94 - In favour both with the LORD, and also with men

The Calling of Samuel
Joshuar Reynolds 1776

Chareen's Thoughts

• Samson is now married and gives a feast and at this feast presents a riddle to be solved. 
• The men at this feast can't work it out and so threaten his wife who in turn wears Samson down for the answer. Samson is so angry that he walks away and abandons his wife and returns home.  Her father in turn gives her to one of the guests at the feast. Judges 14:15-20
• After a while Samson wants his wife back and discovers that she has been given away.
• Now Eli's sons were wicked men and had no regard for the Lord.
• Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.  Every year his mother would visit and bring him a new garment. Each year Eli would pray a blessing over Elkanah and his family: And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, May the Lord give you children by this woman for the gift she asked for and gave to the Lord. Then they would go to their own home. And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she bore three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord. 1 Samuel 2:20-21
• And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men. 1 Samuel 2:26
• The Lord sent a warning to Eli because of the sin of his two sons. 
• Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, says, I did promise that your house and that of your father [forefather Aaron] should go in and out before Me forever. But now the Lord says, Be it far from Me. For those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. 1 Samuel 2:30  
• Saul is born during this time.
• Samuel served the LORD in Eli's presence and served Eli the priest.  It was during this time that the Lord called Samuel and spoke to him for the first time.
• Samuel grew; the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.^(A)And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord. And the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh through the word of the Lord.1 Samuel 3:19-21.
• Yesterday we met Jephthah who was kicked out of home because his mother was not married to his father.  Today we read how the elders of Gilead go to him and ask him to lead and help fight against the Ammonites.  He agrees on condition that if they win he becomes their leader.
•  He attempts to make peace and reason with the Amonites. 

And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men. 1 Samuel 2:26
Blessings
Chareen