March 27 Readings

Today is Easter Sunday!! We Remember the Resurrection Today. Jesus is Risen, HE IS RISEN INDEED

You can also check out all these Reading Plans Blogs to go through the Bible in a year from Back to the Bible Reading Lists:the Chronological Reading Plan blog; OT and NT Together blog; Historical Readings blog; Blended Readings blog and Beginning to End blog In addition, there is the Theophilus1 blog in the One Year Bible format and The Daily Bible in Chronological Order

The Back to the Bible Beginning to End Reading Plan

Index of Beginning to End Readings

Samuel Brings About Transition
Today's reading 1Samuel 1-3
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia Links: 1Samuel 1; 1Samuel 2; 1Samuel 3

1Samuel 1
Israel is now moving from a reign of of Theocracy to where God is king to Monarchy where a man is king. Samuel was the last judge of Israel. Hannah was a woman who experience barrenness like some opf the other women in the Bible such as Sarah, Samson's mother and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Elkanah, her husband gave her double portions of meat because he loved her and the Lord had closed up her womb (v. 5). Penninah the other wife would taunt her because she could not have any children. One day Hannah went to the Temple, in her tears, she made a vow to God, if God gave her a son, she would give him to serve the Lord and no razor would touch his head. Eli thought that she was drunk but she told Eli about the vow she made. Eli said may God answer your prayer. The Lord remembered her and Samuel was conceived.

1Samuel 2 (v. 1-10)
Hannah sung a prayer of thanksgiving and to God. This song is very similar to the one that Mary sung in the New Testament in Luke 1.46-55. The Church knows Mary's song as the Magnificat. The song of Hannah is known as the Magnificat of the Old Testament.

In verse 12-26, Eli, the high priest, had two sons who were wicked men, and had no respect for God. They sinned by taking the meat before it was offered to the Lord in a burnt offering, and they would send a servant to take a portion of the raw meat even before it was boiled. In God's eyes they treated the Lor's offering with contempt. The sons had also slept with the women who served at the entrance of the meeting. place. Eli had tried to rebuke them but they would not listen to them.

In v. 27-36 a man of God came and prophesied against the House of Eli, for the sons had treated the offerings made to God with contempt, The prophet said that both would die on the same day. God would take away the priesthood from Eli's family and give it to another. The priesthood was given to the family of Zadok.

1Samuel 3
In verse 3.1-18 God calls Samuel. Samuel was given to the Lord to minister in the Temple. Eli's eyes were becoming so weak, and he was lying in his usual place, Samuel was lying down in the Temple of the Lord where the ark was. The Lord called Samuel. Samuel ran to Eli and said 'Here I am.' Eli said that he did not call to go back and lay down. God called again and Samuel ran to Eli and said 'Here I am, you called me.' Eli said that he did not call to go back and lay down. Samuel did not know the Lord yet. A third time, the Lord called Samuel. Samuel came to to Eli and said 'Here I am.' Eli realized that the Lord was calling, so he said to Samuel, when you hear Him calling, say 'Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.'
The Lord called again and Samuel said 'Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.' The Lord told him that He was about to something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle... God was going to punish the house of Eli because of the contemptible things that Eli's sons have done. The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice and offerings. This is very serious matter to God.
Samuel went back and lay down, he was afraid to tell Eli of the vision he saw. Eli called him and persuaded him to tell him about the vision. So Samuel told him. Eli's reply was 'He is the Lord, let him do what is good in his eyes.' What an answer! Eli although he had his faults, knew God and His holiness.
In verse 3.19-21 Samuel is known as a prophet. The verse in 19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up and he let none of his words fall to the ground. God was with Samuel. We should note that even in spiritual darkness, God will find
someone to show forth his light. He replaced an old priest with a young boy!!

1 Samuel 1, with Commentaries, verse by verse
1 Samuel 2, with Commentaries, verse by verse
1 Samuel 3, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Other Links
OT Gateway Links on 1 and 2 Samuel
Introduction to 1 Samuel by Malik
Malik Argument of 1Samuel
Deffinbaugh: A Study of 1 Samuel

Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Pink on the Life of David
Spurgeon on 1Samuel
Biblebb.com Website
With the Word Commentary-Warren Wiersbe
Wycliffe Bible Commentary
Keil & Delitzsch Commentaries on the Old Testament
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Pulpit Bible Commentary
J. Vernon McGee Commentaries on the Books of History
Evangelical Commentary on the Old Testament
The Commentary Page
Study of the Life of David


Jesus Saves
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.