Study Desk

he told her the whole truth and said to her, “My hair has never been cut, because I am a Nazirite to God from birth. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become weak and be like any other man.”

Now the Philistine leaders gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said:

When the people saw him, they praised their god and said:

He called out to the Lord: “Lord God, please remember me. Strengthen me, God, just once more. With one act of vengeance, let me pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.”

Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God for us to determine if we will have a successful journey.”

When you get there, you will come to an unsuspecting people and a spacious land, for God has handed it over to you. It is a place where nothing on earth is lacking.”

So they set up for themselves Micah’s carved image that he had made, and it was there as long as the house of God was in Shiloh.

They set out, went to Bethel, and inquired of God. The Israelites asked, “Who is to go first to fight for us against the Benjaminites?”

Then the Israelites inquired of the Lord. In those days, the ark of the covenant of God was there,

So the people went to Bethel and sat there before God until evening. They wept loudly and bitterly,

and cried out, “Why, Lord God of Israel, has it occurred that one tribe is missing in Israel today?”

May the Lord reward you for what you have done, and may you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”

Eli responded, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request you’ve made of him.”

There is no one holy like the Lord.There is no one besides you!And there is no rock like our God.

Do not boast so proudly,or let arrogant words come out of your mouth,for the Lord is a God of knowledge,and actions are weighed by him.

If one person sins against another, God can intercede for him, but if a person sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the Lord intended to kill them.

A man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Didn’t I reveal myself to your forefather’s family when they were in Egypt and belonged to Pharaoh’s palace?

“Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me forever. But now,’ this is the Lord’s declaration, ‘no longer! For those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disgraced.

Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was located.

I told him that I am going to judge his family forever because of the iniquity he knows about: his sons are cursing God, and he has not stopped them.