Join me, if you would, in the book of 1 Samuel. We're going to be doing 1 Samuel. I noticed that we started the book of Judges January 31st of 2024. And so we were there a few months, and we're kind of going to see a continuation of the book of Judges as we go over to the book of 1 Samuel.

In fact, on your way over to 1 Samuel, would you look at the first verse of the book of Ruth? The book of Ruth, the first verse, And we find in that passage of scripture these words that share with us the time element that the book of Ruth was written. For it says in Ruth chapter 1 verse 1, now, it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled. So the days of Ruth were these times, and we're going to get into the book of 1 Samuel. We're going to find out that there's some judging. Judges going to continue during that period of time.

We know during the days that there was, of the judges' rule, that there was a famine in the land. and there was a lost sheep of the house of Israel over in Moab. Her name is Ruth, and she was brought the gospel, and she went back home, and you know the rest of the story. She's right in the lineage of our Savior, the Lord Jesus, his earthly lineage.

As we get into the book of 1 Samuel, turn to 1 Samuel, and this is gonna be kind of an introduction. We're gonna be, I don't know, hodgepodge, okay? We'll be more, In the book of 1 Samuel, there in chapter two, 1 Samuel chapter two, and I know we said first chapter, but go with me to the book of 1 Samuel chapter two in verse 10. And in this verse of scripture, we have the true judge is mentioned. That's God Almighty, that's the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the true judge. And it tells us here in this passage of scripture, it says, and the adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces. Out of heaven shall be thunder upon them. The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth. and he shall give strength unto his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.

So as Mr. Hawker says, as we go through the book of 1 Samuel, always take an opportunity to see Christ. And here's one of those verses of scripture that brings out so much about our Savior, about the Lord Jesus Christ.

In chapter four, in verse 18, we have these words that are given to us And as we think about a continuation of the book of the Judges, we do have that in a great sense, for it tells us here in chapter 4 and verse 18, it came to pass when he made mention of the ark of God. Now it's quite a tragedy that took place during this period of time and it's a historical event. And word got back that the Ark of the Covenant had been taken by the Philistines. It tells us here about Eli. It says, he fell from off the seat backwards by the side of the gate and his neck break and he died. for he was an old man and heavy." Now notice these last words. And he had judged Israel 40 years. So he is a judge of Israel that we don't have listed over in the book of Judges.

Now, some of the commentaries say, well, they were a different kind of judge. That makes neither sense or I'm not gonna get involved in it. There was a great deal of leadership by these guys, good or bad. but it was a great deal of leadership, and it was, they were appointed by God.

Now, follow this down, if you would, to the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 7. In 1 Samuel, chapter 7, we have these words recorded about Samuel himself. Now, at this juncture, I would like to mention that There's a lot of talk about who wrote the book of 1 and 2 Samuel. I know who the author is. You know who the author is. God Almighty. The Holy Spirit gave it to him. Now, Samuel is going to die in chapter 25 of the book of 1 Samuel. So he was not even the secretary after that point, and we don't know who it was. It doesn't matter. What matters is this is the Word of God. He gave it to us for our enjoyment and he gave it to us to find those great type shadows and pictures of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ just as he pointed out to those two on the road to Emmaus or those several of his disciples there in the book of Luke.

he pointed out the things concerning himself. And we're going to spend our time as we go through the book of 1 Samuel, and if the Lord wills into the book of 2 Samuel, we're going to be looking for those things. Jesus Christ pictured tight in shadow as he points to us his great salvation. And we want to look at some of that tonight because there is a great declaration of the salvation that is in Christ Jesus.

Here in 1 Samuel 7, verse 6, and they gathered together at Mizpah. and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said, we have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah. And then if you'll go with me down to verse 15 of that same chapter, we find these words about Samuel. As we look at a continuation of God's providence through different judges, we have Eli is going to be judging and then we're going to have Samuel. And it tells us here in verse 15, a very short verse of scripture, And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

Now, I read someone that said it was about 60 years that he was a judge. I don't have a lot from the scriptures. Mr. Hawker said that this book was written about 1150 years BC. It covers an expanse of about 80 years. Good, that's good enough for me. It is written before Christ. It does have a period of time of natural history or history of mankind during that period of time. So we have a continuation of the judges through here.

Turn with me to the New Testament if you would. And we have that this man of God, this man Samuel is brought up in the New Testament. And it's worthy to notice here that it's brought up in the book of Acts chapter 13. Acts chapter 13, verse 20, we have this great servant of God. To my knowledge, as I've read through here, I have found not one issue that could be brought up against Samuel. He is really a type of Christ. Now, we know what he has in his heart, and we know what he's like. He's a child of Adam. He's born of Adam. He has the natural tendencies of every fallen son of Adam. But the record is in here, just as we find, as Mike brought out this afternoon there in the book of Jude, he shall present his church spotless. That's right now. And that will be when we meet Him. He's not waiting to see if we cross the line, whether he's going to declare us spotless or not. We are found spotless in Christ before the foundation of the world in the covenant of grace. So the church shall be found spotless. And we find that that is kind of the tale of Samuel as he goes through his life. We don't have much charge against him like we do some of the others.

Here in the book of Acts chapter 13 verse 20, And after that, he, God, gave unto them judges about the space of 450 years until Samuel the prophet. Now we have Samuel mentioned here as a prophet. Well, we know the true prophet, Moses spoke of him. There will be a time come when God will send the prophet, him you will pay attention to. So here we have Samuel, a type of that prophet. Now Samuel is going to speak for the Lord. He is an ambassador of the Lord. He is going to give the Lord's message to the people.

Today we don't need that kind as we did in the Old Testament because we have the completed Word of God. We have it in its completion. We have it sitting before us. We can read it. And the Holy Spirit teaches us out of this word, just like he taught through the mouths of those prophets.

Now God still uses pastors and preachers, teachers, and everyone that is an evangelist that speaks of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in a similar way. We're just bringing out the seed. We're casting out the seed. So here we have Samuel the prophet.

If you'd back up with me just a moment into chapter 3 in the book of Acts. Acts chapter 3, we read here again about this prophet. Acts chapter 3 verse 24. This is brought out. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days."

So as we go through the book of 1 Samuel, we find that Samuel is going to be telling us of the days of the coming of Christ. We're going to have the message of Christ. We have the purpose of Christ. We'll have the sacrifice of Christ depicted and pictured in this book of 1 Samuel. It'll also come out in 2 Samuel.

But here we have, as many as have spoken, have likewise spoken, foretold of these days, that was the ministry of the prophets was to foretell, speak of, the Son of God coming in His great salvation of His people.

And then one more time in the New Testament, we have, as we did when we looked at the judges, there's a verse of scripture in the book of Hebrews that brings up four judges, and we looked at that and we rejoiced in that, that their names were written there, because a couple of them were just a little shady characters. But we're thankful that in Christ Jesus, his people are presented spotless.

Well, in that same verse of scripture in the book of Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 32, Hebrews chapter 11, verse 32, we read this. And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah. Those are the four that are listed here. They are men of faith. God gave them faith. Did you know that one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit on behalf of the church is to give the church faith? It's not something that we come up with. It's a gift that God gives us through the Holy Spirit.

All right, and then he goes on, and David also. Now, on the timeline, The writer jumps way ahead. In the book of 1 Samuel, we're gonna be introduced to David. David's gonna be anointed king, and then he's gonna be running for his life several times because there's another, the king, the first king, Saul, is gonna be after him.

Well, it goes on to tell us then in this passage of scripture, and Samuel and of the prophets. So one more time, we have an emphasis mark placed upon the person Samuel. He is a child of God. He is one born in a special manner.

Now, when we get over there and we start looking, we find out he's like Samson was. His mother was barren, couldn't have any children, and he's born by divine appointment. And you know, By nature, we can't be born spiritually. I mean, in actual, nobody's born spiritually on their own. It takes the Holy Spirit to produce that. So our parents are barren, the preacher's barren, the church is barren when it comes to giving that kind of thing. But we find out God Almighty can produce that at His will. And He does all the time, every time someone is born again.

Now, as we found in the book of Judges, we're going to find out here in the book of 1 Samuel that there is a great tale told about ruin by the fall. We're going to find that on every page, just like we did in the book of Judges. We're going to find out that here, there's a wreck that took place in the Garden of Eden, and the condition of man is due to the fall. Not only the general public, but we're going to find out specifically here in this book, that this has fallen upon the priests. We have Hophni and Phinehas in this book. that are priests of God, he calls them priests of God, that are wicked people. They are wicked to the core and they're gonna die in battle. They're gonna die.

Anyway. Look with me a couple of verses of scripture here, going back to the book of 1 Samuel, and then we want to go over to the book of Leviticus for a short reading. But here in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 2, would you turn there with me? 1 Samuel, chapter 2. In 1 Samuel, chapter 2, verse 35, we read this. What a glorious statement is made. He's going to raise up a faithful priest. Now we have two here and Eli is not a whole lot better. He is brought up to his attention that he has not spoken out with the problem to his sons. They have run roughshod over Israel, they've run roughshod over the sacrifices, they've run roughshod over the people, and they're wicked people, just like everybody else is by nature.

Well, here in the book of 1 Samuel 2, in verse 35, he says, I will raise me up a faithful priest. Well, there's no other one. We're gonna find priests that were faithful in their ability But you know what caused Aaron to be unfaithful? He was a child of Adam. He may have done everything he was supposed to do as a priest, but he still could not get the job done. He was unable to secure the forgiveness of sin for Israel. There is only one priest that can do that. And he goes up here, I will raise me up a faithful priest that shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind. So we have someone that God is speaking about. You know what? He has to be God in order to fulfill this. We're going to have the God man as a priest, a faithful high priest. And then it goes on to say there, and I will build him a sure house. You're looking at it. The church throughout all ages is that house that he's building, and he shall walk before me anointed forever. So this is an undoable priesthood. You know what we find in the book of Hebrews? A priest after the order of Melchizedek, without beginning of days or end of months. He had no beginning. He had no father, he had no mother. Here we have the perfect priest, the Lord Jesus.

Now, Back up, if you would, in that chapter two. Back up in chapter two, and we have the converse of that. Chapter two in verse 12. In chapter two in verse 12, now the sons of Eli were the sons of Belial. They knew not the Lord. Isn't that a statement? And how often that statement could be made Throughout the Word of God and throughout our lifetime, they knew not the Lord. I look back on preachers I had that never mentioned how people are really saved. It was all up to the individual. They never mentioned propitiation. They never mentioned substitution. They never mentioned atonement. They never mentioned any of that stuff. It was always what you had to do. Well, I've come to this conclusion. They knew not the Lord. Sad to say. Nice guys, some of them. But if you don't know the Lord, you can't teach the Lord. You just cannot do that. So the sons of Eli knew not the Lord. There's their number one problem. They knew not the Lord.

Now they're put into a place of service, you know, that's a sad thing. And I can just go back to English history and say one of the saddest things that ever took place is how kings became kings. And many of them were really wretched people, but they're made a king because they're the son of the previous king. Well, when it comes to spiritual things, that's not going to happen. It is not just because someone is spiritual that they're going to have a spiritual descendant. And Eli, though he may have, well, we know he's going to start off pretty well. His sons did not know the Lord. I believe Eli did. but I don't see any, well, the Lord says there.

All right, in 1 Samuel chapter one, back up with me to chapter one, if you would, as we pick up this theme. It's mentioned early on in this book about these two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Here it says in the book of 1 Samuel 1, verse 3, and this man went up out of the city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts and Shiloh. Now this is Samuel's father and his mother and the other wife go up. All right, Samuel's dad has two wives. the sacrifice unto the Lord, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord were there." Now that's an interesting wordage, don't you think? Don't you see? The priests of the Lord, and yet we go over to chapter two and it says, they knew not the Lord. They're in their place by divine appointment. They're there as God has ordered it. They are the priests that knew not the Lord, but they are the priests of the Lord.

Now, if you'll travel with me in chapter three of the book, as we just see in this Eshon, the upper Eshon, the problem, the tragedy of the fall, we've watched that in the book of Judges so often. The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. as a whole, and then we find that here, these priests at Shiloh, taking care of the service of people coming up and worshiping their hearts is not right with God, they are evil, they're sons of Belial, and that's God's word about them. And then here in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter three, verse 13, chapter three and verse 13, for I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the iniquity which he knoweth, because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not." His sons made themselves vile. It wasn't enough that they were vile, they continued on that path and made themselves worse, if you please.

And then, I know this is out of order, but I have a reason for doing this. Back up to chapter two, if you would. chapter two and verse 17. First Samuel chapter two and verse 17, we read this. Wherefore, the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. Things go from bad to worse. The sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, have all of these things said about them. Now the miracle to me, just like it is in the world today, the miracle to me is in this mess, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. There's some people that love the Lord. Now, before we get on that, would you join me over in the book of Leviticus? I'm so glad we went to the book of Leviticus. One reason is some of the things that we went through, I can still remember. And one of those struck me as I was going through here, because in this chapter four of the book of Leviticus, there are three groups of people that God says, if they sin, here's the sacrifice for it.

Chapter four, verse three of the book of Leviticus. Look here with me in chapter four of the book of Leviticus, verse three. Now, this chapter has a lot to say. We're not gonna read the requirements for the different sacrifices that were required by these individuals that did certain things. But verse three, it says, if the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people, Then let them bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish, unto the Lord for a sin offering. What does that tell us? That the preacher needs to be saved. That the preacher needs salvation, needs the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on his behalf, a sinner. That's one of the blessings that Brother Henry shared with me. Never forget where you came from. came out of the rock.

Well, the same chapter, turn with me to verse 22. In verse 22, we have this said, when a ruler has sinned and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord, is God concerning things which should not be done and is guilty. Leviticus 4.22. If a ruler, when a ruler. So we have a priest and now we have the ruler. We have the priest and the king. And when we get over to the book of 1 Samuel a little farther, we're gonna have priests and we're gonna have kings. And here is the instructions. You know, one of the things that I've noticed, not one time is there a record of this ever taking place. Now it may have. But I have at Calvary, the Lord taking care of everyone that had this issue that he had chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.

Now there's one other group of people that is mentioned in this chapter, and that is verse 27. No one escapes. It is all comprehensive. Because in verse 27, if any one of the common people sin through ignorance. So I'm not a priest, so I'm exempt. I'm not a ruler, I'm exempt. The Lord comes along and says, no, you're not. You're not exempt. if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doth somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done and be guilty." So here we have the common man, common woman, not the rulers, not the priests, just the people, the laborers. When they sin, there's also the necessity of a sacrifice.

Now it mentions here that through ignorance, You know, there's no excuse. Just because we didn't know it was sin, and you know, many times we find out that a sin of ignorance was also offered. though we may not even recognize it. Well, the Lord knows, so there must be a sacrifice for all sin. And that's what Christ did on the cross. He bore all our sin in his body on the tree. So we have this whole group of people covered in this chapter. The priests, the rulers, and the common people. And there was a sacrifice that was required for all of them.

So we have a great statement here about the fall in the book of 1 Samuel 2. We're gonna notice it all over. People appointed to be a king turn out to be rascals. We have people, just common people, are sinners before God. We need a substitute. We need someone to stand in our place.

Now, the other thing that we find here, and if you turn back to the book of 1 Samuel, 1 Samuel chapter one, there is mentions here, a man by the name of Elkanah, Elkanah. And it lists his lineage here, and we'll get into that in just a moment. And he had two wives, verse two. The name of one was Hannah. That's the one we remember the most. She's the one that was accused of drinking in church. And then we have the other wife, and she is very boastful. She reminds me of Hagar. I got more children than you got. I got more children than you got. And that's what she did. She brought this up against Hannah.

And then it tells us here in verse three, and this man went up out of the city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of Hosts in Shiloh. Now all Israel, it tells us, has gone after the pagan gods. And here in the middle of this, just like we noticed there with regard to the parents of Samson, with everybody else doing their own thing, in the middle of that we find a remnant according to the election of grace. Not many, that's what a remnant means, not very many.

Now we go over there in the book of Ruth. There was a remnant, and that remnant is one is what we know of. Her name was Ruth. Here we have a remnant according to the election of grace, and it tells us that they're going up to Shiloh. What's he gonna do? Worship and sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts. That's the Lord that we read about, the Lord of hosts. This is the one that, does all things after the counsel of his own will. He's in charge of all the armies of heaven among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand or say, what doest thou? This is the one they went up to worship.

So as everybody else, I can just see, won't you go up to Shiloh with it? Oh, no, no, I don't do that. I just don't do that. I got my little God right over here, and we'll take care of it there. And they just, you know, every year they go up. Every year they do what they did. They prayed, they offered their sacrifices. I believe when they were home, they still honored God. Now I'm thankful that I get to go to an assembly and be before a priest and a prophet and a king, the Lord of glory, more often than once a year. But if that's all I could, I would be thankful for that.

So here they go. The remit, you know, we have so many verses of scripture that talks about that. I mentioned to Mike and Gene today, before I was saved, and I remember in June of 1970, I surrendered to preach. about two seconds after I asked that lady to marry me. And I had three verses of scripture. Now, I believe in creation, and I believe Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and I believed he was the son of God, and I believe he went to the cross. The only mistake that I made, and it wasn't a mistake, because I couldn't get around it, I thought he went to the cross for everybody. You know what my three verses were? John 3, 16. Never paid any attention to the rest of the chapter. John 3, 16. And I would beat people. I found these Calvinists at camp and I could beat them up. They were my age. They didn't know what the Bible had to say. And then my other verse, another one was that there in the book of Hebrews that said, the Lord Jesus Christ, he tasted death for every man. Never read the next verse, it says he's talking about his sons. And then that verse over there in the book of, is it John? Where he says he's a propitiation not for our sins, but for the sins of the whole world. I never looked up the word propitiation. That wasn't important. The important thing was he was a propitiation not for our sins only, but for the sins of the whole world.

I had three verses of scripture. I found out when the Lord saved me that there is a book that tells me, the rest of the book tells me what those three verses of scripture are about. So when we start looking here in the book of 1 Samuel or anywhere, we're gonna find out a whole lot about a remnant. Every time we find someone out of all the mess that God has and he saves them by his grace, we have a remnant and it is according to purpose.

They're in the book of Romans, even so then at this present time also, there is a remnant according to the election of grace, Roman chapter 11 and verse five. And then a remnant shall be saved is found in the book of Romans. One of the verses of scripture that we're gonna turn to is over in the book of Isaiah chapter one, Isaiah chapter one. In Isaiah chapter one, verse nine, turn there with me, and it just shares so much about what God's plan is. This talks about that same Lord of hosts.

Except the Lord of hosts, Isaiah chapter one, verse nine. Except the Lord of hosts. I don't know how many times in the book of Isaiah it does mention a remnant. And we have the pictures, the type, and the shadows throughout the book of 1 Samuel. Out of all the sons, one is chosen, and his name is David. Here it says, Isaiah chapter one, verse nine, except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant. We should have been as Sodom, and we should be like Gomorrah.

Now it doesn't take us very long to find out what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah, and that's if God had not had a remnant, that is the end. Just like that. All right, but he does have a remnant. This man that we're introduced here, Samuel's father, is a testimony of the grace of God. And with this, I wanna read just a few verses and we'll close, but he is a testimony of the grace of God, the father of Samuel. Now, his name is mentioned in the book of 1 Chronicles. 1 Chronicles. Would you turn there with me, 1 Chronicles? And there in chapter six, And verse 33, now it's interesting that Samuel would be mentioned over here, but Chronicles tells us the lineage, the line. And Samuel's in the line.

It's by the grace of God that his father was alive. It's by the grace of God his father knew anything. It is by the grace of God alone that Samuel was ever brought into this world. And I want to show you this, for it tells us here in 1 Chronicles 6, verse 33, these are they which waited with their children, of the sons of Kohath, Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel. And we know it's Samuel because in the next verse, he's the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeraham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, the son of Zuth, the son of Elkanah, the son of Matah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, the son of Toath, the son of Aser, the son of Abasheth, the son of who?

Now, it doesn't take us very long to remember what happened to Korah. He, well, let's just go over to Numbers for just a moment. Book of Numbers chapter 16. Now, it's so interesting to me to run into a verse of scripture that says there is an exception to this punishment. And that's why we have Elkinah and that's why we have Samuel. It's but found in us because of God's grace, God's grace alone. They should have been, but God's grace intervened before the world began. He intervened on the behalf of his people.

So here in the book of Numbers chapter 16, verse one, It says, now Korah, the son of Azariah, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Pelath, the sons of Reuben, took men, and they rose up before Moses with certain of the children of Israel, 250 princes of assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown, and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. and said unto them, ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord."

It's just about like someone coming in here and asking, when can I be a deacon? I wanna be ordained to the deaconship. Or someone come in here and tell me, you know, I've been here two Sundays, I think it's time for me to start teaching a lesson. Here's a man that interfered with the order of God. Now it's on purpose. God is gonna demonstrate something that he's never done before, and he mentions that.

All right, verse 19 of this chapter. Turn with me to verse 19. Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation. So we have Korah and his cohorts gathered up, and he has found fault with Moses, and he says, I need to be part of it.

Well, verse 24 of the same chapter, speak unto the congregation, saying, Give you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dothan, and Abram. And Moses rose up and went unto Dothan and Abram, and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spake unto them, unto the congregation, depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

So they got up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abram, on every side, excuse me, number 16, verse 27. On every side, Dothan and Abram came out and stood in the door of the tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men, then the Lord hath not sent me. But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth and swallow them up with all that appertaineth unto them, and they go down quick into the pit, they shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord.

that came to pass, they had made it into speaking all these words, the ground claveth under, that was under them, the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their houses and all the men that appertaineth unto Korah and to all his goods.

So here we have one of the descendants of Abraham bringing this charge against Moses, and God deals with it like this. Now, why would Samuel be a recipient of grace being traced in his line right back to Korah. Well, I have a verse you need to look at, and this will close. Join me in the book of Numbers chapter 26.

As we follow through 1 Samuel, we're gonna notice all the wretchedness of the place. We're gonna notice all the remnant according to the election of grace. And we're gonna notice all the grace of God. Oh, how gracious the grace of God. For here in Numbers 26, Numbers 26 and verse 11, notwithstanding the children of Korah died not. It would have been very easy for God to have included them in the pit. But he spared them. Why? We need a Samuel down the line. And we're gonna have Samuel born. His father, him, and then the rest as we find out through going through the book of 1 Samuel.

Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not, Elkina is living testimony of the grace of God. My great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather went down into the pit But his son, my great-great-great-grandfather, was spared. How many have gone down into the pit? We can't count. How many were spared? A number that no man can number out of every kindred, race, people, and tongue.

So we're going to stop there for tonight. And we'll pick up this point next time as we look at chapter one and see the events that took place. And then the great and glorious prayer of Hannah as she prayed. She says these words,

I have poured out my soul unto the Lord.