YEAR 2, WEEK 29, Day 3, Wednesday, 16 July 2025

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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Wednesday, 16 July 2025:

1 Samuel 2:1–2 — 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. There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.”

Hannah’s song of praise flows from her heart of gratitude, not just for a child, but for God’s character. She recognizes God as her source of strength (“my horn”) and her secure foundation (“rock”). Her joy is not in Samuel, but in the Lord who provided him. Her words echo later in Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55), both women exalting in God’s greatness amidst personal deliverance.

• Psalm 18:2 — The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer….
• Luke 1:46–47 — My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior….

1 Samuel 2:3 – “Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.”

This is a rebuke of the prideful and self-reliant. God sees beyond words—He knows hearts and weighs motives. No one fools Him. In an age of image management and empty spirituality, this verse confronts superficial religion and reminds us that God judges truthfully.

• Hebrews 4:13 — No creature is hidden from his sight… to whom we must give account.
• Galatians 6:7 — Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

1 Samuel 2:4–8 — “The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength…. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts…. He raises up the poor from the dust… to make them sit with princes….”

This is the heart of Hannah’s theology: God reverses the fortunes of people. He humbles the proud and exalts the humble. He is sovereign over every rise and fall. This theme runs throughout Scripture — God’s kingdom uplifts the weak and brings low the arrogant. Jesus modeled this upside-down kingdom in His life and teachings.

• Matthew 23:12 — “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
• James 4:10 — Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

1 Samuel 2:9–10 — “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones…. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces…. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

Though Israel had no king at the time, Hannah’s prayer prophetically points forward to the Messiah, the true anointed one. God guards the faithful and opposes the wicked. This looks ahead to Jesus Christ, the final Judge and King, who will rule with justice and mercy.

• Revelation 19:11 — In righteousness he judges and makes war.
• Philippians 2:9–11 — God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name….

1 Samuel 2:12 — Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.

A person’s character and worthiness are defined by their relationship with God. In contrast to Hannah’s godliness and Samuel’s dedication, Eli’s sons—priests by role—were spiritually corrupt. They abused their office for greed and lust, stealing sacrificial meat and sleeping with women at the tabernacle. Though they were in positions of leadership, they did not know the Lord. Their sin was not merely personal — it desecrated worship and led others astray.

• 2 Timothy 3:5 — …having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.
• James 3:1 — Not many of you should become teachers… for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

1 Samuel 2:18–21 — Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy clothed with a linen ephod…. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD.

In the midst of corruption, Samuel shines as a light of integrity. He is young, but faithful. His growth in the Lord contrasts with the moral decline of Hophni and Phinehas. God blesses Hannah with more children, honoring her sacrifice and faithfulness.

• 1 Timothy 4:12 — Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love….

1 Samuel 2:22, 23-25 — Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And he said to them, “Why do you do such things?” … But they would not listen… for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death.

Though Eli’s sons were sinning in unimaginable ways, Eli only scolded them without holding them accountable. Eli rebukes his sons, but weakly. He fails to restrain them. Proverbs 19:18 says, “Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.” Eli’s failure to discipline his sons led to their deaths. The judgment is already forming — God has given them over. They had hardened their hearts to the point of no return. Spiritual privilege does not protect from judgment when there is unrepentant sin.

• Romans 1:24 — Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts….
• Proverbs 29:1 — He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.

1 Samuel 2:26 — Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and also with man.

Compare this verse with Luke 2:52: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” God’s people are meant to have strong vertical and horizontal relationships (loving relationships with God and others – The Great Commandment), having been given the mission of reconciliation. Your relationships with others is a reflection of your relationship with God.

God’s people are meant to grow in both character (wisdom) and competence (stature – strength, capability). Both deal with relationships, how people and things work together for good. To be a good person means you understand what is right and best in relation to others; to be good at what you do means you understand how things relate best with one another to produce “good” results. A great athlete, for example, is not only an ethical player but also understands how all the elements of the game can be orchestrated to put points on the board and “knows” how to do it. Therefore, wisdom is akin to skill.

Wisdom is knowledge rightly applied, both ethically and functionally. The One God who created ethics (right and wrong) is the same God who created principles (who things really work), and our intimate relationship with Him should create in us amazing character and competence, not one or the other. The world is enamored by competency at the expense of character (the great athlete or musician who abuses others), while Christians often become fixated on moralism (rule followers) and underemphasize competence – they mean well but can’t do well. For example, you might want to help someone fix their car, but you can’t help them if you don’t know how to fix a car. Similarly, you might want to help someone come to know Jesus, but you can’t help them if you don’t “know the Way and show the Way.”

The Bible says the crowds were amazed by Jesus, in part, because He taught them “as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” (Matthew 7) While we understand Jesus was given all authority by the Father, the crowds did not understand this, so what authority were they perceiving? The authority of legitimacy, of being the real deal.

The scribes had received their authority to teach from institutional qualification, much like someone receives a license, a certification, or a degree today which bestows upon that person certain rights to practice a trade or profession within society. However, we all know someone who has institutional authority without any real competence. Nevertheless, there are others without any official qualification who can perform far better than anyone else and who have a higher authority not given by institutions, the authority of legitimacy – they are qualified by capability. For example, many certified mechanics shouldn’t be permitted to work on your car, while your neighbor down the street who has worked on cars his whole life as a personal passion might be just the person you need to see – he has an authority vested in integrity and skill.

The scribes had an intellectual understanding of the law with institutional authority to teach it and hold others accountable to it, though they couldn’t actually fulfill the law themselves. However, Jesus taught the truth from the position of embodying the truth – He is the Truth. Jesus didn’t need justification to teach – He is the justification, and the people could easily see that.

Jesus extended His power and authority to us to make disciples, and we don’t need the approval of men or institutions to do it. However, we do need the wisdom and skill which comes from real practice. To make disciples we must first be genuine disciples who are really following Jesus wholeheartedly to become just like Him.

• Psalm 78:72 — With upright heart [character] he [David] shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand [competence].

Samuel foreshadows the life of Christ — a faithful servant growing under the shadow of a corrupt priesthood. Though surrounded by sin, Samuel grows in righteousness, positioning him as a vessel for God’s coming work. We too must learn to grow in godliness even in the midst of ungodliness.

1 Samuel 2:29 — Why then do you scorn my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded for my dwelling, and honor your sons above me.

When Eli chose not to hold his son’s accountable and chose to accommodate sin, he chose his sons and conflict avoidance over God and His holiness, which was appointed to him to uphold. When you overlook sin in order to maintain relationships, you dishonor God, bring dishonor to yourself any hurt others.

1 Samuel 2:30 — Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: “I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,” but now the LORD declares: “Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”

A man of God confronts Eli with a sobering prophecy. Because Eli honored his sons above the Lord (v.29), judgment will fall. His priestly line will be cut off. This passage speaks powerfully to those in spiritual authority: honoring God must come before protecting relationships, traditions, or institutions. God always reserves the right to tear down what dishonors His name.

• Matthew 10:37 — “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me…”
• John 15:2 — “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away…”

God does not bestow honor upon those who dishonor Him and are by default dishonorable. The New Testament confirms this:

- Revelation 2:5 -- Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.  If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

- Revelation 2:16 -- Therefore repent.  If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

- Revelation 2:22 -- Behold, I will throw…those who commit adultery…into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works.

- Revelation 3:1-3 -- I know your works.  You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.  Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.  Remember, then, what you received and heard.  Keep it, and repent.  If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

- Revelation 3:15-19 -- I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.  Would that you were either cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.  For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.  Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

From Henry T. Blackaby — One of the many truths of the kingdom of God is that if we will honor God, He will honor us. If, however, we dare to treat Him disrespectfully, we will also be treated as least in His kingdom. The initiative rests with us. Our response to God determines His response to us.

Eli had been the priest of Israel for many years, and he knew the standards for righteous living that God required. Yet Eli faced a dilemma, for his sons were living in direct opposition to God. As their father, Eli had to decide whom he would honor. He could not defer to his immoral and ungodly sons and also exalt the God he served. By default, Eli chose to honor his sons, for he did not insist that their behavior conform to God’s standards. Eli would have pleaded that he still loved God but that he simply could not bring honor to God with his family. Yet God viewed Eli’s behavior differently (1 Sam. 3:13-14). Eli revealed his own heart when he failed to honor God before the people of Israel by the way he dealt with his sons. This is why God punished Eli and his sons severely (1 Sam. 4:17-18).

God is not pleased if you praise Him at church but not at your workplace. It is not acceptable for you to revere God when you are with other Christians but not in your school or neighborhood. He expects you to honor Him completely, with your words, with your actions, with your life. If you honor Him, He will honor you.

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 16 July 2025: Today, worship like Hannah: with awe for God’s holiness and hope in His power. Grow like Samuel: with quiet, faithful consistency, even in ungodly surroundings. And beware the example of Eli and his sons—spiritual roles without spiritual reality are dangerous. God weighs hearts, not titles. Examine where you may be compromising truth out of comfort, tradition, or relationship. Resolve to honor God above all.

• 1 Samuel 2:30 — “Those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”

Pray: “Lord, You are the Rock, and there is no one holy like You. Guard me from pride and from lip-service religion. Let me be faithful like Samuel, growing in Your presence even in the midst of compromise. Give me a heart like Hannah—humble, grateful, and surrendered. Expose any area where I honor others above You. Teach me to revere You above all else, and to serve You in spirit and in truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.”