To Know the Lord

What does it mean to 'know' the Lord? 

1 Samuel 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, 'I have asked for him from the Lord.'

Knowing the Lord is not about family heritage. Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, grew up in the house of the priest. They must have heard the stories, read the scriptures, and seen their father's faithfulness to the Lord. The people of God were all around them worshipping, sharing, and testifying about the Lord.

Knowing the Lord is not about position. Hophni and Phinehas walked wickedly as sons of the priest. They forced people to give them meat, defiling the sacrifice. They fornicated with women who were serving at the tent of meeting. 

Knowing the Lord is about faithful relationship. Hannah, a barren wife who was ridiculed by her counterpart. She cried out to the Lord for help and he answered her cry. Hannah devoted her child, Samuel, to serve the Lord. Samuel became a great prophet for the Lord. It was Samuel who later anointed David as King of Israel.

What am I seeking? What are you seeking? Do we seek to use our associations for power and self-indulgence like Hophni and Phinehas? Do we squander the position the Lord has given us by acting wickedly? Or do we worship the Lord and serve him, depending on his provision for our blessing, like Hannah?

All we have is his. When we embrace this eternal truth we will walk in humility before the Lord. May we do this.

Taken from reading 1 Samuel 1-5