1 Samuel review.

Samuel was a miracle baby we might say, born to Hannah, one of the two wives of Elkanah, and she had prayed to God and asked Him for a child after being barren for many years.  She also dedicated the child, Samuel, to God.  Of course, all children are really miracles from God, and we as followers of Christ should dedicate our children to God.  As soon as Samuel was old enough, his mother took him to Eli the priest and left him with him.  She fulfilled her vow to God, and so must we.  Samuel grew up serving God under Eli's guidance, and our children should grow up serving God under our guidance.  Eli's own sons were perverted priests, and Eli was told that his house would be cut out of the priesthood.  Not everyone who is a priest, as we all are as Christians, is truly obedient to God and thereby pervert His law.  One night while Samuel was still, young, God called him to serve Him, though at first he did not recognize God's voice.  We today after we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord will be called to serve God in a particular way, and we like Samuel need to say yes to His call,but first we must have acknowledged that it was God Who called us.  When the Philistines attacked at one point, the people demanded that the Ark of the Covenant be brought into the battle, without consulting God, and the Israelites were defeated, Eli's two sons were killed and the Ark of the Covenant was captured. Just having things associated with God with us doesn't guarantee our victory over our enemies.  We also have the record of the statue Dagon, the god of the Philistines, falling on its face before the Ark of the Covenant and the Philistines returning the Ark to Israel.  We can be certain that there is coming a day when all false gods will fall on their faces before God.  Of course, they could have acknowledged God instead of sending the Ark back along with sacrifice offerings.  After the Ark was returned, the Israelites defeated the Philistines and reclaimed their lost land.  If we have fallen away from God and return to Him in repentance,  He will restore our lost relationship with Him, and material things will never matter. After Samuel had grown old, the people came to Him demanding that he give them an earthly king, even though they had always had God to rule them through His priests and still did.  Samuel warned the people of the problems of having an earthly king, but they still insisted on having one.  They had not talked to God about this, even though they were His chosen people.  Today, people are still putting more faith in earthly rulers than they are in God, even some who at least  profess to be Christians.  The people chose Saul, who seemed to be an ideal candidate, even to Samuel.  Again, God was not consulted about their decision.  When we elect leaders today, we should always pray about our decision.  Saul was anointed as the first king of Israel.  Saul was disobedient to God, and God rejected him. We may be a powerful authority in the world, but if we turn away from God we will one day find out how powerless we are.  God did not reject Saul until Saul rejected Him, nor will He with anyone today.