I Samuel 3:1-4:1
“And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.” (I Samuel 3:1)
During Eli’s life there was no prophet who regularly communicated God’s messages to them, and the priests were wicked. Even Eli only heard from God indirectly at the mouth of another prophet. It reveals just how far from God Israel’s religious leadership had drifted in the years since Samson was judge. Though he was only a child, Samuel was sincere in his efforts to serve, unlike Eli’s family.
“And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me.
And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me.
And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.” (I Samuel 3:2-7)
Eli was very old and his eyesight was failing, so he frequently needed help. One night, even before the lamps on the golden candlestick ran out of oil, but after they had gone to bed the Lord spoke to Samuel. Thinking Eli needed something Samuel hurried to his side. Eli assumed he had dreamed it and sent him back to bed. The same thing happened again and again Eli sent him back to bed.
Though he had lived in the high priest house since he was just a toddler, helping every day with the sacrifices and temple chores, and hearing about God, and was sincerely interested in knowing, Samuel did not personally know the Lord. It really isn’t surprising as Eli’s own sons didn’t know the Lord either. Unfortunately there are a lot of people in churches today in the same boat.
About a week ago, I answered a knock at my door. The man standing there asked me if I knew the Lord’s name. I could answer without hesitation that I did, so they left. As I thought about the question I realized that knowing the Lord’s name is not the same as knowing him. I know Barak Obama’s name, but I don’t know him for example. I wonder if the guys who come to my house know the Lord or, like Samuel, just his name.
“And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me.
And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.
So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel.
Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.” (I Samuel 3:8-10)
Eli actually knew the Lord, although his sin prevented him from communicating with him. The third time God spoke to Samuel, Eli finally realized it was God speaking and not just his imagination, and told him to acknowledge God and listen. It had been a long time since he had communicated with the Lord himself. People who have been away for that long forget we can communicate with God.
“And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.” (I Samuel 3:11-15)
God then revealed the same message to Samuel that he had given to Eli through the prophet. Because Eli had taken no action about his son’s behavior, They would be killed, and Eli’s family cursed. No sacrifice would ever make up for his deliberate sin. Even after the first warning, Eli had taken no action. This time there would be no way to stop it.
“Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son.
And he answered, Here am I.
And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him.
And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.” (I Samuel 3:16-18)
Samuel was afraid of Eli’s reaction, but when he demanded to know what God had said, he took it quite calmly, saying it was up to God. It troubles me when God allows terrible things to happen as a direct result of some sin and people say, almost flippantly, “whatever the Lord wants,” and make no effort to change their behavior. I don’t know if they think it makes them look spiritual, or if they just don’t care.
“And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. ” (I Samuel 3:19-4:1a)
Acts 17:27 promises that God will reveal himself to anyone who seeks him. “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:” Samuel had been actively seeking God, while Eli, who already knew him, was not.
With Samuel seeking to know God, God began to reveal himself again, and people knew God was using him. God began to speak to people again through Samuel. Once again we are reminded how crucial the spiritual attitude of the pastor or leader is to the spiritual health of the church. The word of the Lord was no longer scarce.
“And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.” (I Samuel 3:1)
During Eli’s life there was no prophet who regularly communicated God’s messages to them, and the priests were wicked. Even Eli only heard from God indirectly at the mouth of another prophet. It reveals just how far from God Israel’s religious leadership had drifted in the years since Samson was judge. Though he was only a child, Samuel was sincere in his efforts to serve, unlike Eli’s family.
“And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me.
And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me.
And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.” (I Samuel 3:2-7)
Eli was very old and his eyesight was failing, so he frequently needed help. One night, even before the lamps on the golden candlestick ran out of oil, but after they had gone to bed the Lord spoke to Samuel. Thinking Eli needed something Samuel hurried to his side. Eli assumed he had dreamed it and sent him back to bed. The same thing happened again and again Eli sent him back to bed.
Though he had lived in the high priest house since he was just a toddler, helping every day with the sacrifices and temple chores, and hearing about God, and was sincerely interested in knowing, Samuel did not personally know the Lord. It really isn’t surprising as Eli’s own sons didn’t know the Lord either. Unfortunately there are a lot of people in churches today in the same boat.
About a week ago, I answered a knock at my door. The man standing there asked me if I knew the Lord’s name. I could answer without hesitation that I did, so they left. As I thought about the question I realized that knowing the Lord’s name is not the same as knowing him. I know Barak Obama’s name, but I don’t know him for example. I wonder if the guys who come to my house know the Lord or, like Samuel, just his name.
“And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me.
And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.
So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel.
Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.” (I Samuel 3:8-10)
Eli actually knew the Lord, although his sin prevented him from communicating with him. The third time God spoke to Samuel, Eli finally realized it was God speaking and not just his imagination, and told him to acknowledge God and listen. It had been a long time since he had communicated with the Lord himself. People who have been away for that long forget we can communicate with God.
“And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.” (I Samuel 3:11-15)
God then revealed the same message to Samuel that he had given to Eli through the prophet. Because Eli had taken no action about his son’s behavior, They would be killed, and Eli’s family cursed. No sacrifice would ever make up for his deliberate sin. Even after the first warning, Eli had taken no action. This time there would be no way to stop it.
“Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son.
And he answered, Here am I.
And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him.
And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.” (I Samuel 3:16-18)
Samuel was afraid of Eli’s reaction, but when he demanded to know what God had said, he took it quite calmly, saying it was up to God. It troubles me when God allows terrible things to happen as a direct result of some sin and people say, almost flippantly, “whatever the Lord wants,” and make no effort to change their behavior. I don’t know if they think it makes them look spiritual, or if they just don’t care.
“And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. ” (I Samuel 3:19-4:1a)
Acts 17:27 promises that God will reveal himself to anyone who seeks him. “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:” Samuel had been actively seeking God, while Eli, who already knew him, was not.
With Samuel seeking to know God, God began to reveal himself again, and people knew God was using him. God began to speak to people again through Samuel. Once again we are reminded how crucial the spiritual attitude of the pastor or leader is to the spiritual health of the church. The word of the Lord was no longer scarce.
A good reminder not only for pastors and leaders, but for anyone who wants to have an exchange with God that goes beyond offering prayers our own sins make God unwilling to respond to.
ReplyDeleteTo have the kind of vitality that others demonstrably see is exactly what James meant in James 2:14-26; Samuel's faith was alive and infectious. None could say that his works did not demonstrate his faith toward God, and God's faithfulness working through him. It is an excellent and refreshing thing.
Amen, Ian. God offers so much more than most of us ever recieve, simply because we are satisfied with what the world has offered and don't look further.
ReplyDelete