A Matter of Choice

Hannah is one of my favorite Bible characters. Trusting God, she runs to Him, her refuge, when she is without hope. Her story begins in 1 Samuel 1, where Hannah prays to the Lord earnestly for a son, promising to give him back to the Lord if her request is granted. God grants her request, and she keeps her promise. At the proper time, Hannah brings her sweet son, Samuel, to live in the temple. In accordance with her promise, as long as he lives, he was lent to the Lord. In 1 Samuel 2, she offers God a prayer of praise for the mercies He has extended in her life in the past, which also gives her hope knowing He will do the same in the future. 1 Samuel 2:9-10 caught my attention. “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” As I reread Hannah’s story, I noticed how these verses play out in the rest of the story.

Samuel begins serving in the temple, and Eli’s sons were brought into the story in a very unflattering way in verse 12. “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.” These two sons were priests serving in the same temple as Samuel. They did not follow God’s instruction regarding the priestly portion of the offerings. The chapter continues going back and forth between Eli’s sons and Samuel. Samuel “continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.” (1 Samuel 2:26) Hophni and Phinehas’ sin was very great in the sight of the Lord. They would not listen to their father or follow God, and it was the Lord’s plan for them to be put to death. In fact, He uses Samuel to bring this message to Eli.

Time and time again, God points out in His Word that you do reap what you sow. God is a God of justice, and He will not let sin go unpunished. At this time, Israel was doing what was right in their own eyes. This was clearly seen in the life of Hophni and Phinehas. The result was that both men would die on the same day, and because of the wickedness of Eli and his household, they would no longer be allowed to serve as priests in the house of God. Samuel, on the other hand, became a prophet as he delivered his first message to Eli telling of the coming judgement on his household. Samuel also became the last judge of Israel and served the Lord faithfully all his days. Tony Evans in The Tony Evans Bible Commentary points out “Samuel continues to grow in spiritual power and his authority became known throughout Israel.” Not only was he blessed, but his parents also were blessed as children were added to their household.

The contrast shown in 1 Samuel 2 between Samuel and the two men couldn’t be greater. Each life lived was a matter of choice – following God and His ways, or doing what is right in your own eyes. The choice is captured in Psalm 73:27-28, “For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” Hannah made the Lord her refuge and followed God. He blessed her. Samuel chose the same. Life sown in obedience reaps hope and trust. It is good to be near God. What is your choice today?

In His Love,

Susan