E-pistle for August 14, 2015
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E-Pistle
Freeway Foundation August 14, 2015
Samuel: "heard by god"
(I Samuel 1:1-28)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the background and author of this book
1. The author of First Samuel is not named, but probably Samuel
wrote or supplied the information for chapters 1-24; his death is
recorded in I Samuel 25:1, so the last seven chapters were written
by another author, possibly Abiathar, the high priest.
2. The book actually was written after the nation was divided into two
kingdoms in 931 BC (I Samuel 27:6) and before the fall of the city
of Samaria in 722 BC, which is not mentioned.
3. First Samuel covers a period of about 140 years immediately following
the period of the Judges: from 1150 to 1010 BC.
4. The book focuses on God's working in Hebrew history through three
key national leaders: Samuel, Saul, and David.
II. Meditation: on the contents of chapter one
1. Elkanah was a Levite living in Ephraim (I Chronicles 6:33-38) who had
two wives, Hannah and Peninnah: Peninnah had borne several sons
and daughters, but Hannah was childless; Elkanah gave Hannah "a
double portion" (to offer as a sacrifice as if she had a son) whenever
they journeyed to Shiloh to worship God . . . the place where the high
priest, Eli, and his sons officiated at the tabernacle rituals, vv. 1-7.
2. At Shiloh, Hannah prayed and wept, vowing that if God would give her a
son, she would dedicate him as a Nazirite; Eli, thinking that she was drunk,
rebuked her, but when he discovered the truth, he blessed her and asked
God to grant her prayer, vv. 8-18.
3. Soon Hannah conceived and bore a son, Samuel ("Heard by God"), and
she cared for him until he was weaned, vv. 19-23.
4. When Samuel was about three years old, Hannah presented him to Eli at
Shiloh, in an act of worship, just as she had vowed, vv. 24-28.
III. Revelation: on some spiritual truths seen in this chapter
1. Polygamy, which was never God's plan for ideal family life, always leads
to conflict, as with the wives of Elkanah, Abraham, and Jacob.
2. Without God's enlightenment, even spiritual leaders have no discernment:
Eli couldn't tell a drunk from a fervent worshipper.
3. Children as gifts from the Lord; they should be dedicated to Him.
4. God hears the prayers of sincere worshippers; He works through such godly
persons to accomplish His will.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Follow God's plan for establishing and maintaining a Christian family.
2. Pray for spiritual discernment in ministering to hurting people.
3. Thank the Lord for my children; raise them in God's ways, Ephesians 6:4.
4. Pray that the Lord will use me to accomplish His divine purposes in my
world today.
a good minister is like . . .
(II Timothy 2:1-6, 11-13, 15, 19-21, 24-25)
Dr. Curt Scarborough)
I. Concentration: on what a good minister is like
1. A good minister is like a TEACHER/STUDENT . . . learning truth, passing
it on to the next generation, vv. 1-2.
2. A good minister is like a SOLDIER . . . enduring hardships, untangled in
personal affairs of civilian life, pleasing his superior officer by loyalty,
dedication, and obedience, vv. 3-4.
3. A good minister is like an ATHLETE . . . competing according to the rules,
keeping fit, training diligently, and exhibiting a will to win (positive spirit) v.5.
(See I Corinthians 9:26)
4. A good minister is like a FARMER . . . hardworking, diligent, expectant of a
future harvest, and living off the fruit of his labors, v.6.
5. A good minister is like a WORKMAN . . . "NOT ASHAMED" – with holy pride
in craftsmanship and accomplishment, realizing that ability and talent are gifts
from God, v.15.
6. A good minister if like a VESSEL . . . honorable, sanctified, clean, prepared,
and useful, vv. 19-21.
7. A good minister if like a SERVANT (slave) . . . not quarrelsome but gentle,
able to instruct others, patient, and humble, vv. 24-25.
II. Meditation: on Paul's "faithful saying" (vv. 11-13)
(Four basic truths; perhaps a hymn of the early church)
1. If we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.
2. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.
3. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
4. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
III. Revelation: on running . . . fleeing and pursuing (v. 22)
1. Flee (run away from) these things: harmful speech (vv. 16, 23), false belief
(vv. 17-18), moral impurity (v. 22), and bad attitudes (vv. 24-25)
2. Pursue (run toward) these things: righteousness, faith, love, and peace
with other believers (v. 22).
IV. Applications: as a Christian (minister), I need to . . .
1. Recognize and operate within the seven "roles" (above) which are included
in my calling as a minister . . . and all Christians are ministers!
2. Remain faithful to Christ and His work, because He always remains faithful
to me.
3. "Run away from" those ungodly things which are harmful, false, immoral, and
which produce bad attitudes.
4. "Run toward" (strive for; purpose) the Godly characteristics of righteousness,
faith, love and peaceableness.
What is a Mentor?
M Model: "Example to the believers" (I Timothy 4:12)
E Encourager: "Command . . . Encourage . . . Strengthen" (Deuteronomy 3:28)
N Nurturer: "Bring them up in the nurture of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4)
T Tutor: "Commit these to faithful men . . . to teach others" (II Timothy 2:2)
O Observer: "They watch out for your souls" Hebrews 13:17)
R Resource: "Supply what is lacking in your faith: (I Thessalonians 3:10)
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