stayed there for 20 long years: And all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. 1 Samuel 7:1-2.
" ³ And Samuel spoke to all the house
of Israel, saying, if ye do return unto
the LORD with all you hearts, then put
away the strange gods and Ashtarroth
from among you, and prepare your
hearts unto the LORD, and serve him
only: and He will deliver you out of
the hand of the Phillistines.
⁴ Then the children of Israel did put
away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and
served the LORD only.
1 Samuel 7:3-4"
When they all were gathered at Mizpeh at Samuel's instruction, they confessed their sins, in saying; "we have sinned against the LORD." v5-6 The Phillistines hear of this gathering, and plan on overtaking them there. When the nation hears of it, they were afraid v7. and said to Samuel, to not to cease "crying out to the LORD" for them, and was specific in their request. That the "Phillistines not over take us" v8.
V10, As the Phillistines were drawing near, and while Samuel was offering up the offering; it says that, " the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Phillistines, and discomfited them."
Let's just say that on that day that the plan of the Phillistines got interrupted, and they became the hunted.
This seems to be a good place to bring this one to a close. The next part finally brings us up to the intended area of focus. It's title will be: Last prophet, first king: Israel Demands A King... part 3.
Late yesterday evening, I felt lead to start reading in the old testemet book of Joshua. I know, we keep going backwards, but it helps. I read the first 5 chapters and seen another theme that is seen, really, throughout the bible.
I haven't started writing yet, although I do have a title and a few lables saved as a draft.
Since I did mention the next e planned studies, I would like to point out a couple of things.
I can tell you from past experience how frustrating bible reading can be. You start thinking things like: "this happened so long ago. How's it going to help me (us) now?" We think those things, by missing key phases that is throughout the bible. Such as: "God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He changes not." And, "In your generation."
Isn't those 2 phases in direct conflict with each other? No, they aren't. Like, today, a military unit could not march around Jericho several times, jump and shout, to bring the walls down. That was the instruction that Joshua got for guidance in how to be a leader in his day In his generation generation.
But, it can be used as a guide for us today as an encouragement to trust in the LORD. Trust that his plan is to help and not harm you.
Another thing I wanted to point out before closing; and I may of already alluded to it. These studies are not meant to replace you own bible reading and study. Just meant as a guide to help get you started. And, here is what is so amazing about this. You may use this as a guide, to assist you in your bible reading, and may see something that I completely overlooked, or may have not found it relevant to this particular study in the mindset I had at the time of this writing.
Chances are, I could read the same text 6 months from now with a different mindset, and see what you see. It doesn't mean that either one of them is wrong, and that is what is so great about the bible. You can always find what you need, when you need it, and, as you advance in your knowledge, you will find more eternal wisdom, rather than words to help get you through your current crisis, meaning, if it can get you through whatever your facing now will help you in the next one, and the one after that, and so on ...
That is when "the cares of this world" looses it's grip on you, it doesn't have the same effect on you as before. Your reactions are different, you have been transformed. Re-programmed to think and act differently. God gets the glory, we get the victory, and Satan looses again.
Never give up, and be encouraged!
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