Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Ruth 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 1
Concise Complete
Elkanah and his family. (1-8) Hannah's prayer. (9-18)
Samuel, Hannah presents him to the Lord. (19-28)
Verses 1-8
Elkanah kept up his attendance at God's altar, notwithstanding the unhappy
differences in his family. If the devotions of a family prevail not to put an
end to its divisions, yet let not the divisions put a stop to the devotions. To
abate our just love to any relation for the sake of any infirmity which they
cannot help, and which is their affliction, is to make God's providence quarrel
with his precept, and very unkindly to add affliction to the afflicted. It is
evidence of a base disposition, to delight in grieving those who are of a
sorrowful spirit, and in putting those out of humour who are apt to fret and be
uneasy. We ought to bear one another's burdens, not add to them. Hannah could
not bear the provocation. Those who are of a fretful spirit, and are apt to lay
provocations too much to heart, are enemies to themselves, and strip themselves
of many comforts both of life and godliness. We ought to notice comforts, to
keep us from grieving for crosses. We should look at that which is for us, as
well as what is against us.
Verses 9-18
Hannah mingled tears with her prayers; she considered the mercy of our God, who
knows the troubled soul. God gives us leave, in prayer, not only to ask good
things in general, but to mention that special good thing we most need and
desire. She spoke softly, none could hear her. Hereby she testified her belief
of God's knowledge of the heart and its desires. Eli was high priest, and judge
in Israel. It ill becomes us to be rash and hasty in censures of others, and to
think people guilty of bad things while the matter is doubtful and unproved.
Hannah did not retort the charge, and upbraid Eli with the wicked conduct of his
own sons. When we are at any time unjustly censured, we have need to set a
double watch before the door of our lips, that we do not return censure for
censure. Hannah thought it enough to clear herself, and so must we. Eli was
willing to acknowledge his mistake. Hannah went away with satisfaction of mind.
She had herself by prayer committed her case to God, and Eli had prayed for her.
Prayer is heart's ease to a gracious soul. Prayer will smooth the countenance;
it should do so. None will long remain miserable, who use aright the privilege
of going to the mercy-seat of a reconciled God in Christ Jesus.
Verses 19-28
Elkanah and his family had a journey before them, and a family of children to
take with them, yet they would not move till they had worshipped God together.
Prayer and provender do not hinder a journey. When men are in such haste to set
out upon journeys, or to engage in business, that they have not time to worship
God, they are likely to proceed without his presence and blessing. Hannah,
though she felt a warm regard for the courts of God's house, begged to stay at
home. God will have mercy, and not sacrifice. Those who are detained from public
ordinances, by the nursing and tending of little children, may take comfort from
this instance, and believe, that if they do that duty in a right spirit, God
will graciously accept them therein. Hannah presented her child to the Lord with
a grateful acknowledgment of his goodness in answer to prayer. Whatever we give
to God, it is what we have first asked and received from him. All our gifts to
him were first his gifts to us. The child Samuel early showed true piety. Little
children should be taught to worship God when very young. Their parents should
teach them in it, bring them to it, and put them on doing it as well as they
can; God will graciously accept them, and will teach them to do better.
Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Ruth 2 Samuel
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
