◄ 1 Samuel Devotional Commentary ►

1 Samuel 1:10

The book of Samuel was written in the times of the judges, when everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Despite the many ungodly behaviours and pagan customs that had infiltrated the camp, the gracious hand of God was ever present to bring good out of evil and to turn the hearts of His people back to a trusting faith in Him.

Hannah read more...

1 Samuel 1:11

There are many beautiful instances in the Bible where barren women are blessed with a child. Our thoughts immediately turn to Sarah, the wife of Abraham through whom the promised Seed was to be born, and to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist who was born to be "the voice, crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord Jesus.'"

We also recall Rebekah and Rachel, and in the book of Psalms we read that God "makes the barren read more...

1 Samuel 1:12

The life and times of Samuel, spans the period when Judges ruled over the nation of Israel until the times of the Kings. Samuel was the last of the nation's Judges and was the prophet who reluctantly anointed Israel's first king, at the insistence of the people. Samuel was consecrated to God as a Nazarite from his mother's womb: "No razor touched his head," and the event that led up to his conception and birth is a most beautiful example of God's grace, read more...

1 Samuel 2:3

Hannah's beautiful song of rejoicing not only reflects her delivery from bareness but is a trustworthy witness to the glory of God, the greatness of His power, the majesty of His name, the wonder of His love, and His faithfulness towards the children of men.

Hannah's song of praise affirms the holiness of God, exults the character of God, rejoices in the uniqueness of God, and attests to His gracious wisdom: "For the read more...

1 Samuel 3:10

The beautiful story of Samuel's conception and birth, and God's special call on his life, has become beloved by many. The heart-felt prayer of a childless woman whose pleading request for a baby son was answered and who was faithful in returning the child back to the Lord once he was weaned, has rejoiced many hearts and encouraged many souls.

True to her word, Hannah sang her own magnificat to read more...

1 Samuel 3:15

Samuel was probably in his teens when God called to him in the night. The lamp of God had not yet gone out in the Temple, and three times, the Lord called out to the boy, before Eli realised that it must be the Lord Who was calling him in the night. Eli had become 'spiritually impaired' and did not realise it was God Who was calling the boy so persistently, but finally he instructed Samuel to return to his bed and answer, "Speak Lord, Your servant is read more...

1 Samuel 8:7

There are many lessons that we can learn from the Biblical history of Israel. God blessed this nation above all others, not because they were special but because of His grace. He chose them to be His own witness to all the nations, for through them the promised Messiah of Israel, the King of the Jews, the Saviour of the world was to be born.

They were to tell forth the wonders of His glorious name so that the world would know read more...

1 Samuel 12:22

Israel rejected the Lord as their heavenly King, and demanded an earthly ruler like the pagan nations surrounding them. And though they were rebuked by the prophet Samuel for this grave, rebellious sin against the Lord, God in His mercy was still prepared to bless His covenant nation which He had called into existence through Abraham, Isaac, and the twelve sons of Jacob.

What a wonderful promise was given to that prideful and read more...

1 Samuel 12:24

If we would but follow the wisdom contained in the Word of God, how our faith would be strengthened and how our fear would dissolve into the sea of God's gracious faithfulness.

When we look at the ever-mounting circumstances and troublous times that are overwhelming our lives, or watch in horror as the world situation continues to spiral downwards with increasing rapidity, too often we consider in our hearts that things are out read more...

1 Samuel 13:14

Although there is some confusion as to the age of king Saul when he started to reign in Israel and the length of time he ruled over the nation, there are clear lessons that we can learn from his rebellious behaviour towards the Lord and His prideful unbelief.

In chapter 13 of first Samuel, we discover that due to their strategies and the battles they fought against their enemies "Israel had become a stench in the read more...

1 Samuel 15:22

Saul was a man who was chosen, by God, to be the first king of Israel. Saul had a form of godliness but chose to disobey God by reinterpreting Scripture. He set out to fulfil his own selfish ends, rather than obeying God's Word and relying on the Lord to lead and guide him in the governance of His people, Israel.

Saul had been specifically ordered, by God, to destroy the Amalekites. Every man, every woman, every child, and every read more...

1 Samuel 16:7

When Samuel had anointed Saul as king, it was his tall stature and good looks that caught the prophet's attention, and yet Saul turned out to be a real disappointment to Samuel, for his heart was not pure before the Lord. Later, when this messenger of God came to anoint one of the sons of Jesse as God's chosen king, we discover that once again Samuel was judging the quality of the Israel's future king by his outward appearance, and not by the inner attitude and read more...

1 Samuel 24:4

Samuel the prophet, was raised up by God to bring the time of the judges to a close, because Israel lusted after a king. They rejected the Lord as their sovereign Ruler because they wanted to be like their Gentile neighbours. Israel wanted to have a democracy like the surrounding nations instead of a theocracy, where the Lord was King. It was a time in Israel's history when, "everyone did what was right in their own eyes," and God gave them over read more...