“El Deah and Yahweh Tsabbaoth”

START As your Connect Group time begins, use this section to introduce the topic of discussion.

What is the longest and hardest you’ve ever prayed for something? Why did you find that person or thing worth praying for over a long period of time?

When you pray long and hard for something, what is your gut reaction: to wonder whether God actually heard you, that His timing is perfect, that He must have another plan, that you’re doing something wrong, or something else? Explain.

Today, we will briefly look at Hannah’s story. Hannah longed for a child, but was unable to conceive. Hannah did the only thing she knew to do: she poured her heart out to the Lord in prayer, and by His grace, He answered her plea for a child. This child would become a prophet to God’s people. She acknowledged who God was and how He knows everything.

Today we will learn about two names of God:

El Deah (Day-Aw) - “The God who Knows, or God of Knowledge”

Yahweh Tsabbaoth (Sa-bah-oth) - “God of Armies, Hosts or Warfare – verb = to wage war”

READ

1 SAMUEL 2:1-3 (EMPHASIS/NOTES) ADDED

“Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in the Lord (Yahweh); my horn is lifted up by the Lord (Yahweh). My mouth boasts over my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. There is no one holy like the Lord (Yahweh). There is no one besides You! And there is no rock like our God (Elohim). Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogant words come out of your mouth, for the Lord (Yahweh) is a God (Elohim) of knowledge (Day-Aw), and actions are weighed by Him.”

1 SAMUEL 1:3 EMPHASIS/NOTES ADDED

“This man would go up from his town every year to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of Armies (Yahweh Tsabbaoth) at Shiloh, where Eli’s 2 sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord’s (Yahweh’s) priests.”

2 SAMUEL 6:2 EMPHASIS/NOTES ADDED

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

-A.W. Tozer

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“He and all his troops set out to bring the Ark of God (Elohim) from Baale-Judah. The Ark bears the Name, the name of the Lord of Armies (Yahweh Tsabbaoth) Who is enthroned between the cherubim.”

REVIEW

Context/Commentary/Background

1 SAMUEL 2:1-8 THE BIBLE KNOWLEDGE COMMENTARY

Hannah’s song (2:1–10)

This is one of the earliest and most stirring poems in the Old Testament. So messianic in character is it that Mary, the mother of Jesus, incorporated it into her own song of triumph, the Magnificat, in which she praised God for having selected her to be the human mother of Jesus, the Messiah (Luke 1:46–55).

Hannah’s exulting in the lord (2:1)

2:1. Hannah, with clear reference to her rival Peninnah, spoke of her joy in the Lord who had helped her achieve satisfaction at last. Horns, used by animals for defense and attack, symbolized strength. Thus Hannah spoke of her horn in describing the strength that had come to her because God had answered her prayer.

Hannah’s extolling of the lord (2:2–8)

2:2–8. Through His attributes such as holiness, strength (a Rock), knowledge, and discernment (vv. 2–3), and in view of His actions toward both the ungodly and the godly (vv. 4–8), the Lord demonstrates His awesome sovereignty in human affairs. Especially pointed is Hannah’s reference (v. 5) to herself and Peninnah respectively: She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away. Hannah eventually had five other children (v. 21), but the expression “seven children” here symbolizes the full granting of her desire for a son. The breaking of the bows (v. 4), satisfying of the hungry (v. 5), raising of the dead (v. 6), and elevating of the poor (vv. 7–8) refer to the principle that the final disposition of all things is in the hand of the Lord. He who created the world (v. 8) was able to cause Hannah to triumph.1

1 SAMUEL 1:1-3 THE BIBLE KNOWLEDGE COMMENTARY

1:1–3. Samuel was the son of Elkanah … an Ephraimite from Ramathaim Zophim. This area, otherwise known simply as Ramah (“the height”), was in the hill country about 25 miles north of Jerusalem. Perhaps, according to Eusebius, it is to be identified with Arimathea, the home of Joseph of Arimathea of New Testament times. (Ramah was Samuel’s birthplace [vv. 19–20],

1 Eugene H. Merrill, “1 Samuel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 434.

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residence [7:17], and burial place [25:1].) Elkanah’s description as an Ephraimite appears troublesome since Samuel served as a priest, an office reserved exclusively for Levites. However, Elkanah was a direct descendant of Levi (1 Chron. 6:33–38) and was therefore qualified to function in a priestly capacity. He was a Levite by lineage but an Ephraimite by residence. One indication of how lawless were the times in which Samuel was born is his father’s bigamous marriages. Often in those days (though it was never sanctioned by God), a man whose wife was infertile would take a second wife by whom he could bear children (Gen. 16:1–3; 30:3–4, 9–10; etc.). This explains why Elkanah had two wives and why Hannah, the beloved but barren one, so fervently desired a son.2

2 SAMUEL 6:1-5 THE BIBLE KNOWLEDGE COMMENTARY

6:1–5. For 100 long years the ark of the covenant had been separated from the tabernacle and other places of worship. After its capture by the Philistines at Aphek (1 Sam. 4:11) it remained in Philistia for seven months, then briefly at Beth Shemesh, and the rest of the time at Kiriath Jearim. Now David had taken Jerusalem, a neutral place, and made it the political capital of the kingdom. All that remained was to retrieve the ark, place it in the tabernacle he would erect on Mount Zion, and declare Jerusalem the religious center of the nation as well.

David first went with 30,000 men to Baalah of Judah (the same as Kiriath Jearim; Josh. 15:9) to bring the ark from the house of Abinadab, its custodian. Described as that which bore the name of God Himself, the ark represented the presence of God who dwelled among His people in a special way (cf. Ex. 25:22). As such, it was to be handled with reverence, even in its transportation from place to place. The Law specified that it be carried by Levites who would bear it on their shoulders by means of poles passed through gold rings attached to the ark (Ex. 25:14; cf. Num. 4:15, 20). Even the Levites could not touch the ark or even look in it because of its holiness. Why David overlooked these requirements it is impossible to know, but he and Uzzah and Ahio, two descendants of Abinadab, placed the ark on a cart and proceeded, with great musical celebration, toward Jerusalem. The use of musical instruments (2 Sam. 6:5) was common in Israel’s worship as may be seen, for example, in Psalm 150 where most of the same instruments are listed.3

Content

2 Eugene H. Merrill, “1 Samuel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 432–433.

3 Eugene H. Merrill, “2 Samuel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 463.

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Leader: Give background and set the scene for 1 Samuel 2:1-3

Ask a volunteer to read 1 Samuel.

Leader: Introduce the name El Deah – “The God who Knows, or God of Knowledge”

How do you tend to respond to God when He seems to say no to your prayers?

What stands out to you about the details of this short excerpt of Hannah’s prayer?

As she prayed, Hannah captured some of God’s attributes, including His greatness and sovereignty (El Deah). Then she asked God to look upon her sorrow. Finally, she told God that she wasn’t asking for a child to benefit her, but for ministry in the temple as a Nazirite (lay priest). She offered her not-yet-conceived child to God for His purposes in the world. God chose to answer her prayer, and she became the mother of Samuel, the last judge and first prophet in Israel. Samuel bore the responsibility of anointing David as king, and he is listed among the greats of the faith in Hebrews 11:32.

Why is it important that Hannah recognized God’s sovereignity and His omniscient characteristics? Why is it important that we recognize it too?

God’s knowledge is revealed in many different ways throughout Scripture. Pastor Paul touched on some of these in his sermon.

Isaiah 40 speaks about His inherent/independent knowledge: v13-14

“Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or who gave Him counsel? Who did He consult? Who gave Him understanding and taught Him the paths of justice? Who taught Him knowledge and showed Him the way of understanding?”

Psalm 139 speaks about His personal knowledge: v1-6

“Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travel and my rest; You are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, Lord. You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me. This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.”

Our God, El Deah knows everything about you. Does that bring you peace or fear?

“Since God is El Deah and knows everything – He knows you- Everything about you.

He knows what you live for

He knows what you’re scared of

He knows what and who you love

He knows who you can’t stand

He knows your actions – all of them

He knows your heart – intentions, motives”

-Paul Coleman

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Let’s look at our second name of God…

Leader: Introduce the name Yahweh Tsabbaoth (Sa-bah-oth) - “God of Armies, Hosts or Warfare – verb = to wage war”

Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 6:1-5.

Leader: Give background and set the scene for 2 Samuel 6

How does this passage remind us that even when we think we are being wise, we must seek God’s will for every decision?

What are some ways your passion and zeal for God outweigh your respect for His holiness? What about your group? Your church?

How does recognizing God’s holiness lead us to obey Him?

How does God’s name, “The Lord of Armies” remind us that He is our unmatched, undefeated leader?

What does the Lord of Armies, (Yahweh Tsabbaoth) mean for you?

God is revealed in several passages of Scripture as “The Lord of Armies.” Pastor Paul mentioned this name in the following passages: 1Samuel 1:3; 1 Samuel 1:11; 1 Samuel 17:45; 2 Samuel 6:2; Isaiah 6:1-5. “The “Lord of Armies” most frequently appears in the Minor Prophets, especially in Malachi, where almost half of the verses in the book contain this name in some form. During the time of the prophets, the people of God were living in exile in Babylon. They faced daily reminders of the presence and power of the enemy armies keeping them in captivity. They called out to God as the Lord of Armies, whose vast angelic armies could deliver them from trouble. Lord of Armies is a name that assures us of the power of our mighty God.”4

APPLICATION

How do these passages help you know God in a new and fresh way?

Do you think like someone who is the son or daughter of the Lord of Armies?

Do you carry yourself with the dignity that your calling requires? Or do you think of yourself only through the lens of your shortcomings?

RESPOND

4 https://hereadstruth.com/2018/09/17/lord-of-armies/

“Restore us, God of Armies; make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved.”

Psalm 80:7

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PRAY

Close in prayer. Praise Him for being a God who knows everything about us. He is “El Deah.” Also, thank Him for being our God, the “Lord of Armies.” He is powerful and He has all authority and strength!

MERGE IDEA

Talk about these names of God with your family. Ask open-ended questions like:

1. How does that make you feel that God knows everything about you?

2. Why is it important to serve a God that knows everything and has all authority, strength and power?