1 Samuel 2

Hannah Praises God

1 Hannah prayed: “My heart is on fire with joy in the Lord. He lifted me up. I got something to say to my haters now, I rejoice in my God!”

2 “Nobody is holy like the Lord. Nobody is like Him, no Rock like our God.”

3 “Stop talking big. Do not let your mouth get slick. God knows what is really going on, He weighs every action.”

4 “The bows of warriors get snapped, but the weak get new strength.”

5 “The folks who had full plates now go hungry, and the hungry eat good now. The woman who could not have kids got seven, but the one with many is now empty.”

6 “The Lord gives life and takes it away. He brings folks down to the grave and pulls others up.”

7 “The Lord makes some rich, some broke. He humbles and lifts up.”

8 “He raises the poor from the dirt, lifts the needy from the trash heap, seats them with the powerful, and gives them honor.”

9 “He watches over His people, but the wicked get cut off. Nobody is going to win just off strength.”

10 “Enemies of the Lord get shattered. He thunders from heaven. The Lord judges the whole earth. He gives strength to His king and lifts up His anointed one.”

Samuel Stays in God’s House

11 Elkanah went back home to Ramah, but the boy Samuel stayed in Shiloh serving the Lord under Eli the priest.

Eli’s Sons Were Wilding

12 Eli’s sons were straight-up wicked, they did not know or respect the Lord.

13 Here is how they disrespected the offerings: Whenever someone brought a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would show up with a fork while the meat was still cooking.

14 He would stab the fork into the pot, and whatever came up, they would take it. They did this to all the Israelites coming to Shiloh.

15 Before the fat was even burned off, the servant would show up and say, “Give the priest meat to roast, he does not want it boiled.”

16 If someone said, “Let us burn the fat first, then take what you want,” the servant would say, “Nah, hand it over now, or I will take it by force.”

17 So the sin of these young priests was huge in the Lord’s eyes, they were straight disrespecting His offerings.

Samuel Kept It Solid

18 But young Samuel stayed pure, serving the Lord while wearing a linen priest’s robe.

19 Each year his mom made him a fresh robe and brought it when she came with her husband for the yearly sacrifice.

20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you all more kids to replace the one you gave back.”

21 And the Lord did just that, Hannah had three more sons and two daughters. But Samuel kept growing up in the Lord’s presence.

Eli Calls Out His Sons

22 Eli was old and heard everything his sons were doing, even how they were sleeping with the women who served at the tent of meeting.

23 He told them, “Why are y’all doing all this? I keep hearing bad reports about y’all.”

24 “You all making God’s people sin. That is not a good look.”

25 “If someone sins against another person, God may step in. But if you sin directly against God, who is going to help you,” But they did not listen, because God had already decided to bring judgment.

God Raises Up Samuel

26 Meanwhile, Samuel kept growing in favor with both God and the people.

A Word of Judgment for Eli

27 A man of God came to Eli with a message: “Did not God say, ‘I revealed Myself to your family in Egypt when they served as priests,’”

28 “I chose your people to be My priests, to offer sacrifices, burn incense, and wear priest robes before Me.”

29 “So why are you kicking My offering to the side, Why are you honoring your sons more than Me by letting them eat the best parts of the sacrifices?”

30 “This is what the Lord says: ‘I promised your family would serve Me forever, but now I am changing that. I will honor those who honor Me, those who despise Me will be brought low.’”

31 “Your family’s days of strength are done, no more old age blessings.”

32 “You will watch other people get blessed while your house stays broken.”

33 “I will not wipe you all out completely, but the ones who survive going to be miserable.”

34 “And here is your sign: Your sons Hophni and Phinehas will both die on the same day.”

A Real Priest Is Coming

35 “But I am raising up a faithful priest, one who will do what is right in My heart and mind. I will build him a real legacy, and he will serve before My anointed one forever.”

36 “Everyone left from your house will come begging him for a little bread and say, ‘Please let me work for you, anything just to get by.’”