1 Samuel – Chapter 2

1 Samuel 2 Daily DEVO If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him? But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death. Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man. 1 Samuel 2:25-26 – What we see in our passage is the story of how the priest Eli’s sons acted sinfully and continued to act sinfully even after being directed not to by their father. All the while, being in the middle of all this is Samuel. Who while being surround by these sons of Eli, who were unfaithful, continued to grow in the Lord. The people around Samuel and the lives they chose to live didn’t determine the direction Samuel was going to make on how to live his life. That goes for you to. You may be surrounded by people at work or school that don’t follow God, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to either. You may be at a church that many of the congregation isn’t living with a heart to share the Gospel, that doesn’t mean you have to live that way. This example Samuel set for us shows its possible to not go with the flow of unfaithfulness. Yes, family, friends, and even the masses might not be themselves following God, but that’s no excuse for you not to. It’s begins with you. While you may be the only one in your setting following after Jesus, as we saw in Hannah’s prayer earlier in the passage, God has all the power to strengthen and lift you up. You’re not alone in your walk. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 402

And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.” 1 Samuel 2:1 – Lean deeper into the scene here. Hannah was barren for years and was ridiculed for it over and over again. Her longing and prayer was that she would have a baby so her shame could be removed. Now she is standing at the footsteps of the temple watching her son ministering to the Lord. Of course she is going to rejoice! Her deepest longing is now right in front of her. All because of God’s goodness. Today is something you prayed deeply for now in front of you? If so, rejoice! God heard your cry, leaned into your story, and blessed you. Give Him praise today for what He has done for you. For me what that looks like is I can stand in my driveway of my house because God heard my prayer for a home. I can look at my left hand and see my wedding band because God heard my prayer for a wife. I choose today to rejoice that I have a God who hears and leans in to my story. I hope you will too. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1627

The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. 1 Samuel 2:6 – In the first two chapters of 1 Samuel, we are introduced to two different situations. First a barren woman who pleads to the Lord for a child and God blesses her with a son. Second, we get the story of Hophni and Phinehas, two priests that greatly mishandled their role and God spoke of how their lives would end. The verse above is a part of Hannah’s song of praise to the Lord and in it we see a powerful truth spoken. God is the one who is ultimately over life and death. Life does not come without God’s blessing and death does not come without God’s allowance. With Samuel, the baby that was born, God was the one who brought about his life. For the two corrupt priests, it was God who brought about their death. Life and death is in the hands of God alone. No power can create life without God allowance, and no power can cause death without God’s allowance. Why is this important to remember? It reminds us that God is fully sovereign over all things. If God holds the power over life and death, why would we ever serve anything other than Him? Why would we fear any enemy? Even Satan and all his demonic forces can’t bring us death if God says no. Let us then be overjoyed that the God of salvation, the God of love, and the God of creation is the one true God holds the power over life and death. With such power He has looked at us and not condemned us to death but made a way for us to have His life through Jesus. While He could had sent us all to Hell like we deserved, He is using His power to save. What a mighty God we serve! I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2879