NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible

Holy Bible, New International Version

Thomas Nelson, Max Lucado

• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9780785207320
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Bibles

Expand your understanding of Scripture and be encouraged on your spiritual journey with best-selling Christian author Pastor Max Lucado.

The Lucado Encouraging Word Bible is an exhilarating experience. As you read, you'll uncover a saga of suspense and intrigue. Flip over a few pages and find poetry and romance. Turn the pages again and read tales of clashing conquerors, brave shepherds, and a captivating Carpenter. Chronicles of faith, miracles, misdeeds, and good deeds. Kings, queens, peasants—the uncommon and the commonplace. Mystery, suspense, intrigue, drama, humor, poetry, romance…it's all in these pages. Stories of real people, with real problems, real joys, and a real Savior. All of that, plus some distinctive features will help you see that what happened on these pages is still happening today—that the truths of old are truths for our age.

Features include:

• 98 "People of the Word" articles encourage believers through the lessons learned by people throughout the Bible
• 691 "For Your Journey" marginal notes mix masterful storytelling with biblical context to lead you into a deeper walk with the Lord
• 115 "Jesus Through the Bible, " and "Growing in Christ" articles provide both inspiration and practical lessons to build you up
• 30-day personal or group Bible study enriches your knowledge of the Bible
• "God Cares for You" and "Growing Up Spiritually" verses are subject-specific and provide another resource in your study of the Bible
• "Where to turn when... " Scripture reference list means you can always find a biblical answer to the challenges you face
• Dotted margin space for journaling or taking notes
• Bible book introductions contain a brief outline of the book and an introduction written by Max Lucado
• Bible reading plan
• Full-color maps
• Clear and readable NIV Comfort Print ® 9-point type size

The Book of

1 Samuel

Introduction

It’s the end of the race that matters. Trophies aren’t given for great starts. Medals aren’t awarded for entering the race. A good start is crucial, but in the end, the end is all that matters.

First Samuel is a book of good starts but bad finishes.

It seems that every key character put his best foot forward and ended up in last place.

Take Eli for example.

A sterling religious leader. A man with a heart for God. Perceptive and strong, the last of the great priests. But look at the end of his life. The ark of the covenant was captured. His two rebellious sons were killed. When he heard of their deaths, he fell over and broke his neck.

Samuel is another case. Dedicated to God’s service by Hannah, his mother, he anointed Israel’s first kings. But he didn’t learn from Eli’s mistakes. Just like his mentor, he failed to train his family, and his sons turned away from God.

But the most dramatic example is Saul, Israel’s first king. He seemed to be the perfect man—handsome and meek, brave and victorious in battle. But success led to disobedience, and he slid from prominence to paranoia to suicide.

Why are these stories in the Bible? To remind us that we, too, are in a race. And that race isn’t over. How we started isn’t nearly as important as how we finish.

About this Book

Author:

Unknown, though some say Samuel, Nathan, or Gad

Date Written:

Possibly 1000–500 BC

Key Themes:

• Samuel’s birth was a product of his mother’s faith and prayer.

• Saul lost his power and even his sanity when he refused to trust God.

• David found victory despite the odds because of his faith.

Key People:

Samuel, Hannah, Saul, David, Jonathan, Goliath, Abigail

Key Verse:

“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (1Sa 15:22).

Contents:

I. Samuel’s Rise to Power as Judge 1:1–7:17

II. Saul’s Rise to Power as King 8:1–15:35

III. David’s Rise to Power as King 16:1–31:13

1 Samuel 1

The Birth of Samuel

1There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphitea from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. For Your Journey

3Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. 4Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. 6Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

9Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s house. 10In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. 11And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

12As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

15“Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. 16Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

17Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

18She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. People of the Word: Hannah

19Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. 20So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,b saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.”

Hannah Dedicates Samuel

21When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, 22Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always.”c

23“Do what seems best to you,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good hisd word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

24After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull,e an ephahf of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. 25When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, 26and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. 27I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 28So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.

1 Samuel 2

Hannah’s Prayer

1Then Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the LORD;

in the LORD my horna is lifted high.

My mouth boasts over my enemies,

for I delight in your deliverance.

2“There is no one holy like the LORD;

there is no one besides you;

there is no Rock like our God.

3“Do not keep talking so proudly

or let your mouth speak such arrogance,

for the LORD is a God who knows,

and by him deeds are weighed.

4“The bows of the warriors are broken,

but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

5Those who were full hire themselves out for food,

but those who were hungry are hungry no more.

...