Transcript

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch.1-2 NLV; Ch. 3-4 ERV, Ch. 5 CEV

Podcast Introduction

This History Tuesday. We’ll begin the book of 1 Samuel by reading the first five chapters.

And it’s the thirteenth of December, so we’ll have Christmas Question number 13 today, sent in by Lifespring! family member Berean, Brother John in Canada. Of course, our Christmas expert, James Cooper of whychristmas.com has an answer for him.

Comments on 1 Samuel

Thoughts on 1 Samuel 1

About Samuel’s family. Elkanah, the man who would become Samuel’s father, seems to have been a devout man in a time that many people were far from God. Remember from our time in Judges how many times we were told “There were no kings in the land, and people did whatever they wanted.” Well, Elkanah made regular trips to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices. He was a Levite, which is the tribe from which God chose priests. 

But as Abraham and Jacob had done, he took two wives. This was not God’s ideal plan, and as had happened with these other two men, Elkanah found that this is not the way to a peaceful house. Peninnah was hard on Hannah because Hannah was childless and probably also because she knew that Elkanah loved Hannah more.

So Hannah cried to the Lord, asking Him to give her a son. And she made a vow to Him that was just flat out remarkable. She told God that if He would give her a son, she would give him back to Him.

How many times do we make promises to God in times of desperation, and then when the crisis passes, we forget our promise? I’m ashamed to admit that I have done this. But bless her heart, Hannah did not. Once Samuel was old enough to be weaned, she took him to Shiloh to fulfill her promise. 

As a father of three sons and grandfather of four grandchildren (soon to be five!), I can only imagine the grief I would experience if I were to give up one of my children after caring for them for the three years it is thought that Hannah had Samuel in her care. But Hannah remembered her promise, and she loved God enough to trust that He would see to Samuel’s welfare. What devotion and faith this woman had!

Thoughts on 1 Samuel 3 and 4

Sometimes I think the so called modern translations go just a bit too far in trying to simplify the language. In chapter 3, verse 3 there’s the phrase “the Holy Box”. In the original Hebrew, it is called “the ark of Elohim”. Elohim one of the Hebrew words that is translated into English as God, and it is the same word used in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth.” 

It is also has another name in the Bible. Hebrews 9:4 tells us the contents of the Ark: “in which there was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.” And so now we know why it is also called the Ark of the Covenant.

So can we not just call it the Holy Box?

I’d like to share with you what F. B. MEYER wrote in his book, “Great Verses Through the Bible” about Samuel and how God called him that night while he tried to sleep in the temple. 

“And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel!” See the urgency of God! Four times He came and stood, and called. Mark how He stands at the door to knock. At first He was content to call the lad once by name: but after three unsuccessful attempts to attract him to himself, He uttered the name twice, with strong urgency in the appeal, “Samuel! Samuel! This has been called God’s double knock. There are seven or eight of these double knocks in Scripture: Simon, Simon; Saul Saul; Abraham, Abraham. How may we be sure of a divine call? We may know God’s call when it grows in intensity. If an impression comes into your soul and you are not quite sure of its origin, pray over it; above all, act on it so far as possible, follow in the direction in which it leads—and as you lift up your soul before God, it will wax or wane. If it wanes at all, abandon it. If it waxes follow it, though all hell attempt to stay you.

We may test God’s call by the assistance of godly friends. The aged Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child, and gave him good advice as to the manner in which he should respond to it. Our special gifts and the drift of our circumstances will also assuredly concur in one of God’s calls.

We may test God’s call by its effect on us. Does it lead to self-denial? Does it induce us to leave the comfortable bed and step into the cold? Does it drive us forth to minister to others? Does it make us more unselfish, loving, tender, modest, humble? Whatever is to the humbling of our pride, and the glory of God, may be truly deemed God’s call. Be quick to respond, and fearlessly deliver the message the Lord has given you.

F. B. MEYER: Great Verses Through the Bible

Have you felt the call of God on your life? I have. The most memorable one for me was when God called me to begin the Lifespring! podcast. My experience was as real as Samuel’s was, and it effected nearly every aspect of my life.

If you have experienced something similar, I would love to hear it. 

Links from James Cooper

On whychristmas.com about the birth of Jesus

Also on whychristmas.com about the shepherds

From another great source about where Jesus was born.

And yet another article about the location of His birth.

Support

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1 Samuel 1-5: Here I Am (LSFAB S13E073)

[TEASER – 0:00]
This is not the way to a peaceful house.

[INTRO S13E073 – 0:10]
This is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California, and podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily podcast and we’re reading through the entire Bible together in one year. I’m glad to have you along. The website is lifespringmedia.com. This is History Tuesday. We’ll begin the book of 1 Samuel by reading the first five chapters, and it’s the 13th of December, so we’ll have Christmas question number 13 today sent in by Lifespring Family Berean, Brother John of Canada. And of course, James Cooper of Why Christmas has an answer for him. You’re really going to want to hear this one. And I’m not going to give it away. But today’s Christmas music goes along hand in hand with the question. See if you can guess which carol I’m going to play as you listen to the question and answer today.

Before we read, I think we ought to pray. What about you? Here we go.

[OPENING PRAYER – 1:04]
Our heavenly Father, Lord, as we get further and further into the Christmas season, we are so thankful for your Word. It reveals who you are to us, and it tells the story of the birth of Jesus. I pray that this year as people pick up their Bibles, sometimes for the only time they pick it up each year, I pray that people would begin to look beyond the story of Jesus’ birth and really discover who you are and why Jesus actually came and that he’s real. As we read today, I pray that You would give us understanding. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

[1 SAMUEL 1 (NLV) – 1:39]
1 Samuel, chapter 1.

(1) There was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. (2) He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah. The name of the other was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. (3) This man would go from his city each year to worship and to give gifts on the altar in Shiloh to the Lord of All. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord’s religious leaders there. (4) On the day when Elkanah killed animals on the altar in worship, he would give part of the gift to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. (5) But he would give twice as much to Hannah, for he loved Hannah. But the Lord had made it so she could not have children. (6) Peninnah would try to make her very angry, because the Lord would not let her have children. (7) So it happened, year after year, each time Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, Peninnah would make her angry. Hannah cried and would not eat. (8) Then her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why are you crying? Why are you not eating, and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

(9) Then Hannah stood up after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh. Eli the religious leader was sitting on the seat by the door of the house of the Lord. (10) Hannah was very troubled. She prayed to the Lord and cried with sorrow. (11) Then she made a promise and said, “O Lord of All, be sure to look on the trouble of Your woman servant, and remember me. Do not forget Your woman servant, but give me a son. If You will, then I will give him to the Lord all his life. And no hair will ever be cut from his head.”

(12) While she was praying to the Lord, Eli was watching her mouth. (13) Hannah was speaking in her heart. Her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she had drunk too much. (14) Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put wine away from you.” (15) But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have not drunk wine or strong drink, but I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. (16) Do not think of your woman servant as a woman of no worth. For I have been speaking out of much trouble and pain in my spirit.” (17) Then Eli answered, “Go in peace. May the God of Israel do what you have asked of Him.” (18) And Hannah said, “Let your woman servant find favor in your eyes.” So she went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

(19) The family got up early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord. Then they returned to their house in Ramah. Elkanah lay with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. (20) The Lord made it possible for her to have a child, and when the time came she gave birth to a son. She gave him the name Samuel, saying, “I have asked the Lord for him.”

(21) Then Elkanah went up with all those of his house to give the Lord the gift on the altar in worship as he did each year, and to pay what he had promised. (22) But Hannah did not go. For she said to her husband, “I will not go up until the child no longer needs to be nursed. Then I will bring him before the Lord, to stay there forever.” (23) Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what you think is best. Stay here until he no longer needs to be nursed. Only may the Lord do as He has said.” So Hannah stayed and nursed her son until he no longer needed to be nursed. (24) When she had finished nursing him, she took him with her to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, and the child was young. (25) She brought a three year old bull, one basket of flour and a jar of wine also. Then they killed the bull, and brought the boy to Eli. (26) Hannah said, “O, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. (27) I prayed for this boy, and the Lord has given me what I asked of Him. (28) So I have given him to the Lord. He is given to the Lord as long as he lives.” And they worshiped the Lord there.

[1 SAMUEL 2 (NLV) – 5:43]
1 Samuel, chapter 2.

(1) Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart is happy in the Lord. My strength is honored in the Lord. My mouth speaks with strength against those who hate me, because I have joy in Your saving power. (2) There is no one holy like the Lord. For sure, there is no one other than You. There is no rock like our God. (3) Speak no more in your pride. Do not let proud talk come out of your mouth. For the Lord is a God Who knows. Actions are weighed by Him. (4) The bows of the powerful are broken. But the weak are dressed in strength. (5) Those who were full go out to work for bread. But those who were hungry are filled. She who could not give birth has given birth to seven. But she who has many children has become weak. (6) The Lord kills and brings to life. He brings down to the grave, and He raises up. (7) The Lord makes poor and makes rich. He brings low and He lifts up. (8) He lifts the poor from the dust. He lifts those in need from the ashes. He makes them sit with rulers and receive a seat of honor. For what holds the earth belongs to the Lord. He has set the world in its place. (9) He watches over the steps of His good people. But the sinful ones will be made quiet in darkness. For a man will not win by strength. (10) Those who fight with the Lord will be broken to pieces. He will thunder in heaven against them. The Lord will decide about all people to the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king. He will give power to His chosen one.”

(11) Elkanah went home to Ramah. But the boy served the Lord with Eli the religious leader.

(12) The sons of Eli were men of no worth. They did not know the Lord. (13) This is the way the religious leaders acted toward the people. When any man brought an animal to give to the Lord, the religious leader’s servant would come with a meat-hook in his hand, while the meat was hot. (14) Then he would put it in the pot. The religious leader would take for himself all that the meat-hook brought up. They did this to all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh. (15) And before they burned the fat, the religious leader’s servant would come and say to the man who brought the gift in worship, “Give meat for the religious leader to make ready. For he will not take boiled meat from you, but only meat that has just been killed.” (16) But if the man says to him, “Let them burn the fat first, then take as much as you want,” then the religious leader’s servant would say, “No, give it to me now; and if not, I will take it from you against your will.” (17) So the sin of the young men was very bad before the Lord. For the men hated the gift of the Lord.

(18) Now Samuel was serving the Lord, even as a boy, wearing a linen vest. (19) Each year his mother would make him a little coat. She would bring it to him when she came with her husband to bring the gift in worship each year. (20) Then Eli would pray that good would come to Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children from this woman in place of the one she gave to the Lord.” Then they would return to their home. (21) And the Lord visited Hannah. She gave birth to three sons and two daughters. The boy Samuel grew up to serve the Lord.

(22) Now Eli was very old. He heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the door of the meeting tent. (23) And he said to them, “Why do you do such things, the sinful things I hear from all these people? (24) No, my sons, the news is not good which I hear from the Lord’s people. (25) If one man sins against another, God will help make peace for him. But if a man sins against the Lord, who can make peace for him?” Yet they would not listen to what their father said, for it was the Lord’s will to kill them. (26) Now the boy Samuel grew and was in favor both with the Lord and with men.

(27) Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says. ‘Did I not let Myself be known to those of your father’s family when they were in Egypt being made to work for Pharaoh’s house? (28) Did I not choose them from all the families of Israel to be My religious leaders, to go up to My altar, to burn special perfume, and to wear a linen vest before Me? Did I not give all the gifts made by fire of the people of Israel to the family of your father? (29) Why do you show no respect to My gifts which I have asked for, and honor your sons more than Me? You make yourselves fat with the best part of every gift given in worship by My people Israel.’ (30) So the Lord God of Israel says, ‘I did promise that those of your family and the family of your father should walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says, ‘May this be far from Me. For I will honor those who honor Me. And those who hate Me will not be honored. (31) See, the days are coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father’s family. So there will not be an old man in your family. (32) You will see the trouble of My family, even in all the good I do for Israel. And an old man will not be in your family forever. (33) But I will not destroy every man of yours from My altar. Some will be left to cry and be filled with sorrow. But all the children of your family will die in their best years. (34) This will be the special thing that you will see. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will both die on the same day. (35) I will raise up for Myself a faithful religious leader who will act by what is in My heart and mind. I will build him a family to last. And he will walk before My chosen one forever. (36) Everyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread, and say, “I beg you, put me in one of the religious leader’s places so that I may eat a piece of bread.”’”

[1 SAMUEL 3 (ERV) – 11:38]
1 Samuel, chapter 3.

(1) The boy Samuel was Eli’s helper and served the Lord with him. At that time the Lord did not speak directly to people very often. There were very few visions.

(2) Eli’s eyes were getting so weak that he was almost blind. One night he went to his room to go to bed. (3) The special lamp in the Lord’s temple was still burning, so Samuel lay down in the temple near where the Holy Box was. (4) The Lord called Samuel, and Samuel answered, “Here I am.” (5) Samuel thought Eli was calling him, so he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.”

But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.”

So Samuel went back to bed. (6) Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” Again Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.”

Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.”

(7) Samuel did not yet know the Lord because the Lord had not spoken directly to him before.

(8) The Lord called Samuel the third time. Again Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.”

Finally, Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy. (9) Eli told Samuel, “Go to bed. If he calls you again, say, ‘Speak, Lord. I am your servant, and I am listening.’”

So Samuel went back to bed. (10) The Lord came and stood there. He called as he did before, saying, “Samuel, Samuel!”

Samuel said, “Speak. I am your servant, and I am listening.”

(11) The Lord said to Samuel, “I will soon do things in Israel that will shock anyone who hears about them. (12) I will do everything I said I would do against Eli and his family, everything from the beginning to the end. (13) I told Eli I would punish his family forever. I will do this because Eli knew his sons were saying and doing bad things against God. But he failed to control them. (14) That is why I swore an oath that sacrifices and offerings will never take away the sins of the people in Eli’s family.”

(15) Samuel lay down in bed until the morning came. He got up early and opened the doors of the Lord’s house. Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision.

(16) But Eli said to Samuel, “Samuel, my son.”
Samuel answered, “Yes, sir.”

(17) Eli asked, “What did God say to you? Don’t hide it from me. God will punish you if you hide anything from the message he spoke to you.”

(18) So Samuel told Eli everything. He did not hide anything from him.

Eli said, “He is the Lord. Let him do whatever he thinks is right.”

(19) The Lord was with Samuel while he grew up. He did not let any of Samuel’s messages prove false. (20) Then all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was a true prophet of the Lord. (21) And the Lord continued to appear to Samuel at Shiloh. There he told Samuel what he wanted.

[1 SAMUEL 4 (ERV) – 14:36]
1 Samuel, chapter 4.

(1) Then Samuel would announce the Lord’s message to all the people of Israel. When Eli was very old, his sons lived more and more in a way the Lord considered evil.

At that time the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites made their camp at Ebenezer. The Philistines made their camp at Aphek. (2) The Philistines lined up their soldiers in front of the Israelites and began the attack.

The Philistines defeated the Israelites. They killed about 4000 soldiers from Israel’s army. (3) The rest of the Israelite soldiers went back to their camp. The elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord let the Philistines defeat us? Let’s bring the Lord’s Box of the Agreement from Shiloh. God will go with us into battle and save us from our enemies.”

(4) So the people sent men to Shiloh. The men brought back the Lord All-Powerful’s Box of the Agreement. On top of the Box are the Cherub angels. They are like a throne where the Lord sits. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, came with the Box.

(5) When the Lord’s Box of the Agreement came into the camp, all the Israelites gave a great shout loud enough to make the ground shake. (6) The Philistines heard Israel’s shout and asked, “Why are the people so excited in the Hebrew camp?”

Then the Philistines learned that the Lord’s Holy Box had been brought into Israel’s camp. (7) They became afraid and said, “Gods have come to their camp! We’re in trouble. This has never happened before. (8) We are worried. Who can save us from these powerful gods? These gods are the same ones that gave the Egyptians those diseases and terrible sicknesses. (9) Be brave, Philistines. Fight like men. In the past they were our slaves, so fight like men or you will become their slaves.”

(10) So the Philistines fought very hard and defeated the Israelites. The Israelite soldiers ran away and went home. It was a terrible defeat for Israel. 30,000 Israelite soldiers were killed. (11) The Philistines took God’s Holy Box and killed Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas.

(12) One of the men who ran from the battle was a man from the tribe of Benjamin. He tore his clothes and put dust on his head to show his great sadness. (13) Eli was worried about the Holy Box, so he was sitting there by the city gate waiting and watching when the Benjamite man ran into Shiloh and told the bad news. All the people in town began to cry loudly. (14-15) Eli was 98 years old. He was blind, so he could not see what was happening, but he could hear the loud noise of the people crying. Eli asked, “Why are the people making this loud noise?”

The Benjamite man ran to Eli and told him what happened. (16) He said, “I am the man who just came from the battle. I ran away from the battle today.”

Eli asked, “What happened, son?”

(17) The Benjamite man answered, “Israel ran away from the Philistines. The Israelite army has lost many soldiers. Your two sons are both dead, and the Philistines took God’s Holy Box.”

(18) When the Benjamite man mentioned God’s Holy Box, Eli fell backward off his chair near the gate and broke his neck. Eli was old and fat, so he died. He had led Israel for 20 years.

(19) Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant. It was nearly time for her baby to be born. She heard the news that God’s Holy Box was taken. She also heard that her father-in-law Eli and her husband Phinehas were both dead. As soon as she heard the news, her pain started and she began giving birth to her baby. (20) She was about to die when the women who were helping her said, “Don’t worry, you have given birth to a son.”

But she did not answer or pay attention. (21) She named the baby Ichabod, that is to say, “Israel’s glory has been taken away.” She did this because God’s Holy Box was taken away and because both her father-in-law and her husband were dead. (22) She said, “Israel’s glory has been taken away” because the Philistines had taken God’s Holy Box.

[1 SAMUEL 5 (CEV) – 18:41]
1 Samuel, chapter 5.

(1) The Philistines took the sacred chest from near Ebenezer to the town of Ashdod. (2) They brought it into the temple of their god Dagon and put it next to the statue of Dagon, which they worshiped.

(3) When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, they found the statue lying facedown on the floor in front of the sacred chest. They put the statue back where it belonged. (4) But early the next morning, it had fallen over again and was lying facedown on the floor in front of the chest. The body of the statue was still in one piece, but its head and both hands had broken off and were lying on the stone floor in the doorway. (5) This is why the priests and everyone else step over that part of the doorway when they enter the temple of Dagon in Ashdod.

(6) The Lord caused a lot of trouble for the people of Ashdod and their neighbors. He made sores break out all over their bodies, and everyone was in a panic. (7) Finally, they said, “The God of Israel did this. He is the one who caused all this trouble for us and our god Dagon. We’ve got to get rid of this chest.”

(8) The people of Ashdod invited all the Philistine rulers to come to Ashdod, and they asked them, “What can we do with the sacred chest that belongs to the God of Israel?”

“Send it to Gath,” the rulers answered. But after they took it there, (9) the Lord made sores break out on everyone in town. The people of Gath were frightened, (10) so they sent the sacred chest to Ekron. But before they could take it through the town gates, the people of Ekron started screaming, “They’ve brought the sacred chest that belongs to the God of Israel! It will kill us and our families too!”

(11) The people of Ekron called for another meeting of the Philistine rulers and told them, “Send this chest back where it belongs. Then it won’t kill us.”

Everyone was in a panic, because God was causing a lot of people to die, (12) and those who had survived were suffering from the sores. They all cried to their gods for help.

[COMMENTARY – 20:37]
Okay, first chapter, about Samuel’s family. Elkanah, the man who would become Samuel’s father seems to have been a devout man in a time that many people were far from God. Remember from our time in Judges how many times we were told, there were no kings in the land and people did whatever they wanted? Well, Elkanah made regular trips to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices. He was a Levite, which is the tribe from which God chose priests.

But as Abraham and Jacob had done, he took two wives. This was not God’s ideal plan, and as had happened with these two other men, Elkanah found that this is not the way to a peaceful house. Go figure. One wife, Peninnah, was hard on Hannah because Hannah was childless. And probably also because she knew that Elkanah loved Hannah more.

So Hannah cried out to the Lord asking him to give her a son and she made a vow to him that was just flat-out remarkable. She told God that if he would give her a son, she would give him back to God.

How many times do we make promises to God in times of desperation, and then when the crisis passes, we forget our promise? I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve done it. But bless her heart, Hannah did not. Once Samuel was old enough to be weaned, she took him to Shiloh to fulfill her promise.

Now as a father of three sons and grandfather of four grandchildren, soon to be five – I’m excited about that – I can only imagine the grief I would experience if I were to give up one of my children or grandchildren after caring for them for the three years, it’s thought that Hannah had Samuel in her care. But Hannah remembered her promise and she loved God enough to trust that he would see to Samuel’s welfare. What devotion and faith this woman had.

Now let’s talk a little bit about 1 Samuel 3 and 4. Let me first say sometimes I think the so-called modern translations just go a bit too far in trying to simplify the language. In chapter 3, verse 3, there’s the phrase, “the Holy Box.” Well, in the original Hebrew, it’s called “the Ark of Elohim.” “Elohim” was one of the Hebrew words that is translated into English as “God.” And it’s the same word used in Genesis 1, verse 1, “In the beginning, Elohim created the heaven and the earth.”

The Ark also has another name in the Bible. Hebrews 9:4 tells us the contents of the ark, “in which there was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.” And so now we know why it’s also called the Ark of the Covenant.

So can we just not call it “the Holy Box?” All right, I’m a cranky old man, I get it.

So in commenting on chapters 3 and 4 here, I’d like to share with you what F. B. Meyer wrote in his book, “Great Verses Through the Bible” about Samuel and how God called him that night while he tried to sleep in the temple. Here’s what Meyer said,

“And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, ‘Samuel, Samuel!'”

Meyer continues. “See the urgency of God! Four times He came and stood, and called. Mark how He stands at the door to knock. At first He was content to call the lad once by name: but after three unsuccessful attempts to attract him to himself, He uttered the name twice, with strong urgency in the appeal, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ This has been called God’s double knock. There are seven or eight of these double knocks in Scripture: Simon, Simon; Saul Saul; Abraham, Abraham.”

Continuing Meyer’s comments, “How may we be sure of a divine call? We may know God’s call when it grows in intensity. If an impression comes into your soul and you are not quite sure of its origin, pray over it; above all, act on it so far as possible, follow in the direction in which it leads—and as you lift up your soul before God, it will wax or wane. If it wanes at all, abandon it. If it waxes follow it, though all hell attempt to stay you.

We may test God’s call by the assistance of godly friends. The aged Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child, and gave him good advice as to the manner in which he should respond to it. Our special gifts and the drift of our circumstances will also assuredly concur in one of God’s calls.

We may test God’s call by its effect on us. Does it lead to self-denial? Does it induce us to leave the comfortable bed and step into the cold? Does it drive us forth to minister to others? Does it make us more unselfish, loving, tender, modest, humble? Whatever is to the humbling of our pride, and the glory of God, may be truly deemed God’s call. Be quick to respond, and fearlessly deliver the message the Lord has given you.”

That’s good advice. Have you felt the call of God on your life? I have. The most memorable one for me was when God called me to begin the Lifespring podcast. My experience then was as real as Samuel’s was, and it affected nearly every aspect of my life. And I’m so glad I listened to God’s call that day.

[LIFESPRING FAMILY HOTLINE – 26:03]
If you’d like to comment, call the Lifespring Family Hotline at +1-951-732-8511, or go to comment.lifespringmedia.com. or shoot me an email, st***@li*************.com. I do read every comment and there’s a good chance your comment will appear on the show.

Tomorrow is Psalms Wednesday. We’ll read chapters 30 through 32. Of course, being Wednesday, we will also be sharing praises and prayer requests tomorrow, so if there’s something that you’d like to share with the Lifespring family in the way of praising God for his work in your life or a prayer request, be sure to go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com and fill out the form there.

There hasn’t been much participation lately, and I’d like to see that change. Remember, if you like you can remain anonymous. To discourage spam though, which actually does happen. People do send spam prayer requests in. Weird, I know. Anyway, the form at prayer.lifespringmedia.com does ask for a name. But on the form, you can let me know if you want to remain anonymous, which of course I always honor. And I do not add you to the mailing list. If you check the box letting me know that that’s your preference. This is not a marketing tool by any stretch. I just want to be able to pray with you and for you. So go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com if there’s something that you’d like the Lifespring family to pray with you about. And, of course, when I get your prayer requests and praises I spend time with the Lord in my private prayer time in prayer with you and for you. So one more time. What’s that website? prayer.lifespringmedia.com.

[CHRISTMAS QUESTION – 27:36]
Christmas question number 11 comes in from Lifespring Family Berean Brother John in Canada and he says, “Why in a manger? I mean, if God can arrange a census to bring them to Bethlehem, then he can arrange a room at an inn. Perhaps a last-minute cancellation. Hey, a room just opened up Joseph! Was there a prophecy about Jesus being born in a manger that needed to be fulfilled?”

Hmm, I wonder James what’s the answer? Why wouldn’t Jesus be born in a palace or at least someplace comfortable and clean?

[JAMES COOPER ANSWERS – 28:09]
What I’m about to say might shock you. Because the traditional part of the Christmas story is we have of Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem and Mary giving birth in a stable because there wasn’t room in the inn.

Well, Jesus wasn’t born in a stable and there probably wasn’t an inn. Because in those times, there really weren’t such things as motels or inns as we think of them today. You’d normally have stayed with some extended family or relations. We do hear that there was no room in the inn. However, that’s just a bad translation. A more accurate translation of “inn” should be “guest room.” And you’d’ve normally stayed with your extended family in their guest room, which was often a special room built on the side of the house or sometimes on the roof. But in a busy time, the guest room was already full.

Most houses would have been shared with the animals that the family kept. There was an upper or mezzanine level where the people slept and the ground floor where the animal slept at night and the family lived during the day. So the animals acted as a kind of central heating at night, keeping the house warm. As many people have traveled to Bethlehem for the census, all the houses, or certainly the upper levels and the guest rooms were full. Many people think that Jesus was probably born in September or October during Sukkot, the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. During these festivals, Jews live out in temporary shelters. The word tabernacle comes from the Latin word, meaning booth or hut. And in John 1, John literally says that Jesus tabernacled among us. So Mary and Joseph probably had to sleep with the animals on the lower level, where it’s common to have a manger cut into a wall where you put the animal food, or possibly, but unlikely, out in a stable, a cave or even a covered market stall that sold animals as these stalls could be rented during Tabernacles. So Jesus was probably born in a normal house and was surrounded by family members and other local people. That’s rather a different scene to what we see on many Christmas cards and in many nativity scenes.

There is a theory that Jesus might have been born a couple of miles outside of Bethlehem and was actually born in the company of the shepherds. Outside of Bethlehem, there was a special watchtower called Migdal Eder, which means the “tower of the flock.” And it’s thought that the sheep born there were used as sacrificed animals in the Jewish temple in nearby Jerusalem. So they were very special, and the shepherds were thought of more highly than normal shepherds. According to some sources, the lambs that Migdal Eder had their health checked by being rested in a manger or a dip in the rock floor to stop them escaping. And they were even wrapped in swaddling clothes to show that they were special. One ancient prophecy in the Bible says that the Jewish Messiah would come to the Tower of the Flock. I’m not actually convinced that Jesus was being born at Migdal Eder but having those shepherds being around, and being the first ones to be told about Jesus makes a lot of sense.

So when you see a Nativity scene or read the Christmas story this year, think of Jesus being in a manger, but a manger in a normal home, surrounded by friends and family, a really loved baby. Isn’t that brilliant? If you’d like to know more about Jesus being born, not in a stable, and the shepherds at Migdal Eder, there’ll be links in the show notes.

[STEVE WEBB – 31:08]
Oh, well, that’s a bit of a mind-blower, isn’t it? My wife, the Lovely Lady LeeAnn, taught children’s church for many, many years, and every year she would have the two- to six-year-olds do a cute little Christmas play called “No Room at the Inn,” and to my ears that still sounds better than “No Room in the Guest Room.” Thanks for the question, Brother John. Thanks to you we’re all going to have to change our nativity scenes. And James, you are a troublemaker, but we love you. Thank you for telling the truth even when it hurts. Of course, you can find out more and yes, there is a lot more, at whychristmas.com

[LEEANN WEBB – 31:4]
Good morning, Lifespring family. It’s LeeAnn again. Hey, everybody, Join in, be a part of this and give us some questions.

[STEVE WEBB – 31:50]
Well, Beloved, you heard her. How could you possibly say no to that voice? I know I can’t. It’s been a couple of days since anyone sent in a Christmas question and I only have a few left in the hopper. So send in your Christmas questions. You might be one of the ticket winners to see the movie “Jesus Revolution” when it comes out in February. Each question you send in will get you one entry whether or not I use your question on the show, and I’ll give away two pairs of tickets. Plus, we’ll have another drawing on the same day on Christmas Day for a signed copy of my book “Webb’s Easy Bible Names Pronunciation Guide”, and for that drawing for each question I use on the show, you’ll get an entry. So send in your questions to st***@li*************.com and put “Christmas question” in the subject line.

[SHARE THE SHOW – 32:41]
Tell somebody about the show. Share the show on your Facebook, Insta, Twitter, all your social media platforms. Encourage people to join you in this journey through the Bible.

[CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS – 33:02]
Sister Kirsty sends out the newsletter. Sister Denise corrects the transcripts. But we have a member of the team whom I wish to thank profusely for his donation of both time and talent. Brother Sean of San Pedro was the first to volunteer to do the chapters for the show. And for most of season 12, he usually had them done very, very quickly, many times within minutes of me sending him a special bat signal. You see he wrote a really cool web app that enabled him to do the chapters within minutes.

Well, with the birth of he and his wife Brittaney’s first child, little Howie, for some reason, Brother Sean finds that he doesn’t have enough time to do the chapters. Go figure. Who would have thunk that a new baby could take so much time? Seriously though, Brother Sean, thank you so much for all you’ve done to help out. So I am putting out the call, Beloved, in the spirit of value-for-value, if you have received and are receiving value from the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, would you be willing to donate some of that value back in the form of time? You’d be helping me with the chapters, and since this is a seven-day-a-week show it is a bit of a commitment, but not as bad as it sounds. When I send out the bat signal, the chapters are already divided up. And I’ve already done the art for each chapter. All you have to do is use Sean’s web-based tool. And by the way, he will show you how to use it. And once you get the hang of it, each show’s chapters should only take five minutes or less. So if this sounds good to you, shoot me an email at st***@li*************.com. And I can’t wait to hear from you.

[SEND FEEDBACK – 34:47]
If you’d like to comment on the show, and I’d love to hear from you, call the Lifespring Family Hotline at +1-951-732-8511, or by sending me an email at st***@li*************.com, or by going to comment.lifespringmedia.com. And speaking of value-for-value, the concept is that if you receive value then I would ask you to send some of that value back in the form of time, talent, or treasure. Well if you’d like to donate some treasure go to

[JINGLE SINGERS – 35:17]
lifspringmedia.com/support

[OUTRO S13E073 – 35:19]
So keeping in mind today’s Christmas question, with which Christmas carol do you think I’ll be playing us out? Of course, “Away in a Manger.” I know, predictable. But it’s still a pretty piece, right? And today it is performed by Mario Ajero…A-J-E-R-O. I found this version years ago when the Podsafe Music Network was still a thing. Too bad they aren’t still around.

Until tomorrow. May God bless you richly. Thank you for making me a part of your day. My name is Steve Webb. See you tomorrow. Bye.

[“AWAY IN A MANGER” BY MARIO AJERO (INSTRUMENTAL) PLAYS – 35:51]

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Transcript corrected by Denise