Skip to content Samuel: The Bridge from Judges to Kings May 14 · 14 min ...more
Samuel: The Bridge from Judges to Kings
May 14, 2026 · 14 min
A pastoral reflection on Samuel’s calling, Hannah’s faith, and God’s design as He transitions Israel to kingship.
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Introduction to 1 Samuel: Hannah's Prayer and Samuel's Dedication 0:00 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word as our journey takes us to a new book. We begin first Samuel today as we look at chapters 1 and 2. And this is a pivot point in the history of the nation of Israel.0:12 Verse 26 of chapter 2, and the child Samuel grew in stature and in favor both with the Lord and with men. The book is named for Samuel because it begins with his story. He was the0:24 last judge of Israel, but he was different to that than the other judges because he served in a unique role of judge, priest, and prophet, and in that sense, a type of of Christ. The 3 principal0:35 figures in the book are Samuel, Saul, and David. Now Samuel is a a bridge, into the period of the kings as god transitions the nation to a different form0:47 of government, from the judges to the kings. But we're gonna see something, that while the form of government matters, I think it's important, it's not the determining factor in the prosperity1:00 and the well-being of a nation. It's not the it's not the form of government. Again, that's important, but it's not the form of government that determines the success of a nation as1:12 much as it is the character of the people and whether or not they choose to follow and obey god. That's what determines the success of a nation as we're gonna see here. And,1:24 and we're gonna see this with as god establishes the kings, we're gonna see it with Saul and David and beyond that the king was subject was to be subject to the word of god and to operate under his authority.1:36 He's not a law unto himself. Now the book up to chapter 25 was most likely written by Samuel according to the scholars. Then according to first Chronicles chapter 29 verse 29, Nat1:48 Nathan and Gad finished the books. The writing, the date of writing is roughly around 10 50 to 1000 BC. And Samuel's overall message was 1 of revival. He2:00 was calling the people back to a true worship of god. Now the book again begins with a brief background on Samuel's mother, 1 of the 2 wives of Elkanah, who, was2:12 barren. She was barren, had no children. And and by the way, we once again see we saw this in the book of Ruth. We're gonna see it again how how women how God uses2:23 women to play a pivotal role in the history of the nation of Israel and, by extension, the Christian faith. In fact, as we will see in these 2 chapters, a contrast between a2:35 praying mother and a passive father. Alright? We're gonna look at that in just a moment. Verse 9, chapter 1. So Hannah arose after she had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh.2:47 Now Eli, the priest, was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. And she was in bitterness of soul and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made2:59 a vow and said, O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your affliction of your maid servant and remember me, and not forget your maid servant, but will give your maid servant a male child, then I3:10 will give him to the lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head. She's making a Nazarite vow for her son if the lord will give her a son. And it3:21 happened as she continued praying before the lord that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart, only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.3:33 Therefore, Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, how long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you. Now just a note here on Eli's perception of what was happening.3:46 I think this speaks of both the conditions of the culture at the time and Eli's orientation. Eli probably saw3:58 this often with his sons, whom are described in the next chapter with the same word that is, described here as worthless or wicked. It's the same Hebrew word meaning ungodly.4:10 And and and as we will see with his sons, that's exactly what they were. Verse 15, but Hannah answered and said, no, my lord. I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but4:22 have poured out my soul before the lord. Do not consider your maidservant a wicked, again, that's that same word that we're gonna see later, woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have4:34 spoken until now. And Eli answered and said, go in peace, and the god of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of him. And this kinda reminds me of Matthew 18 19, the power of agreement in prayer. He agreed4:45 with her prayer. And again, I say to you, if 2 of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my father in heaven. So Hannah had a has a son, as she had4:56 asked. And as she vowed, when the boy was weaned, probably around the age of 3, she took him to the tabernacle to the serve to serve the lord. I think that that's pretty remarkable.5:09 But let's go to chapter 2 verse 11. Then Elkanah went to the house to his house at, Ramah, but the child ministered to the lord before Eli,5:21 the priest. So they took him to the tabernacle, left in there. Now the sons, verse 12, the sons of Eli were corrupt. They did not know the lord. Alright? That was the same word there, the wicked, the corrupt, did notContrasts in Godliness: Samuel & Hannah vs. Eli's Sons & Father 5:32 know the lord. And and and and here is the root of corruption. It's identified right here. It's not knowing the lord. Now look at the contrast that we see here between Samuel and Eli's son. Verse 18, but Samuel5:44 ministered before before the lord even as a child wearing a linen ephod. Next, we see the contrast between Hannah and Eli,5:56 praying Hannah and passive Eli. Verse 19, moreover, his mother used to make him a little robe and bring it to him every year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.6:08 Now the scripture does not tell us this. Okay? But I would venture to say that Hannah, because she was a praying woman, prayed regularly for Samuel as she thought of him and his6:20 service before the lord. And I think this stands in sharp contrast to Eli. Look at verse 22. Now Eli was very old, and he heard everything his sons did to Israel and how they lay,6:33 that is sexually, with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. So he said to them, why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings with the people.6:45 No, my sons, for it is not a good report that I hear you make the lord's people transgress. If 1 man sins against another, god will judge him. But if a man sins against the lord, who will intercede for him?6:57 Nevertheless, they did not heed the voice of their father because the Lord desired to kill them. Look at verse 26. And this child Samuel grew in stature and in favor with both the Lord and7:09 men. So we see these contrasts. We see the contrast between Samuel and Eli's sons. We see the contrast between Hannah and Eli. But what did Eli do here7:22 other than say don't do this? He did not remove them from their duties. The 2 despise the offering of the lord as we as we read pre as you read this passage. We didn't read it today. But as you read the7:33 passage, they were taking what was not theirs. They were treating the holy things of god with contempt. And if you recall, this is the very similar to what Nadab and Abihu did in Leviticus7:45 chapter 10, in which their contempt of the holy things, caused god to take their lives. So did Eli's sons know what had happened to Nadab7:57 and Abihu? Did they know their nation's history? Had their father told them and warned them? So Eli's indifference brought judgment from God as8:08 a as a man of God, a prophet announces in verse 27. Look at verse 27. Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, thus says the Lord, did I not clearly reveal myself to the house of your father when you were in Egypt8:20 in Pharaoh's house? Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And did I not give to the house of your8:32 father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire? Why do you kick at my sacrifice and my offering, which I have commanded in my dwelling place, and honor your sons more8:44 than me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of my of Israel, my people. Therefore, the Lord God of Israel says, I said8:55 indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before me forever. But now, the Lord says, far be it from me. For those who honor me, I will honor, and those who despise me9:07 shall be lightly esteemed. Eli was the high priest of the nation, but failed to be the spiritual leader of his own home, leading and guiding his children. He knew9:19 his sons were doing wrong, but he did not take the corrective action. He honored them more than god. I mean, you think about it. He was more concerned about what his sons thought than than what god thought.Eli's Failure: Judgment for Honoring Sons Over God 9:31 More concerned about offending his sons than offending god. I mean, wow. Look. I mean, look. We see this today. Alright? Here's the, the the application. We're afraid of losing the affection of our9:43 children. Look. I'm a father of 5. I understand this. I'm not speaking to this without knowledge. We're afraid of offending them because we want to be their friend rather than their parent as9:55 god has called us to be. He's called us to shepherd our children. The result, as we see here, is that, you know, we lose, we not only lose10:07 what we disobediently place above our relationship with god, but we lose that relationship with god because we're not walking in obedience to him. Hannah prayed for her10:19 son and gave him to the lord. By contrast, there's no mention of Eli praying for his sons nor giving them to the lord. Rather, it suggested he held on to them, placing a higher priority on10:31 trying to please them than god. So whose whose example should we follow? Hannah or Eli? See, Eli's, his10:43 passive behavior toward his sons, which dishonored God, resulted, as we're gonna read here, in his family being removed from the exalted position of priesthood,10:54 and it also affected the nation. Now look at verse 31. Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father's house so that there will not be11:06 an old man in your house. Verse 32, and you will see an enemy in my dwelling place despite all the good which god does for Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever.11:18 See, what happens here, for the 1 of a faithful father, the family was weakened. And for the weakening of the family, the nation drifted. And for the drifting of a nation, as we will read soon, the11:30 glory of god departed all for the want of a faithful father. You cannot you cannot replace the role of a faithful11:42 father that is guiding and directing his family. Doesn't matter what title he bears. I mean, Eli had the title of priest. He was the high priest, but he did not walk in11:54 the position of authority in guiding and directing his family. But Hannah, a praying mother, did. That should fuel the prayers of parents. Prayer matters,12:06 but also walking in obedience before god, putting god first as as Matthew 6 33, a verse we quote often. Seek first the kingdom of god and his righteousness, and all of these other12:17 things will be added unto you. Father, we thank you for your word. And, lord, what a contrast we see between Hannah and Eli,12:29 between Samuel and Eli's sons. Lord, I I pray that we would be challenged to walk in prayer, but also in obedience, that our prayer12:41 leads to action, that, lord, we would that we would put you first in our lives. And I pray for those relationships with children, lord. I know as a father, how important those relationships with our children are. But,12:54 lord, may we never put our children before you. And, lord, may we lovingly bring our children into that place of alignment with you, encouraging them to walk with you, to love you, to13:05 obey you, and confront that behavior, which is contrary to, lord, what you've called us to as followers of Christ. Thank you, lord, for your word, and we continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide13:17 us and direct us. Lord, showing us how to apply the truths of your words to our lives in this world in which we live. We pray and ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright. Thanks for13:29 joining me this morning. And until next time, keep standing on the word.In this video 0:00 Introduction to 1 Samuel: Hannah's Prayer and Samuel's Dedication5:29 Contrasts in Godliness: Samuel & Hannah vs. Eli's Sons & Father9:25 Eli's Failure: Judgment for Honoring Sons Over God
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