SAMUEL’S CALL TO THE PRIESTHOOD
1 Samuel 3:1-9, 19-20, 7:3-5,10-12
GOD’S WORK IN YOUR LIFE
The work in Samuel’s life began before he was born.
His father was a God-fearing man. He had two wives, Hannah and
Peninnah. Peninnah had children but Hannah’s womb was shut up by
The Lord. Peninnah provoked Hannah because of her barrenness
He went to The house of the Lord at Shiloh each year with his wives to make sacrifices.
After many years of being taunted by Peminnah, Hannah went to the temple
In Shiloh and prayed and weeped before Eli the high priest. When Eli understood
her distress, he blessed her with a word from the Lord that she would have
A child.
Hannah promised Eli the priest that if she had a son, he would be given to
The Lord to be His servant. Hannah named her son Samuel, “Because
I asked the Lord For him”.
When Samuel was three years old, Hannah kept her vow to the Lord and
Brought Samuel to Eli to serve in the temple. According to the Josephus,
The Biblical historian of the time, Samuel was 12 years old when he got
His first call from the Lord. According to the text, Eli the High Priest did
Not teach Samuel about the Lord because he did not know Him at the
Time of the call.
Israel had rejected the Lord and worshipped Baal. Because of their disobedience
There was no prophet in Israel.
My first point in this lesson is parents must start working in the lives of their
Children before they are born.
Notice how God works.
- God selected God-fearing parents for Samuel.
- God closed the womb of Samuel’s mom for a time.
- God put a thorn in Samuel’s mother’s side with the
Taunting of the other wife of his father.
- The constant taunting of the father’s other wife drew
Samuel’s mom to prayer before Eli the High Priest.
- Samuel’s mom made a vow before the Lord to
Dedicate him for service in the temple.
As parents we are responsible to train our children in the
Knowledge of the Lord.
The Word of God gives wisdom you can’t get from the world.
2. Second, God shut up the womb of Samuel’s mother to bring
Her to point of gratefulness that she gave up her baby for the His service
3. Third, the Lord allowed Samuel to be born at a time when
Israel was in need of a prophet.
4, Forth, God allowed Samuel to be born at a time and in circumstances where
He would fill him with the Word.
GOD HAS A REPLACEMENT PLAN
Israel had rejected the Lord and worshipped Baal. Because of their disobedience
There was no prophet in Israel.
Let me suggest that it was due to the neglect of the Priesthood.
Eli and His two sons were priests.
Eli the High Priest had lost his desire to perform the duties of the Priest
As God commanded. Eli failed to correct his sons who did evil in the
The sight of the Lord and the people of Israel.
Eli’s sons took the best meat that was to be the sacrifice to the Lord for themselves
1 Samuel 2:11-17.
Eli’s son had no regard for the Lord. Because Eli failed to remove his sons from
The priesthood, he condoned their actions. Eli was warned that some of
His family members would be cut off from the altar. Those who were
Not cut off would die young. 1 Samuel 27-33.
THE TRAINING OF SAMUEL
1 Samuel 3:1-10
The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel answered, \”Here I am.\” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, \”Here I am; you called me.\”
But Eli said, \”I did not call; go back and lie down.\” So he went and lay down.
- According to Josephus the historian of the time, Samuel had been
Serving with for Eli 9 years at the time he first heard the voice of the Lord.
- At that time of night, there may have been no one in the Temple
But Eli and Samuel.
- Samuel was 12 years old at the time and probably become a useful
Helper for Eli.
- Eli was nearly blind, so Samuel may have taken on many of the duties of
- There is nothing like hands-on training.
- I can imagine Samuel stood by or was involved in all the activities of
Of the High Priest.
- Samuel may have listened to all the communication between Eli and
The community.
- Samuel ran to Eli because he had not heard the voice of the Lord before.
- Samuel’s response showed his devotion to Eli.
- Samuel’s response showed his obedience to Eli.
- Samuel’s response showed his love for Eli.
THE CALL TO THE PRIESTHOOD
V:6 Again the Lord called, \”Samuel!\” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, \”Here I am; you called me.\”
\”My son,\” Eli said, \”I did not call; go back and lie down.\”
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
8 The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, \”Here I am; you called me.\”
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, \”Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, \’Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.\’\” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
- The Lord’s voice was audible to Samuel, so he assumed
It came from Eli.
- We have to learn the difference between the voice of
The Lord, our voice and the voice of Satan.
- God gets us prepared to hear his voice through time,
Circumstances, trials, and the study of His Word.
- Notice that Lord called young Samuel in the quiet of the
night when all activity had ceased.
- To hear the voice of the Lord it is good to get to
A place without distractions.
- I have found that I can concentrate better when I am
In a quiet place.
Mark 6:31
\”Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.\”
- The more we study God’s Word, the more we learn.
- It took Eli, a veteran in the Word three times after hearing
The Word to understand that it was Lord speaking to
Samuel.
- The Word of God is so broad, that each time you review it
You will come away with a deeper understanding.
- You must study the Word, then meditate on what you
Studied.
- It is when you meditate on the Word that your understanding
Grows.
- You do not gain an understanding on your own, It is your
Teacher, the Holy Spirit that enlightens you.
A SERVANT ATTITUDE
V:10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, \”Samuel! Samuel!\” Then Samuel said, \”Speak, for your servant is listening.\”
- Once you understand that Lord is speaking to you, then you
Open your mind to receive a Word from Him.
- The Lord is always speaking. But are we ready to listen?
- Notice Samuel took on the posture of a servant.
- When you open your Bibles you must understand that it
Is the Lord speaking to you.
- When you open your Bibles, you must open it with a servant Attitude.
- If you don’t see yourself as a servant, you want to see the Lord
As Lord.
- The Word is God’s commands and directions to us.
- If you don’t see yourself as a servant of the Lord, you
Will never understand the true meaning of the Word.
- A servant fears the Lord, therefore pays close attention
To every word.
2 Timothy 2:15-16
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
- Everyday situations are our opportunity to apply God’s Word.
- Everyday situations are our opportunity to role model a servant
Attitude.
THE GROWTH OF SAMUEL
1 Samuel 3:19-21
V:19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.
- We all have grown-up time in the Lord.
- The Lord was with Samuel because his actions and
Attitude was pleasing.
- The word “grow” is the Greek word gadal which means
To make large in body, mind, and estate.
- Samuel continued to grow in the knowledge of the Lord.
- His servant attitude continued in his growth.
- Samuel’s words did not fall on hollow ground.
- The Lord was his teacher.
- He became known by Israel as a prophet.
- 1 Samuel 3:21
The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
WORSHIP OF THE LORD RESTORED
1 Samuel 7:2-6
V: 3 And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, \”If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.\” 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.
5 Then Samuel said, \”Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the Lord for you.\”
- The words of Samuel became a powerful force in the minds of
Israel.
- He began his priesthood following God’s commands and directions.
- As a result confidence in the priesthood was restored.
- Israel saw Samuel as a prophet led by God.
- Israel relied on Samuel for guidance by the Lord.
- Under Samuel\’s commands, Israel put away their idol gods
And committed to following God
- Samuel took charge of Israel and reestablish the worship of
The Lord.
- Samuel established trust in the priesthood.
- As Priest, Samuel interceded for Israel before the Lord.
James 5:16
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
LET THE LORD FIGHT YOUR BATTLES
1 Samuel 7:10-11
V:10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites.
- When you honor the Lord with your obedience and sacrifices
He will fight your battles.
- While Israel was in prayer, the enemy came prepared
To fight.
- When your heart is stayed on the Lord. He is on guard for you.
- The enemy showed up but God confused them with thunder.
- No matter what your circumstances are, you can be confident
That God is in control.
- The Church today is no longer considered a sacred place.
- We live in a society that has no regard for God.
- Men and women will come to the church to kill members.
- While Israel was in worship, the enemy was outside ready
To destroy them.
- While you are on your knees in prayer your back is exposed
To the enemy.
- You can be confident that Lord has you back.
- God knows the plan of the enemy and will confuse their
Minds so they turn on themselves.
TODAY, A MEMORIAL TO THE LORD
1 Samuel 7:12
V.7:12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, \”Thus far has the Lord helped us
A. every day of our lives should be a memorial day to the Lord
1. We have no idea what dangers we will encounter when we rise
From our beds.
2, What we know is God is on the side of those who worship
Him in spirit and truth.
- We should never wait until Sunday Morning to worship
The Lord.
- Your worship should be every day all day.
B, We ought to name every day “Ebenezer”
The Lord Has Helped Us.
- Acts 17:28
\’For in him we live and move and have our being.\’ As some of your own poets have said, \’We are his offspring.\’
- This is the time to be on Lord’s side.
Rev. M. Mit
