King James Daily Bible Study: Just Ask
Date: April 01, 2011
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Details of Today's Reading: Eli the priest, Hannah's vow, the birth of Samuel, Hannah’s prophetic prayer, Eli's evil sons, Eli's warning about his sons, Samuel becomes God’s prophet and priest.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word pray is defined as to ask with earnestness or zeal, as for a favor, or for something desirable, to entreat, to supplicate. Simply put, praying is asking God for the things we desire. Now, we can praise God and thank Him, which is often added to prayer, but praying is just asking. Jesus said, “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” - Luke 11:9,10.

The Book of I Samuel is the ninth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains thirty-one chapters. The author of the book is Samuel and it was written to the Israelites. The book records the history of three people, Samuel, the last judge of Israel, Saul, the first king, and David, who succeeds Saul as king. The time line for these events took place approximately 1171 BC to 1056 BC. The purpose of the book was to continue to record how God dealt with His people. What we are to learn from the book is the importance of being obedient to God first rather than giving a sacrifice for repentance later. “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” - I Samuel 15:22.

Hannah was a godly, faithful woman who had everything she ever needed or dreamed of except one thing, children. She desperately wanted a child, but God had made her barren. One day, while at the Temple of the Lord she poured out her heart to God, she was praying so hard and intense that she felt the Spirit in her, she knew God was listen.

“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.” - I Samuel 1:10-17.

Most of the time we have to admit when we pray, we really are not expecting God to give us the things we ask for. Think about it, when asking God for money to pay a bill, even though we are asking God for it, we are counting on our source of income for the money, rather than God just giving to us. However, once in a while God gets our whole heart when praying, I am talking about the down on your knees, weeping, and running nose kind of praying. Those are the prayers that we know God is with us because we feel Him there. God does hear all of our prayers, but these are the ones that touch His heart more than any. “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” - Psalm 34:15.

God heard Hannah's cry and blessed her with a son, whom she name Samuel, meaning “God has heard” and just as she promised to gave her first born to God to be raised in the Temple, she brought him to Eli where he from his birth taught him about God and the duties of a priest. Because of her sacrifice and faithfulness to God Hannah was blessed with five more children, but every year she came by to visit Samuel.

“Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home. And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.” - I Samuel 2:19-21.

Part of receiving God's blessings is following through with the vows we make with Him. An amazing relationship with God can be formed when we are not only obedient to Him, but trust Him and are committed to Him as well. Samuel was just a little boy, perhaps he did not completely understand all that was going on with him or why he only saw his mother once a year, but he grew up knowing God had a plan for him. God had a plan indeed, Samuel would grow up to be a priest, prophet, and a judge for Israel. Samuel was just a child when God spoke to him for the first time.

“And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.” - I Samuel 3:1-3.

This is a perfect illustration of how often God calls out to us, even those serving Him, but we are often unaware that it is Him. Probably our biggest misconception about God is that He does not answer all our prayers. The truth is He answers every prayer, He just rarely answers them in the way we expect. I think of God answering a prayer as a stop light: red, meaning no, yellow, meaning yes, but not yet, and green, meaning okay, now you can have it. It's all about putting our faith and trusting in Him while remaining committed to Him. “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” -Psalm 37:4-6.

God has His reasons for answering prayers the way He does, some day we will understand why, perhaps it may never be until the day we meet Him face to face, but until then we must not forget that prayer is essential to our communicating with God. If we do not ask we do not receive. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” - James 1:5-7.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Samuel who grew in favor with God and men (2:26) When Jesus was a child He grew in favor with God and man. “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” - Luke 2:40.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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