Pre-Nicene: 1 Samuel: A Spiritual Autobiography

By Amiée Tristano

The Book of Samuel in the Bible was originally one scroll about a boy named Samuel. God raised him up as a prophet, priest, and judge. He was committed to doing what was right in God's eyes. This book uses all of the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles as one Word to ask questions and sift through scripture to look for great treasure. If I seek wisdom as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then I will discern the fear of Jehovah and discover the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:4, 5. For where my treasure is and where your treasure is, so there my heart is and there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Jan 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9781489749994

Amiée Tristano

A. Tristano received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 2006. For a decade, following her true calling, she served as a Parish Administrative Assistant. Now she works in a call center helping those who need information. She loves to read and pray. Spirituality is the top most important thing she must do. Things she loves to do but not very good at are fly-fishing, quilting, and hand stitch embroidery, among many unfinished projects. When she was a child, she prayed all that she is now creating—the still small voice whispering “say it out loud.” For the past several years she has been typing her work to archive it—a louder voice echoing “say it louder.” She created Pre-Nicene as a handwritten manuscript—a closer, deeper voice saying “shout it.” This is her own personal Spiritual Autobiography. Read chapter and verse of the Scripture passage, and each sentence that follows a given biblical passage is a summary of what is in her heart. She is being called to let you hear the conversations, and she invites you to listen in, to be a part. Thank you! https://www.amazon.com/author/atristano

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Copyright © 2024 Amiée Tristano.

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Amiée Tristano

Visit my website at www.Prenicene.org

ISBN: 978-1-4897-4780-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-4779-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-4999-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023924442

LifeRich Publishing rev. date:  01/16/2024

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Studies were taken from The New Inductive Study Bible 1992, 1993 Precept Ministries Published by Harvest house Publishers and The King James Study Bible (Annotated) with integrated Strong’s Dictionary 2011 William Figueroa; 2nd Edition; The New King James Study Bible 1988 Liberty University.

Scripture quotations are taken from ASV 1901 American Standard Version with Strong’s Concordance Format and notes 2012 First Gospel Publications (www.firstgospel.com);

King James Version

New King James Version

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures with References 1961, 1981, 1984 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved.

JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh 2000 (5759) Philadelphia The Jewish Publication Society. All rights reserved.

Rahlfs-Hanhart Septuaginta Revised Edition 2006 Deutsche Bibelgeillschuft, Stuttgart. All rights reserved.

The UBS Greek New Testament: Reader’s Edition with Textual Notes. Fourth Revised Edition. 1993/2001 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Germany. All rights reserved.

I would like to thank and dedicate this to my husband and my son.

Thank you for the computer and software to write,

for all your support. And for the ultimate marketing

advice of millennial reading of anything!

I love you guys!

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

About the Author

INTRODUCTION

I prayed all that I am creating now when I was a child. The small still voice inside of me whispered, Say it—out loud. I created this book around 2006 as a handwritten manuscript, a louder voice echoing, Say it louder. It is the seventh book I have in the collection. Now, I am typing my work to archive it. An even closer, deeper voice standing directly behind me has His hand on my shoulder, saying, Shout it. Hineni.

My treasure is sitting in a box. Well, now it is sitting on a flash drive. It is unbelievable to me that my life’s work is on a tiny device that fits in my pocket. I never knew what to call it. When it was sitting in the bottom of my closet, it was just boxes. So, the name Pre-Nicene came when a I started losing my work and decided to get it archived, the reason it is on a flash drive. Then two people started reading a few pages at a time and both described it as Pre-Nicene, during a time before the Nicea Council when the Trinity was not widely accepted. This is a conversation with God as if it were a time before the Trinity. I do not really understand it myself; it was a name a priest first thought of and a professional archivist loved. Thank you both.

I am trying to capture what comes to me as best I can. Physically writing these things down slows the words down that I may try to understand. Typing it may slow it down even further that I may share it. I have spent much time praying on whether I should share it. Does God want me to keep it to myself? Okay. There is a deep sense that if I do not at least archive it, then I have not done everything I need to. Therefore, if it dies, it is of God. If it grows, it is of God. It may not make any sense to the person reading it, but it makes perfect sense to me. I am not trying to change anyone’s mind. I am not trying to be pious or a hypocrite. It is simply my own personal spiritual autobiography.

I am being called to let you hear our conversations and make you a part of it. As I look back now, the same today as then: what is in my heart is much bigger and much clearer than the small paragraphs presented. The sentences may not seem coherent, but if you read the chapter and the verse of the scripture, each sentence is a summary of what is in my heart. My mind cannot put into words what it is I am saying. I am unable to convey what the Holy Spirit inside of me is crying out, too deep for human words. Thank you for listening.

What is wrong with me? There must be something. The power of Christ is not in me. His power does not work on me. He does not smell like cookies or look perfect to me. I am not mesmerized by Him. I know He cannot read my mind. He does not know what I am thinking at all. I know He does not. I am dark to Him. I am not here for Him. My motivation is not for Him. I am not here because of Him. I am only doing this because Jehovah my God, my Father, asks me. I am only here for Him.

It is like going to my son’s end-of-the-year school show. I know it is going to be boring. I do not want to go. I do not want to spend time with the other moms. I know it is going to be tedious. I am only going for my son. Just like that, I am only going for my Father. He can ask me to do anything and I will do it. And I think His Son is rather boring.

CHAPTER 1

Omniscient—You know everything. You know who Samuel was and who Eli was. You know what this account is about. You know Hannah’s heart. You know why she did what she did. You know how to teach me. You know my heart and my mind. You know Your Word. You are all-knowing.

Omnipotent—You can do anything. You have Hannah make her vow. You open her womb to conceive Samuel. You know Samuel before he is conceived. You made Samuel a Nazirite. You can make me understand if You want to. You are all-powerful.

Omnipresent—You are everywhere. You are from Ramathaim-zophim, from the hill country of Ephraim. You are in Shiloh and on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of You. You are in Ramah. You are in Your Word. You are here with me. You are in my heart and in my mind. You are all-present.

Eternal—You are the cause of time. You are when and then and now. You are yearly and the day. You are year after year and all the days of Samuel’s life. You are until the child is weaned. You are today. You are time.

Immutable—You do not change. It happened year after year. As often as Hannah went up to the house of You, Peninhah would provoke her, so she wept and would not eat. Eli thought Hannah was drunk. Hannah went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. Hannah remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. Hannah had dedicated Samuel to You; as long as he lives, he is dedicated to You. You will never be made to change.

Self-Existence—You exist by Yourself. You make up Elkanah’s, Peninnah’s, and Hannah’s existence. You make up Eli’s existence and Samuel’s existence. You make up my existence. You make up Your Word’s existence. You will exist even when Your creation does not.

Self-Sufficient—You do not need any of Your creation to do Your will or Your purpose. You choose to use Elkanah, Peninnah, Hannah, Eli, Samuel, Your Word, and me because it is Your good pleasure, not Your need, that governs that choice.

Infinite—There are no limits or bounds to Your person or dominion. Now it came about as Hannah continued praying before You that Eli was watching her mouth, and it came about in due time after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son, and she named him Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord. You do whatever You want to whoever You want and whenever You want. You are limitless.

Transcendent—You are a part of Your creation. You teach me about Yourself. You teach me about Hannah. She has a family and makes a vow to You. Eli hears her prayer and speaks to her about the vow she has made. Samuel is born, and when he is weaned, she fulfills her vow to You as she had said.

What are You teaching me? What does this teach me about You? Your character? Your nature? Your power? What are Your thoughts and feelings?

What am I supposed to learn? How does this relate to me? What am I supposed to do? How does this change my life? You are teaching me about Yourself and Your heavenly throne.

Sovereign—You close Hannah’s womb. You make Peninnah Hannah’s rival, to provoke Hannah bitterly to irritate her. You make Hannah greatly distressed to pray to You and weep bitterly. You have Eli hear Hannah’s prayer to You. You hear Hannah and remember her. You have Hannah conceive Samuel and dedicate him to You. You are in complete control, and You are doing Your foreknown plan.

Holy—You are a morally excellent, perfect being. You separate Elkanah for Your purpose, Peninnah for Your purpose, and Hannah for Your purpose. You separate Samuel for Your purpose. You separate me by Your truth through Your Son for Your purpose.

Gracious—You show Hannah Your favor by remembering her when she conceived Samuel and by giving her time to wean him.

Merciful—You show Your compassion on Hannah by letting her nurse her son until she weaned him. That is the best.

Longsuffering—You do not consider Hannah, Your maidservant, as a worthless woman, for she had spoken until now out of her great concern and provocation. You are patient with Your people and slow to anger.

Wise—They slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli. Your wisdom is greater than my wisdom. Your thoughts are higher than my thoughts.

Truthful—You always speak the truth. Hannah made a vow and said to You that if You would indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember her and not forget Your maidservant but give Your maidservant a son, then she will give him to You all the days of his life and a razor shall never come on his head. And Elkanah had relations with Hannah, his wife, and You remembered her. Your Word is reality.

Faithful—Now it comes about as Hannah continued praying before You that Eli was watching her mouth. As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. Faith is not just knowing You can do what You say but also You will do what You say.

Wrathful—Eli thought that Hannah was drunk. He said to her, About how long will you make yourself drunk? and took her wine from her. You destroy all unrighteousness.

Jealous—For this boy, Hannah prayed, and You answered the petition she asked of You. So she also dedicated him to You. As long as he lives, he is dedicated to You. You will not share Your people who are rightly and morally Yours with any other person.

Incomprehensible—What does the certain man from Ramathaim-zophim, from the hill country of Ephraim, have to do with the Levite in Judges 17, the Levite in Judges 19, or Elimelech in Ruth 1? Is Samuel an Ephraimite of the house of Joseph or a Levite? What would he be? Would he have to be of the sons of Aaron?

What does it mean to dedicate a human child to You? You can do anything You wanted.

What are the Levite cities in Ephraim? It could be that the Levite is from Bethlehem in Judah and came to the hill country of Ephraim to work for Micah. Living with Micah, he had two wives, Peneniah and Hannah. Then he left with the Danites to live in Laish. He might have a concubine, not Peneniah or Hannah. He would travel from the hill country of Ephraim to Bethlehem in Judah to go get his concubine, who was killed, and Gibeah along the way back. So who is Elkanah?

Did Phinehas not have Your jealousy? Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, is different from Phinehas, the son of Eli. Who is Eli?

It is a different time. The certain man’s name is Elkanah. Samuel is an Ephraimite. Elkanah had two wives. He is faithful to You. This was a time when Eli was priest and judge, Elon and Abdon were judges, and Samson was a judge who killed three thousand Philistines before his death.

Elkanah loved You, worshipped You, and sacrificed to You in Shiloh. He was also good and loving to his wives and his children.

Why did You give Peninnah sons and daughters then close Hannah’s womb? Why would You want Peninnah, her rival? Why would it be important for her to provoke her bitterly to irritate her because You had closed her womb? You made it to happen that way. You know Hannah’s heart.

You know Hannah would be weak and would not eat. You know Elkanah would worry about her. Elkanah is better to her than ten sons. You placed her in a position to want to dedicate her son to You. You had Eli sitting there to hear her. You know she would vow to You. You know the son Elkanah and Hannah would produce. You wanted him dedicated to You for Your own possession.

Did Samuel make a Nazirite vow? Was Samuel about the same age as Samson?

Was Eli there to test Hannah? You already knew her heart. You made Hannah oppressed in spirit. She poured out her soul to You. She speaks out of her great concern and provocation.

You had Eli comfort Hannah. You had him tell her that You would grant her petition that she asked of You. You let her know that You heard her. She had found favor in Your sight, not Eli’s. Eli is Your priest.

He says to go in peace and may You grant her petition. He said, May You.

Elkanah let her dedicate their son to You. He went to pay his vows. He listened to his wife and is forgiving. He says for her to do what seems best to her. He says for her to remain until she has weaned Samuel; only may You confirm Your Word. He did not want her to not pay her vow. He was ready, but she was not. Yet You know her heart.

Are only Levites brought to the house of You in Shiloh? Hannah made sure Eli remembered her. She dedicated Samuel to You; as long as he lives, he is dedicated to You. And Samuel worshipped You there.

You teach me about Samuel’s mother and his beginning.

CHAPTER 2

Omniscient—You know everything. You know Hannah’s prayer to You. You know Eli’s heart and his sons. You know Samuel and what is in his heart and in his mind. You know what will happen and what You will do. You know Your Word. You know me. You know my heart and my mind. You know how to teach me. You are all-knowing.

Omnipotent—You can do anything. You hear Hannah’s prayer. You have her dedicate her son to You. You bless her with three sons and two daughters. You have the man of God speak to Eli. You make me understand if You want to. You are all-powerful.

Omnipresent—You are everywhere. You are with Hannah and in her heart. You are in the heavens. You are in Ramah and in Shiloh and at the doorway of the tent of meeting. You are in your dwelling. You are in Eli’s heart and in his sons’ heart. You are with Samuel and in his heart. You are in Your Word. You are here with me. You are in my heart and in my mind. You are all-present.

Eternal—You are the cause of time. You are when and then and now. You are year to year and days. You are forever and in the prime of life and always. You are the same day. You are time.

Immutable—You do not change. Hannah prayed and said to boast no more so very proudly, do not let arrogance come out of our mouth; for You are a God of knowledge and with You, actions are weighed. The man of God said to Eli behold, the days are coming when I will break his strength and the strength of his father’s house so there will not be an old man in his father’s house. Everyone who is left in his father’s house will say to please assign him to one of the priest offices so that he may eat a piece of bread. You will never be made to change.

Self-Existent—You exist by Yourself. You make up Hannah’s existence. You make up Eli’s sons’ existences. You make up the man of God’s existence. You make Your Word’s existence. You will exist even when Your creation does not.

Infinite—There are no limits or bounds to Your person or dominion. You send a man of God to speak to Eli. You do whatever You want, whenever You want. You are limitless.

Transcendent—You are apart from Your creation. You teach me about Yourself and about Your heavenly throne. Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving and praise to You. Elkanah leaves Samuel with Eli the priest. The sons of Eli are worthless men. Samuel grows before You. Eli knows about his sons, and a man of God speaks to Eli about them.

What does this mean? What does it teach me? What does it teach me about You? About Your character? Your nature? Your power? What are Your thoughts and feelings?

How does it relate to me? Why is it important? What am I supposed to do? How does it change my life?

You are teaching me.

Sovereign—It is You Hannah prays to. You are a God of knowledge, and with You, actions are weighed. You kill and make alive; You bring down to Sheol and raise up. You make poor and rich. You bring low; You also exalt. You raise the poor from the dust. You lift the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with nobles and inherit a seat of honor; for the pillars of the earth are Yours, and You set the world on them. You are in complete control, and You are doing Your foreknown plan.

Holy—You are a morally excellent, perfect being. You separate Hannah for Your purpose and Samuel for Your purpose and Eli for Your purpose. You separate me through Your Son by Your truth for Your purpose. There is no one holy like You; indeed, there is no one besides You, nor is there any rock like my God.

Gracious—You show Your favor to Hannah by having her conceive three sons and two daughters.

Merciful—You show Your compassion on Your people by raising up for Yourself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in Your heart and in Your soul, and You will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before Your anointed always.

Righteous—You are always right. It shall come about that everyone who is left in Eli’s house shall come and bow down to Your faithful priest for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and say, Please assign me to one of the priest offices so that I may eat a piece of bread. It is Your way.

Longsuffering—A man of God came to Eli and said to him that thus says You, Did I not indeed reveal myself to the house of Your father when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh’s house? And did I not choose from all the tribes of Israel to be My priests, to go up to My altar, to burn incense, to carry an ephod before Me; and did I not give to the house of your father all the fire offerings of the sons of Israel? You are patient with Your people and slow to anger.

Just—Behold the days are coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father’s house so that there will not be an old man in your house. And you will see the distress of My dwelling, in spite of all that I do good for Israel and an old man will not be in your house forever. You punish the guilty, atone for sin, and reward the righteous.

Loving—You love Your people. Samuel’s mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him from year to year when she would come up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. You visited Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew before You. My heart exults in You; my horn is exulted in You, my mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.

Good—The bows of the mighty are shattered, but the feeble gird on strength. Those who are full hire themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry cease to hunger. Even the barren gives birth to seven, but she who has many children languishes. You give Your people a part of Yourself.

Wise—You keep the feet of Your godly ones, but the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail. Your wisdom is higher than my wisdom. Your thoughts are greater than my thoughts.

Truthful—You always speak the truth. You will judge the ends of the earth, and You will give strength to Your king and will exalt the horn of Your anointed. Your Word is the reality.

Faithful—You always do what You promise. You did indeed say Eli’s house and the house of his father should walk before You forever, but now You declare that far be it from You; for those who honor You, You will honor, and those who despise You will be lightly esteemed. Faith is not just knowing You can do what You say, but also that You will.

Wrathful—The sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know You and custom of the priests with the people. You destroy all unrighteousness.

Jealous—Eli kicked at Your sacrifice and at Your offering which You had commanded in Your dwelling, and honored his sons above You. You will not share Your people, who are rightly and morally Yours, with any other person or creature.

Incomprehensible—How does Hannah know all that she prays about? Why does she pray the way she does? How does her heart exult in You? How is her horn (strength) exalted in You? How does her mouth speak boldly against her enemies? How do You save her? How does she rejoice in Your salvation?

There is no one holy like You. Indeed, there is no one besides You, nor is there any rock like my God, like You, Jehovah my God. How do I not boast so more very proudly? How do I not let arrogance come out of my mouth? How does Hannah know all of these things?

How does she know You are a God of knowledge? How does she know that with You, actions are weighed? How does she know that the bows of the mighty are shattered, but the feeble gird on strength? How does she know that those who are full hire themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry cease to hunger? What does that mean, my Lord? I do not even understand.

How does she know that even the barren gives birth to seven, but she who has many children languishes? Why does she pray to You the way she does? How does she know that You kill and make alive?

How does she know that You bring down to Sheol and raise up? How does she know that? She knows You resurrect the dead. This is profound.

She prays of Your omnipotence and of Your sovereignty. You make poor and rich. You bring low; You also exalt. You raise the poor from the dust; You lift the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with nobles and inherit a seat of honor. I know You do that because I have Your Word that says You can. How does she know all that? How does she know that the pillars of the earth are Yours, and You set the world on them? That is so beautiful. What does it mean? Why would she say that? She must have great faith and great knowledge of You. How do I get this kind of knowledge?

How does she know You keep the feet of Your godly ones, but the wicked ones are silenced in darkness? Are they? For not by might shall a man prevail. Those who contend with You will be shattered; against them, You will thunder in the heavens. You will judge the ends of the earth. How does she know You will give strength to Your king and will exalt the horn of Your anointed when there is no king in Israel?

How can a boy minister to You before Eli the priest? Elkanah would leave him at a very young age. Was he eighteen months or two years old? Probably old enough to walk but not able to speak.

How come the sons of Eli did not know You? Is it because they did not want to or because Eli did not teach them? They did not know You or the custom of the priests with the people. They were greedy and inconsiderate. They would make it so that the people’s sacrifices were not getting to You. You were not being honored. Sin is not atoned for. Thus the sin of the young men was very great before You, for the men despised the offering of You. Were they demons?

Why would Samuel be wearing a linen ephod? Was Samuel a priest then? Hannah loved him very much. She would lovingly make him a little robe and bring it to him from year to year when she would come up with Elkanah to offer the yearly sacrifice. Why would they offer a yearly sacrifice? Would he not be required three times a year?

How do I bless someone? How does Eli know what to bless her with? Did You visit Hannah because of what was in her heart, or because Eli prayed to You about her? Samuel has three brothers and two sisters. And the boy Samuel grew before You.

How can Eli do anything about his sons when he is very old? The sons of Eli do not listen to their father nor obey You. If one man sins against another, You will mandate for him. You judge Your people. If a man sins against You, there is no one who can intercede for him. You made them to not listen to the voice of their father, for You desire to put them to death.

Now the boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with You and with men. He must have been a good kid.

Was the man of God who went to Eli an angel? Was it the same angel that visited Manoah and his wife about Samson? Was it about the same time? Were Samson and Samuel about the same age? Why does the man of God tell Eli all that he did? Why tell him when he is very old? How did Eli kick at Your sacrifice and at Your offering? How did Eli honor his sons above You? How did he make himself fat with the choicest of every offering of Your people Israel? How were his sons doing what he was doing? Was he doing the same as his sons? Was Eli doing whatever was right in his own eyes? His sons were.

He who does not take up his cross and follow after You is not worthy of You. How do I deny myself? Eli did not love You above his sons. Even he was not worthy of You.

You promised that the sons of Aaron and the house of Aaron should walk before You forever. But now You declare, Far be it from me, for those who honor and those who despise me will be lightly esteemed. How do You know those who honor You and those who despise You? How do You keep some far from You and some You honor?

Samuel is Your faithful priest; Jesus is Your faithful priest. Samuel and now Jesus will do according to what is in Your heart and in Your soul, and You will build them an enduring house, and they will walk before Your anointed always. What is in Your heart, my Lord? What is in Your soul?

So now those sons of Aaron have to go to Samuel.

And now to Jesus for them to assign the sons of Aaron to one of the priest’s offices so that each may eat a piece of bread.

How does Jesus assign the sons of Aaron to one of the priest’s offices? What does this mean?

You are so wise. I hope I please You. I hope I can and that I will do all that You ask of me.

Thank You, my Lord.

CHAPTER 3

Omniscient—You know everything. You know Samuel’s heart and his mind. You know he is very young. You know he is able to listen You and to understand. You know Eli will teach him what to say and what to do. You know what is in Eli’s heart. You know what You will do and why. You know Your heart and Your soul and Your Word. You know me. You know my heart and my mind. You know how to teach me. You are all-knowing.

Omnipotent—You can do anything. You call Samuel four times. You give him Your vision. You have Samuel tell everything to Eli. You appear again at Shiloh. You can make me understand if You want to. You are all-powerful.

Omnipresent—You are everywhere. You are in the temple at Shiloh. You are at the door of the house of You. You are in Israel from Dan even to Beersheba. You are with Samuel and in his heart and in his mind. You are in Your Word. You are here with me. You are in my heart and in my mind. You are all-present.

Eternal—You are the cause of time. You are in those days and when and then and now. You are at other times, and in that day, and from beginning to end. You are in the morning. You are forever. You are three thousand years ago. You are time.

Immutable—You do not change. Samuel went and laid down the first time You called him. Samuel arose a second time and went to Eli and said that here he was, for Eli called him. But Eli answered that he did not call Samuel, to lie down again. You called Samuel again for the third time. Samuel went and laid down in his place. Samuel laid down until morning. Eli said to Samuel that may You do so to Samuel and more also if he hides anything from him of all the words that You spoke to Samuel. Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. You will never be made to change.

Self-Existent—You exist by Yourself. You make up Samuel’s existence and Eli’s existence. You make up Your Word’s existence. You make up my existence. You will exist even when Your creation does not.

Self-Sufficient—You do not need any of Your creation to bring about Your will or Your purpose. You choose to use Samuel and Eli, Your Word, and me because it is Your good pleasure, not Your need that governs that choice.

Infinite—There are no limits or bounds to Your person or dominion. You called Samuel. You do what You had spoken concerning Eli’s house from beginning to end. You do whatever You want to whoever You choose whenever You want. You are limitless.

Transcendent—You are apart from Your creation. You teach me about Yourself and Your heavenly throne. You teach me about Samuel. You call Samuel three times, and he does not know it is You calling him. Eli finally discerns that You are calling the boy. The fourth time You call him, Samuel listens to You.

You give him a