Podcast Summary: "giving away the thing i wanted"
Podcast: Christ With Coffee On Ice
Host: Ally Yost
Date: October 25, 2024
Episode Overview
This episode revolves around exploring vulnerability, surrender, and faith within the context of 1 Samuel chapters 1-3. Host Ally Yost reads and reflects on the story of Hannah, Samuel, Eli, and their families, emphasizing the theme of giving away what we most desire to God, grappling with disappointment, and recognizing God’s sovereignty and justice. Ally guides listeners through scripture, commentary, and personal reactions in a raw and approachable manner, offering spiritual encouragement and practical takeaways.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Openness to the Spirit and Setting the Stage
- Ally sets a relaxed, inviting tone, sipping coffee and acknowledging the unpredictability of the Spirit’s movement in real time.
- She encourages listeners to gather their Bibles and read along, emphasizing the importance of encountering scripture personally.
Quote:
"We are not coming to the Word saying how can this fix my problems? We're coming to the Word and we're saying how can we learn more about our Heavenly Father today and how can we walk more like him today?"
—Ally, [06:13]
2. Background and Themes of 1 Samuel
- Ally introduces the Book of 1st Samuel as a story of leadership, transformation, and God’s consistent goodness amid human flaws [09:00].
- The narrative focuses on Hannah’s longing for a child, her anguish, and her ultimate act of surrender—dedicating her son Samuel to God once her prayer is answered.
3. Hannah’s Anguish, Prayer, and Sacrifice
- Ally delves deep into the emotional pain and isolation Hannah suffers, particularly being taunted by her husband’s other wife, Peninnah.
Quote:
"Hannah was in deep anguish... a state of extreme pain, distress, or anxiety... She’s, like, begging and pleading the Lord for this desire of her heart... If you give me this desire of my heart, I will... I will give him to you, and his life will be all about you."
—Ally, [27:15]
- Hannah’s vow is to give Samuel back to God, which she faithfully follows through with, even after years of longing—illustrating radical surrender [32:00].
- Ally reflects on Hannah’s ability to rejoice in the Lord even in her moment of deepest loss.
Quote:
"On the day she made the biggest sacrifice of her life, she's still rejoicing in the Lord."
—Ally, [35:28]
4. Dissecting Hannah’s Prayer (1 Samuel 2:1-10)
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Ally reads and meditates on Hannah’s poetic prayer, highlighting its declarations of God’s sovereignty, reversal of fortunes, and moral justice.
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She addresses potential confusion in the text (“the Lord makes some poor and others rich...”), using commentary to clarify that God both humbles and exalts, often for greater purpose and personal growth [42:10].
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The prayer is described as the first place in the Old Testament referring to the coming Messiah ("anointed one"), seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ [50:10].
Quote:
"This is the first time in the Bible where Jesus is referred to as the Messiah. So cool."
—Ally, [50:15]
5. The Corruption of Eli’s Sons and God’s Justice
- Ally contrasts Samuel’s faithfulness with the corruption of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who abuse their priestly roles and show contempt for God [54:40].
- She emphasizes the individual accountability of faith and the assurance that God’s purposes are not thwarted by corrupt leaders.
Quote:
"Ultimately, corrupt ministers do not stop or even hinder the work of God... every time there are men like Eli's sons, God raises up someone like Samuel."
—Ally, [58:20]
- The idea that God honors those who honor Him and withdraws blessing from those who treat Him with contempt is explored through prophetic warnings delivered to Eli.
6. Lessons in Leadership, Accountability, and Fear of God
- Ally discusses Eli’s failure as both father and high priest, prioritizing placating his sons over honoring God [1:09:20].
- She relates this to the importance of fearing (respecting) God above even family ties—a challenge for all believers.
Quote:
"We have to fear the Lord first. We have to prioritize what he thinks before anyone else—yes, even our own family members."
—Ally, [1:11:00]
7. Samuel’s Calling and Prophetic Ministry
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Ally narrates Samuel’s first encounter with God (1 Samuel 3): Samuel repeatedly hears God’s voice, at first mistaking it for Eli.
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Upon receiving God's message regarding judgment on Eli’s family, Samuel relays it with trembling honesty, and is affirmed as a prophet throughout Israel [1:22:15].
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She notes the foreshadowing of Jesus as the ultimate mediator and the insufficiency of ritual sacrifices highlighted in the text [1:24:10].
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Spiritual Surrender:
"She has been waiting for so long for this desire of her heart, but now she actually has to give up something that she has been waiting so long for... she is being faithful to the Lord, and she's made the biggest sacrifice of her life by giving her son over to the Lord."
—Ally, [32:45] -
On God's Unstoppable Purpose:
"God’s work does not stop when God's ministers become corrupt. He will raise up someone else and he will take down the corrupt."
—Ally, [58:30] -
On Personal Application:
"Can you show somebody how cool Jesus is? Let's just be more like the Lord today... Let's show somebody how loving he is, how kind he is, how patient he is that he's actually compassionate and he's just."
—Ally, [1:30:15]
Important Timestamps
- [06:13] – Prayer and focus for the reading
- [09:00] – 1 Samuel overview and setting
- [27:15] – Ally defines and relates to Hannah’s anguish
- [32:00] – Discussion of Hannah’s vow and sacrifice
- [35:28] – Insight into rejoicing amid sacrifice
- [42:10] – Clarifying God humbling/exalting in Hannah’s prayer
- [50:10] – First Old Testament reference to the Messiah
- [54:40] – Contrast of Samuel and Eli’s corrupt sons
- [58:20] – Encouragement about God’s unstoppable work
- [1:09:20] – Leadership accountability and family relationships
- [1:11:00] – The necessity of fearing God above all
- [1:22:15] – Samuel’s calling and prophecy
- [1:24:10] – Foreshadowing Christ and sacrificial insufficiency
- [1:30:15] – Practical call to action and closing encouragement
Tone & Style
Ally’s delivery is warm, personal, and conversational, marked by real-time discoveries, transparent reactions, and encouragement for spiritual growth. She balances scriptural analysis with vulnerability and humor (e.g., coffee commentary, word pronunciation struggles), making deep theological concepts accessible and relatable.
Takeaways for Listeners
- Surrendering “the thing you wanted most” to God is both painful and freeing, and God honors faithful surrender.
- God is sovereign in humbling and raising up individuals—what appears as a delay or loss may be preparation for His greater purpose.
- Corruption—even in spiritual leadership—does not thwart God’s ultimate purposes.
- Honoring God must supersede the fear of offending others, even close family.
- God speaks and calls even the young, overlooked, or inexperienced (like Samuel).
- Encouragement to reflect Jesus’ love actively in daily life.