1 Samuel and Genesis - 31 August 2010 |
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Thoughts on 1 Samuel 1-3 (and Genesis):
- If you can remember Genesis 11-50, you’ll roll your eyes at yet another man with two wives (1 Sam 1:1-4 – remember Jacob and Rachel and Leah?). After all, Genesis is (in one sense) all about the mess people get themselves into when they tinker with the divine institution of marriage.
- On the other hand, Genesis also teaches us to expect the LORD to bring something good out of the unpleasant situation in 1 Sam 1 – probably through the “barren” wife.
- The LORD’s provision of a son for Hannah is cast in terms of resurrection in 1 Sam 2:6: “The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.” Genesis reveals the same connection between children and resurrection when Abraham displays his willingness to sacrifice Isaac because he “considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead” (Heb 11:19; cf. Gen 22).
- The LORD’s message to Samuel in 3:11 (the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle), like Hannah’s response to Samuel’s birth in 1:20 (I have asked for him from the LORD) both reflect the meaning of Samuel’s name (heard of God).
- Samuel was known to be “established as a prophet of the LORD” (3:20) because just as in Gen 18:17ff. (cf. Gen 20:7) the “Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).
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Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Bible, Minister's Blog