Samuel Begins His Ministry

 Hannah had prayed for a son, promising to give him to the Lord as a Nazarite.  After her prayer, she was at peace, and they returned home, where she soon became pregnant and had a son she called Samuel, as I Samuel 1:19-20 describes.  “And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.  Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.”

 

The following year, Samuel was just an infant, and Hannah decided no tto take him to the temple until he was old enough to eat by himself, as I Samuel 1:21-23 tells us.  “And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.  But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.  And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.”

 

When Samuel was old enough to eat by himself, Hannah took him to Eli, dedicating him to the Lord as a Nazarite, in I Samuel 1:24-28.  “And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.  And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.  And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.  For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.”

 

Hannah then spent time in prayer and praise, thanking god for giving her a son, and recounting how he blesses his people, in I Samuel 2:1-10.  “And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.  There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.  Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

 

The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.  They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.  The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.  The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.  He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.  The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

 

Samuel was left with Eli, who would begin teaching him to serve God immediately, as I Samuel 2:11 tells us.  “Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.”

 

Eli’s own sons were serving as priests, but they were abusing the office, ripping off people’s sacrifices, as I Samuel 2:12-16 describes.  “Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.  And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh, unto all the Israelites that came thither.  Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.  And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.”  

 

In addition to ripping off people’s offerings, I Samuel 2:22 tells us they were also sexually abusing women who came to the temple to worship.  “Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.”  Though they were priests, the scripture s very clear, “they knew not the LORD”.  As I Samuel 2:17 tells us, “…the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.”  They were driving people away from God. 

 

Unfortunately financial improprieties and sexual abuse by ungodly pastors and religious leaders still drive people away from God today.  As we will see in the next few  chapters, God does not ignore such behavior.