Bible.com.au: Reading Plan - Sharing faith in God for the future

Reflection: In 1 Samuel 1, we read the story of Hannah, the mother of the Prophet Samuel. Hannah is a perfect example of a woman who loved and trusted the Lord. She prayed a sincere prayer asking God to give her a son. She also made this vow: “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime”.

When God answered her prayer, Hannah fulfilled her promise. She had Samuel with her until he was weaned and then gave him to God to serve in the tabernacle. During these few years when Samuel was with her, she taught him about God’s love and mercies to his people. For sure she taught him that he was an answer to prayers as his name “Samuel” indicated.

Each year when she and her husband came to worship at the tabernacle, Hannah gave Samuel a new robe like that worn by priests. She wanted to affirm that she kept him there to serve God. Despite bad models in Eli’s sons, Samuel still grew in his knowledge and love for the Lord.

God used Samuel to anoint the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. As a result of being brought up by a praying mother, we read in many instances that he prayed for the people of Israel. He also promised them: “far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.” (1 Samuel 12:23).

Our prayers for our children and our godly life will no doubt have a great influence on them even when evil is spread around them everywhere.

At an age where children are open and eager to learn, the Bible Society of Egypt has provided a summer church-wide Bible competition program, challenging thousands of primary-age students to develop the skills and familiarity to confidently study the Scriptures on their own. The inter-church quiz-show events and prizes are an important motivational factor, increasing the involvement of the whole family!

Prayer: Dear Lord, we put our children in your hands. Evil and sin are widely spread. Protect them from evil and lead them to your path. We pray that they grow to be men and women of prayer.

1 Samuel 3:1-21

The Lord Speaks to Samuel

1-2Samuel served the Lord by helping Eli the priest, who was by that time almost blind. In those days, the Lord hardly ever spoke directly to people, and he did not appear to them in dreams very often. But one night, Eli was asleep in his room, 3and Samuel was sleeping on a mat near the sacred chest in the Lord's house. They had not been asleep very long 4when the Lord called out Samuel's name.

“Here I am!” Samuel answered. 5Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. What do you want?”

“I didn't call you,” Eli answered. “Go back to bed.”

Samuel went back.

6Again the Lord called out Samuel's name. Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “What do you want?”

Eli told him, “Son, I didn't call you. Go back to sleep.”

7The Lord had not spoken to Samuel before, and Samuel did not recognize the voice. 8When the Lord called out his name for the third time, Samuel went to Eli again and said, “Here I am. What do you want?”

Eli finally realized that it was the Lord who was speaking to Samuel. 9So he said, “Go back and lie down! If someone speaks to you again, answer, ‘I'm listening, Lord. What do you want me to do?’ ”

Once again Samuel went back and lay down.

10The Lord then stood beside Samuel and called out as he had done before, “Samuel! Samuel!”

“I'm listening,” Samuel answered. “What do you want me to do?”

11The Lord said:

Samuel, I am going to do something in Israel that will shock everyone who hears about it! 12I will punish Eli and his family, just as I promised. 13He knew that his sons refused to respect me, and he let them get away with it, even though I said I would punish his family forever. 14I warned Eli that sacrifices or offerings could never make things right! His family has done too many disgusting things.

15The next morning, Samuel got up and opened the doors to the Lord's house. He was afraid to tell Eli what the Lord had said. 16But Eli told him, “Samuel, my boy, come here!”

“Yes, sir!” Samuel answered.

17Eli said, “What did God say to you? Tell me everything. I'll ask God to punish you terribly if you don't tell me every word he said!”

18Samuel told Eli everything. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord, and he will do what's right.”

The Lord Helps Samuel

19As Samuel grew up, the Lord helped him and made everything Samuel said come true. 20From the town of Dan in the north to the town of Beersheba in the south, everyone in the country knew that Samuel was truly the Lord's prophet. 21The Lord often appeared to Samuel at Shiloh and told him what to say.

Sharing faith in God for the future

Day 2 of 7

CEV

1 Samuel 3:19-20

Days

1 Samuel 3:1-21