Day 098 (1 Samuel 1-3)

[@christavdwalt6325]

until I started reading with TBR & TLC, God was someone wayyyyy over there , whom I sang about, whom I believed is the Creator, whom I prayed to and belived He listens BUT what I discovered since I started reading the Bible with TBR & TLC is that God is here close to me, He sees me, He loves me despite my messed up, rebellious past and the sins that still try to steal me form God. I have dicovered He is indeed where the joy is, He is also where there is contentment, safety and peace. I am grateful for God's love and forgiveness.

[@neverrolthompson2818]

Amen and I agree 🙏

[@antoinettehereford8180]

Amen!

[@diorocksmetalon5993]

Amen!

[@cindymeyer982]

Amen! Thank you TLC for all you do! Thank you for following God’s calling on your life!! ❤️🙏✝️

[@deedeesmom]

Agree, I love this. I look forward to TLC explaining ♥️

[@RachelWhitephotos]

My God shot is 1:18 when it says "and her face was no longer sad." Her situation hadn't changed. She was still barren, her husband's wife was still mean and hateful, but her face was no longer sad. She went to God and lamented. She poured out her soul to God. And she left with hope. And that is what we have in Christ. Being in God's presence puts joy on the inside of us. Joy does not depend on our circumstances.

[@LisaSullivan-i4l]

Love this!

[@thefranciscofam4225]

That was my God shot too! 😊 She was no longer sad when she took her problems to God. He comforted her.

[@liap1293]

God shot: God speaks to children, too. Even those who do not yet know Him.

[@metamora54]

Amen, Lia! ❤

[@LisaSullivan-i4l]

I actually believe children often hear Him better because they have not developed pride.

[@jeaniemowery7027]

I'm reminded today about the power our words have to cause pain to others or to lift them up. When Peninnah taunted Hannah the pain she felt because she was childless was deepened; but when Eli spoke to her, she was encouraged. Lord, remind me to not speak to anyone in anger, jealousy, or rivalry. Let me speak from a place of love & kindness, showing the great grace & mercy that you have shown me to others. Amen.

[@LisaSullivan-i4l]

I too feel so thankful that God lead me to this family. I didn’t read the Bible looking for God Shots. The OT used to actually scare me. I see the goodness and love that God has for His children like never before. I am learning to love Him more. That love is driving out fear. I also love that parts are descriptive vs prescriptive as TLC has pointed out. Although I have read the Bible for a few decades now I am seeing it all so differently. I love seeing the intricacies of God’s plans and His incredible love, mercy and grace!!

[@Guardyourheartaboveallelse]

1 Samuel 2 : 35 “But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest 💗 who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul 💗” I don’t know why but I love that part, inspires me to be His faithful priest cos i always wanna be doing what is in His heart and soul 🥹✨

[@AnchoredinHIM]

I love how God worked in Hannah's life. Mean girls existed even in those times. Her heart ached and was broken, yet she faithfully prayed and the Lord opened her womb. I love how He raised up Samuel and kept him in His favor. He reminds me to trust in His timing. It's not MY timing. And, take my pain and my problems to Him. He's big enough to hear them and not be threatened by them, but help us through them. I also see and love how God calls out to those who don't even know Him yet, and then reveals himself to them. My heart still aches and asks daily for my closest family, including my husband, to hear His calling and Him to reveal Himself to them.

[@eoetuk]

I stand in agreement w/ you-Amen!

[@brucestrange3289]

I think about Samuel growing up and working among the unfaithful. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve had jobs where the people I worked with were unfaithful in their jobs. They were in the same trainings and given the same direction as me by our bosses, but chose not to do what was right seeking short cuts and avoiding work. This made it very tempting for me to do the same, but I found out quickly that typically those people did not advance and were the first ones let go when times were tough and the hard workers were retained and often times given raises or bonuses. Of course this isn’t always the case, human bosses are themselves flawed. But God is not. When we are faithful to Him, He hears our prayers and takes care of our needs and when times are tough, He is right there with us.

[@agapelagos]

Speak Lord, for your servant is hearing.

[@danielleharris4169]

Amen ❤

[@robertacoward2858]

Amen 🙏

[@mariatripp]

Amen!

[@crucifiedfaith]

PRAISE THE LIVING GOD

[@jeffandvikipendergrass]

The Lord remembered Hannah (1:19). I love Hannah's prayer after the Lord gave her a son, especially Samuel 2:2, "There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no rock like our God." Another thing that stood out to me, that I don't remember seeing before, was that the Lord came and stood next to Samuel when He was calling him. I'm familiar with this story of the Lord calling Samuel but did not realize He came and stood there. ❤️

[@aaronwillard7317]

God forgives, God wants us to serve him and everything for his glory is what I've seen and learned much more to come in sure.

[@jwillisbarrie]

Thanks for adding actual captions for the Deaf - been learning this year, have tried to read through the Bible in a year in the past

[@ty-and-britt]

Same. I usually don’t even try YT captions because they are awful. Decided to try them recently and they were perfect. Has really helped me out.

[@jwillisbarrie]

Make sure it is set to actual captions, English can depend sometimes where you are from. And where poster of video is from.. I have seen English (USA) English (Canada) English (UK). Sometimes creator will leave the automatically generated version on in error.

[@kimberlyweaver8886]

I learned that you always looked for God as you read. I was raised as a Jehovah Witness and it was a very hard to see God in the beginning books this shows me a new side of him ❤ i feel like the first time reading the bible 😊

[@valeriewhite2576]

Good afternoon bible readers enjoying our time together in the word of God ❤❤❤

[@tinabarton9612]

Here I am Lord, how may I serve you? One of my favorite versus.

[@tammyponton3886]

I am thankful for this Bible Recap program. I truly feel God led me here. He knows there are sections that have confused me. And this program has helped shed light on things that were truly hard to read.

[@tammyponton3886]

My God Shot…He’s where the confusion is not! 1 Corinthians 14-16: “God Is Not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace”

[@susanepperson2957]

May I have the humility that God values.

[@DoneKnow]

God's generational promises are contingent on our generational obedience.

[@ISayToMyself]

My answer to the question posed at the end is, God's plans prevail regardless of man's failures. God's ultimate plans for the redemption of man will come to pass because God is faithful to perform His covenant promises.

[@carlynunez2075]

Here I am Lord!

[@DivyaMani83]

Yes! In children's choir we used to sing an anthem called "Here I am Lord" which includes the words, "I have heard you calling in the night"...didn't realize how fitting it was for children to be singing the words of Samuel as a child 🙏🏾

[@SLBNMaybee]

God is always working in the background of disobedience, waiting patiently to lovingly bring back those who seek Him, no matter what they have done. He is unconditionally loving us and wiling to forgive not matter what mistakes we have made, if we simply humble ourselves and turn to him.

[@JesseEricksonSutton]

Following Judges, yesterdays and todays read was so hopeful. It really really reaches the depths of me in so many ways. We are responsible to obey, even when we don’t quite know God…He is calling for us. When we do our own thing and become prideful, it’s too hard to hear God and be sensitive to His voice. I’m thankful that God is so real and so just and so loving.

[@Glndarod9641]

When God gives you ears to hear, you hear!

[@michelepropst9009]

Although i don't doubt the couple's genuinely special relationship, I read Elkhana's response less as romantic and more as a bit clueless. Of course he can dismiss the value of sons in comparison to their love; he HAS sons. It's only Hannah who does not. Hannah knew who REALLY gets her and comprehends her pain and turned to Him.

[@marylist1236]

First, at the presentation of Jesus in the temple, there was a woman called Anna there. Second, Hannah's song reminds me of Mary's Song, or the Magnificat

[@DonZimmerman52]

Hannah says that “the LORD has made me strong,” and that “I rejoice because He rescued me” (1 Sam 2:1). Out of her personal struggles and feelings of doubt and worthlessness, even persecution, it was those hardships that helped her see God’s power and redemption. In her song, she could have simply expressed gratitude. Instead, she shows how God turns the tables on the proud, and how He “gives both death and life; He brings some down to the grave and raises others up” (1 Sam 2:6). God is as inscrutable as He is trustworthy, and Hannah shows us that we see His ineffable character more clearly when we’ve been through suffering.

[@purposeseven_7]

*He's where the Joy is!*

[@bobbiebland6826]

-Aloha and good morning BR family. I am so grateful to God and TLC for introducing me to the BR plan. Every day I learned some new about our God giving him all the honor and praise. Hannah's pray was my God shot. "My heart rejoices in the Lord. My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies. Because I rejoice in Your salvation". ❤He is where the JOY is!!!💯

[@diorocksmetalon5993]

Amen!

[@valeriewhite2576]

Thanks for all you do TLC and TBR ❤❤❤ Have a blessed day in His Presence bible Family ❤️💯🙌🏽He is where the Joy is ❤️💯

[@laurajeanescobar8440]

“Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the Lord. Let him do what seems good to him.” And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.” ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬-‭19‬ ‭ESV‬‬ It strikes me that Samuel “let none of His words fall to the ground”. This tells me Samuel always spoke God’s word completely and truthfully, no matter how difficult it may have been to whomever he was conveying the message to. I pray to hear and speak God’s Word as directly as Samuel.

[@babadeedee]

I’ve always had a sad feeling reading the story of Hannah with her son, Samuel. I can’t imagine leaving the child you have prayed for at the church to be raised by the priest who has two prodigal sons. I have a son who also was fervently prayed for, so I would imagine she nursed him for as long as possible! Things haven’t changed much as so much of this story feels like today with the bullying and sexual perversion. I’m so glad to know God and that I can hear from Him every day.

[@diorocksmetalon5993]

Hey Bible Readers!

[@tonyarcus]

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭3:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬ [10] The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” I cried when i read this part. It reallly touched my heart. These are the words God is looking for in us, His children ❤

[@eoetuk]

❤

[@CotishaMcNair]

My God shot was how faithful Hannah was with him and how he blessed her so powerful. What a blessing 🙏🏽

[@linacarmelasardo8458]

Hannah ‘s intimacy with the Lord is important. Amen 🙏🙋🏻‍♀️

[@ivanronald]

3:10 - And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”….God is close to us ❤

[@cintiaiarossi]

May I have that same or even greater intimacy that Hannah had with the Lord!

[@DanielRaysings]

thank you so much you are a blessing GOD is using you for his glory

[@faithhunter7588]

My God shot was in 2:25 when Eli is rebuking his sons; he says, “if someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord who can intercede for him?” Oh Eli if you only knew the Redeemer who was coming! This moment looked so forward to Christ.

[@pawpaw5717]

Don't you know how surprised with Boaz to greet their great grandson King David and Yeshua "all in the family "

[@antoinettehereford8180]

So much of God was revealed in these first 3 chapters of 1 Samuel. The Lord hears the cries of His children. Hannah was barren, and it was her heart's desire to have children. She was one of 2 wives of Elkanah. The other wife, Peninnah, had children, but she was also unkind and mean to Hannah. The Lord granted Hannah's fervent prayer for a son, and she gives birth to Samuel, whom she dedicates to serving God. She was also blessed with 3 more sons and 2 daughters after dedicating Samuel. God is so faithful. God deals with the wicked. Eli had 2 sons who had no respect for serving God. They would take sacrifices that were dedicated to the Lord before they were cooked, and they were bullies about it. Plus, they slept with the women who were at the entrance of the temple. Because Eli failed to deal with them, God gives a promise that his sons will die the same day and the priesthood will be stripped from his family. Hannah's praise song in chapter 2 is beautiful. Verses 1-2: “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God." Verses 6-8: "The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world." I am so thankful that no matter what goes on, God is in control. Praise the Lord!

[@marklharmon]

God loves His chosen people and we read the account of Samuel in scripture, by which God gives us a lesson of faith and obedience. The account opens by telling us about a man who is chosen by God to have a significant role in God's work. God can do anything he wants by any means. He can choose to work himself, to send angels, or choose a person by which work is done. Since scripture is human-centric - meant for our consumption and spiritual growth, in scripture God most often chooses to reveal his work though people - not always people we would consider "good", since God uses both people we see as good and evil for His purposes. There are no limits to God in that way. God sometimes writes scripture that is prescriptive - what we should emulate, and descriptive - what we should learn from as an example of what not to do. The account of Samuel, consistent with the rest of scripture, has examples of both. The man that this account opens with is named Elkanah. He does not seem to be an especially Godly man, nor ungodly, but somewhat lukewarm. His lineage is of the Levites, but we don't see an account where he serves, although he seems to receive what the Levites are due in support. He has two wives, which is usually a sign of strife. Although marrying more than one woman is not expressly forbidden, each time we see the practice it is accompanied with significant division in the family, pitting one wife against another and the children of the wives against the children of any other wife. Sometimes God teaches us by out and out declaration that something must never be done and sometimes he leads us to develop our own wisdom by showing us the pitfalls of unwise behavior. In the example of polygamy, God makes it clear we should follow the example of man and woman before the fall in the Garden and each man should have no more than one wife and no more than one husband for every wife. We are told that one wife, Peninnah, has been blessed with having children, while the other wife, Hannah, was barren to this point. The formula of scripture is that often in such cases, the barren wife is persecuted by the fertile wife. The barren wife appeals to God in faith and God answers her prayers and rewards her faith with childbirth. A child born first to a barren woman due to the action of God is often singled out for special use by God while children of the other wife or wives (if any) often wind up distanced from God. It was so in the case of Abraham and his wives, Isaac and His wife, and Jacob and his wives. These patterns are meant to be familiar in our minds, so that we pay attention when we see them elsewhere in scripture and look for consistency and significant deviation to find meaning in God's work. We see God's work in the life of the barren wife, Hannah. Hannah seems to be a Godly woman who responds to persecution and inability to give birth with prayer. Elkanah is somewhat sensitive to his wife's suffering and gives her a double portion from the meat allotment given back to them when they went to the temple for the annual sacrifice for the family. However, she is so upset because of the persecution of the other wife that she cannot partake of the loving act from her husband and instead fasts in her grief. A frequent theme in scripture is lifting up the weak and persecuted and bringing the prideful and strong down low and we should look for that here also. Hannah's husband, as is often the case with any husband, responds to her sadness in a somewhat tone deaf and insensitive way. He seems to want her to stop crying and feel better because she still has him as a husband, even if she has no children. Of course, this doesn't help and is an example to husbands anywhere of what not to do. When everyone else is finished eating, Hannah gets up and goes to the tabernacle to pray. In humility, she prays silently and fervently to be given a male child. She prays that if God does so, she will give him as a living sacrifice to the temple in service to God - he will be a Nazirite. While she is praying, she is confronted by Eli, the head priest, who sees her lips moving with no words coming out. The priest also reacts in an insensitive way and accuses her of being drunk. This is a sign of the sad state of religion in Israel that a priest would see this enough that it's the first thing he thinks of. She responds with humility and without anger and defends herself with a gentle explanation that she is praying to God for relief. Eli responds with a blessing, which is actually a pronouncement of truth from God and not simply a hope from His representative. God WILL give her what she has asked for and Hannah takes the Eli's words properly as a declaration as such. Her mood genuinely brightens, in faith she embraces God's answer through the priest as fact, and she is rewarded by giving birth to a son to whom God will work. Hannah is a Godly woman of great faith! This is an example for anyone of how to respond to a problem in life or a persecution. We must fully open our hearts to God in an honest expression of our feelings without a filter, but always with respect and ask to be given what we need to fulfill God's plans. Then we must faithfully listen for God's response and accept with a glad heart that God's purpose for us is being fulfilled and know that He is guiding us. Our prayers are always answered when we pray for God's will to be realized in our lives. God is loving and gives His people what they need to accomplish his purposes. When we fervently seek His will over our own, our discipline and self-sacrifice in faith is answered in our strength given by God's answers to prayer.

[@nikkigamble1256]

Yes & amen

[@BloomByCC]

Wow! Yes Hannah was in the temple! Her story is everything, what an example to all of us (women).

[@AudAkos]

Reading these chapters made me think about how God has a plan and purpose for us even though He had not spoken to us yet. It is important that we always have faith and ask the Lord for what we want.

[@padams4533]

Wow! Powerful message! Thank you. You are a very good teacher.

[@linacarmelasardo8458]

2024;love the story of Hannah; her intimacy is amazing; She is bold and intimate with the Lord; Lord, I desire to be so intimate with you as Hannah was. Amen

[@jeffandvikipendergrass]

In Hannah's deep, great anguish and grief over her infertility, she turns to God. She cries out to Him, praying for a son, and the Lord remembers her and answers her prayer. Then Hannah praises God:"There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God" (1 Samuel 2:2).

[@jacquesdewald56]

You are so beautiful miss Cobble!

[@dharshana.22]

The Lord puts to death and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol (the grave) and raises up [from the grave]. - 1 Samuel 2:6 And it's Resurrection Sunday today when I read 🎉 Loved how God remembered Hannah and visited her...

[@sharonrosewilcox5552]

I have to wonder what the outcome might have been if Eli repented & dealt with his wicked sons... God honors true repentance. Blessings!!

[@deborahjacks6354]

Take it to God. Our Abba Father, creator, and sustainer. Who could know us and care for us, only Him. That’s a fabulous God Shot, Tara Leigh. BTW, I named my daughter Tara, spelled exact same way.

[@marykayk1626]

First woman to the temple,. Hannah! Her prayer was also recorded in Scripture. Hannah was a good woman.

[@michellemybelle9591]

Hineni! ❤

[@ruthannpickett6150]

In Elkanah’s trying to tell Hannah what a great relationship they have, he shows how husbands often are not sensitive or understanding of the discouragement their wives sometimes experience. Elkanah was thinking like a man, he has done all he can for her…why isn’t she happy? Hannah knows this but she also knows who CAN help her. She goes to God with her sorrow and disappointment.

[@FamilySaltz]

Is Hannah the only woman in the Bible that is mentioned in the Temple? I'm thinking Anna was in Luke 2:37 - The Bible says "she never left the temple."

[@bonniesmith3061]

You're right, Anna and Mary Luke 2.

[@purposeseven_7]

Yeah totally agree with you on the *Pickup Line,* I couldn't stop laughing. Hehe😅

[@racquelstewart6527]

God Shot: Go to God 1st

[@mariatripp]

🙏🙌🏻🙏

[@gailacook5102]

When the Lord spoke to Samuel through the word of life, was this another appearance of Christ in the tabernacle?

[@bonniesmith3061]

We don't know how the Word of The LORD came specifically other than through a vision. Vs 15

[@KarenleaT]

❤

[@ralphfromthesoutable]

Hannah wasn't the only woman who went to the temple. Mary went with Joseph every year. Luke 2:41-43 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

[@cmconcon]

Curious question? Why would someone name their kid Eli today?

[@lucysnowe31]

As a childless-not-by-choice woman who's three years into this Bible-reading journey, I've *never* interpreted Elkanah's statement "Aren't I worth more to you than ten sons" as romantic but, rather, as a bit of a clueless statement from a man who just doesn't get it. (Hey, Elkanah. Few do get it -- then or now so I give you a bit of a pass.) Still, I read it as a kind of petulant statement and I can totally understand why Hannah was not comforted by it. "Don't you love *me* more than you'd love ten sons?" Low empathy, dude. Maybe I'm reading that wrong but that is how I take it. I've turned that comment this way and that and I still can't see how it's romantic.

[@nikkigamble1256]

I see how you feel that way. I think he was trying to assure her of his love, like he is w her & won't leave her, children or not. But yes, spoken to a barren woman, it comes off unsympathetic & a bit arrogant. Poor choice of words on his part. Comfort w compassion would've been better

[@bonniesmith3061]

I do see that he must have loved her. But I don't see it as a romantic thing to say, as Tera-Leigh said. I tend to agree that that would sting if said to a barren woman.

[@francaadah5793]

Hi TLC, thanks so much for bringing me closer to God each day. May He bless you abundantly to do His works here on earth. Please can you clarify this for me: Was Samuel a Levite or Ephraimite? The text in 1 Samuel said he was from Ephraim but you mentioned that he was a Levite. I’ll appreciate your clarification. Thank you.

[@kathysaracoff3754]

How do you know that Hannah and Elkanah were Levites? It seems to read that they were from Ephraim.

[@bonniesmith3061]

Great catch. Here in 1 Sam 1:1, he appears as an Ephraimite. But in 1 Chron, he is listed as a Levite in the genealogy. Elkanah was a Levite by tribal descent and an Ephraimite by geographical location. Remember, priests were given land in other tribes cities to live. So he is an Ephraimite by location, and Levite by blood is the way I resolved it. He had to be a Levite to serve the Temple.

[@puritymuhoro8859]

Check out 1st Chronicles 6:16-30

[@Dev_Everything]

can you do one on 1 Corinthians 14:34

[@fiftyfive70]

🤍

[@fiftyfive70]

🤍

[@jeanettekvinlaug2772]

❤