I Samuel 3
Samuel receives call of the LORDverses 1-10
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
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 to Eli and said
Here am I – for you called 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 you did 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 to him
And the LORD called Samuel again the third time
and he arose and went to Eli
and said
Here am I – for you did 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 you
that you shall say
Speak LORD – for YOUR servant hears
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 YOUR servant hears
LORD going to judge Eli and his sonsverses 11-14
And the LORD
said to Samuel
BEHOLD – I will do a thing in Israel
at which both the ears of every one that hears
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 iniquities
which he knows – BECAUSE his sons made themselves vile
and he restrained them not
Samuel tells Eli message of the LORDverses 15-18
And Samuel lay until the morning
and opened the doors of the house of the LORD
And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision
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 has said to you?
I pray you hide it not from me
God do so to you – and more also
IF you hide anything from me of all the things
that HE said to you
And Samuel told him every whit and hid nothing from him
and he said
It is the LORD – let HIM do what seems HIM good
Samuel is a true prophet of the LORDverses 19-21
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 Beer-sheba 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
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 And the child Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. (2377 “vision” [chazown] means a sight, a dream, revelation, or oracle.)
DEVOTION: The New Testament tells us that God spoke in the Old Testament many times by dreams and visions, but in the last days HE spoke thorugh HIS Son, Jesus Christ.
These two means were the way the LORD revealed HIS plans to HIS people through HIS prophets. There had been a long drought of hearing from the LORD by the children of Israel.
This was a first time in a long time that the LORD had spoken to an individual about HIS plan. HE called Samuel three times before Eli realized it was the LORD talking. Samuel was willing to listen to the LORD.
Samuel is working with a man who is the high priest but had no control over his children. His two sons were doing evil in the sight of the LORD. The LORD had warned Eli concerning his sons but Eli had not disciplined his sons. Therefore the LORD had to judge him and his sons.
God is going to use Samuel to head in a different direction. That new direction is toward God. Here, in this chapter, we have the calling of Samuel and his first meeting with God. Samuel was a young man when this vision took place. He is called a child in this chapter. But it also states that he grew in the LORD and the people know that he was a prophet of the LORD.
Some of us wish that God would come to us in the night and reveal HIS will to us, but HE has done this through HIS word. That is all we need. Read it and find out. The Holy Spirit works in our lives to show us the open doors. We would like to open doors where we shouldn’t. We need to wait on the LORD!!!
CHALLENGE: Do we know the Word of God well enough to understand when the LORD is speaking to us concerning our service to HIM? Do other people inform us of our calling of God? Do other people see the LORD working in our life? They did with Samuel.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knows because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. (3543 “restrained” [kahah] means rebuke, to censure severely or angrily, to chide, set someone right, or set someone on the right path.)
DEVOTION: In the culture of the children of Israel both the father and mother were responsible to make sure that the children were obedient to the Law of Moses. If a son was rebellious they were to bring them to the elders of the city and have them stoned if they were not repentant.
Eli was the one who was in control of the discipline of his two sons and yet he didn’t do it. He confronted them but then didn’t follow through with the proper punishment if they were not going to listen to him.
This was especially bad because he was the spiritual leader of Israel at the time. He worked in the Tabernacle as the High Priest. His sons were working with him on a daily basis but they were guilty of sin out in the open in front of all the children of Israel.
Fathers are told in the New Testament are not to provoke their children to anger but to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the LORD. They were to instruct on a daily basis in every activity of the day.
The Shema was their code to follow that is found in Deuteronomy 6: 3-9. So they were to be taught to LOVE the LORD their God with all their heart and soul and might. This was to be done when they were sitting down together. It was to be done when they were walking around. It was to be done when they were lying in bed. It was to be done new every morning. They even were to have the Word of God on their forehead to remind them that HE was to be before their face every moment of every day.
This same program should be used today when we are raising our children to love the LORD. There needs to be regular family devotions. There needs to be training time each time a trial or temptation comes into their life. Our responsibility as parents and sometimes even grandparents starts each time they are with us.
CHALLENGE: Eli didn’t do his responsibility right and the nation suffered. When we don’t do our responsibility right our home and society suffers.
: 15 And Samuel lay until the morning and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision. (3372 “feared” [yare’] means be afraid, feel anxious or apprehensive about a situation or event, to tremble, to reverence, frighten, or respect.)
DEVOTION: Once Samuel received his first message from the LORD he didn’t want to share it. He loved Eli. Eli had trained him in his service to the LORD. Admittedly the LORD had protected him from following in the footsteps of Eli’s sons.
However, he didn’t want to give his first message from the LORD because it was a negative message toward Eli and his family. The LORD was going to kill his two sons because of their sin. They were not repentant. They would not listen to their father. The father didn’t take them before the elders of the city to have them stoned. The spiritual leadership was lacking in both the priesthood and among the elders of Israel. All the people knew what Eli’s sons were doing but didn’t do anything because of it.
The LORD did something. HE didn’t have any fresh revelations given until Samuel was old enough to be the spiritual leader of the children of Israel. He didn’t want to give the first message he received but he did.
We need to be listening to what the LORD is saying to us in our home and in our church. We need to share those messages with others. We need to confront those who need confronting with the attitude of correction and restoration. We should not let sin be active in our home and church. Otherwise, we can become like the children of Israel. We can just be going through the motions without any power from the LORD.
Note that Samuel was afraid as a young man to give the message of the LORD. That is not right. If the message is from the LORD, we need to repeat it to those involved. The Word of God through the ministry of the Holy Spirit speaks to us regarding what the LORD expects of HIS people today.
CHALLENGE: We sometimes don’t want to tell others what the LORD expects of them but if the LORD lays it on our heart we need to go to them in love and tell them what the LORD wants us to share.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. (5307 “fall” [naphal] means collapse, to be inferior to, fall behind, let fall, cause to fail, to let drop or to make the lot fall)
DEVOTION: There used to be a commercial where a company spoke and everyone listened when they spoke. There are some people that want to listen to on a regular basis. When the President of the United States people listen. They might not like what they hear but they will listen to see what he is saying.
Well, here we have Samuel who was a genuine servant of the LORD speaking to the children of Israel and to Eli the high priest and his words needed to be listened to by all. He was speaking what the LORD told him to say.
What he said happened because it was the LORD who was giving him the words to say. It would be great sometime to have such a prophet today. However, we find that the Bible tells us what the LORD wants us to say to others.
We need to study the Word of God and know what it is really saying and then share it with others. We should never claim that our words are God’s words unless the Holy Spirit uses them to change lives.
Today we need men like Samuel to be preaching the Word of God with power. We need a moving of the Holy Spirit in our churches like the children of Israel needed it in Samuel’s day.
Would we listen to what such a message had to say to us today? Are we in need of a revival today in the genuine churches of Jesus Christ? Do we need our pastors to preach the Word of God with power each Sunday?
CHALLENGE: If we hear the word of God preached with power, are we willing to listen and serve the LORD gladly? None of our words should empty.
: 21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed HIMSELF to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. (1540 “revealed” [galah] means to uncover, to expose, disclose, to unveil, be made known, open, show oneself, be discovered, to make bare, manifest, or expose.)
DEVOTION: We have the record of the LORD appearing to Samuel in this chapter. Remember the LORD had not spoken to the people in a vision for a long time. HE had spoken to the parents of Samson. HE had spoken to Gideon. HE had spoken to the other judges of Israel from time to time but HE had not appeared in the Tabernacle until now.
HE was communicating with Samuel. HE was giving HIS Word to Samuel to share with the people and they understood that he was a prophet of God. None of his words were false or fell to the ground. People listened when he spoke. They were afraid not to listen because he was speaking for the LORD.
We need pastors and Bible teachers and professors who are hearing from the LORD through the Word of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Many times in many Christian colleges and seminaries there are individuals who are putting forth the latest theory instead of “Thus says the LORD.” It is wrong. There is sin in the camp. We need to make sure that we only listening to those who are truly speaking for the LORD.
Many publishing houses that we trusted in the past have been bought by those who are not followers of Jesus Christ. So instead of trusting just the publishing house we have to examine the books before we buy them.
The same is true with those we listen to on the radio and television and through the internet. Check out what is said against the Word of God. If it is wrong mark it as wrong and stop listening to those who are not true to the Word of God.
Samuel was true to the LORD and the LORD blessed everything he said. It would be great if that was true of everyone we listen to today.
CHALLENGE: Check everyone out through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Eli the priestverses 1, 2, 5-18
Eyes dim
Perceived LORD calling Samuel
Didn’t restrain sons
Lamp of Godverse 3
Went out in the temple
Templeverse 3
Ark of Godverse 3
House of the LORDverse 15
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORDverses 1, 7, 21
No open visionverse 1
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 1, 3, 4, 6-11, 17-21
Word of the LORDverses 1, 7, 21
God – Elohim (Creator)verses 3, 17
Lamp of Godverse 3
Temple of the LORDverse 3
Ark of Godverse 3
Judgeverse 13
House of the LORDverse 15
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Lamp of the LORD went outverse 3
Iniquityverses 13, 14
Vileverse 13
Father restrained not childrenverse 13
Not purged with sacrificeverse 14
Fearverse 15
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Visionverses 1, 15
Callverses 4, 6, 8
Word of the LORD revealeverse 7
Servantverses 9, 10
Obedienceverse 10
Sin purged with sacrificeverse 14
LORD does goodverse 18
Presence of the LORDverse 19
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Samuel verses 1, 3-21
Ministered
Did not yet know the LORD
Prophet of the LORD
Sleeping – LORD called him three times
Here am I
Thought Eli was calling
LORD revealed his plan for Eli’s sons
Feared to show Eli the vision
Grew
LORD was with him
LORD revealed HIMSELF to him
Israelverses 11, 20
Dan to Beer-shebaverse 20
Shilohverse 21
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
Now, however, it would be common, for God had found a man to whom He could entrust it. The sign that Samuel was a spokesman for God was the fact that God let none of his words fall to the ground (v. 19), that is, everything he prophesied came to pass. All Israel from Dan to Beersheba (the northernmost and southernmost towns in Israel—a distance of about 150 miles) recognized that Samuel was … a prophet of the Lord. There was no clearer indication that a man was called to be a prophet than the fact that his predictive word invariably was fulfilled (Deut. 18:21–22). When it was understood that Samuel’s credentials as a prophet were established, a new era was under way. Revelation through priest and ephod was passing away, and revelation through prophets was beginning. (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 436). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
A godly walk (1 Sam. 3:19–21). For the second time we’re told that Samuel grew (2:21; 3:19), but the affirmation is added, “the Lord was with him.” This statement will also be made about youthful David (16:18; 18:12, 14). The Lord was against Eli and his sons, but His blessing was upon Samuel and his ministry. Unlike the other judges, Samuel’s words and influence would reach the entire nation. The people recognized that God had called Samuel to be a prophet and declare the Word of God and the will of God. Once again, the Lord appeared from time to time at Shiloh and revealed Himself to His prophet. Israel was about to experience a new beginning that would lead to new challenges and dangers as well as new blessings and victories. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2001). Be successful (pp. 29–30). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications.)
3:20 Dan even to Beersheba. The traditional limits of the land of Israel from the N to the S. prophet of the Lord. Samuel’s status as a spokesman of God’s message was acknowledged by all throughout Israel. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Sa 3:20). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 20. And all Israel, from Dan even unto Beer-sheba, &c.] That is, from the most northern border of the land of Israel, on which Dan lay, to the utmost border of it southward, where Beer-sheba was, the fame of Samuel for his piety, prudence, and prophecy, was spread abroad; so that all knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord; or that he was faithful to God and man, to be credited in what he said; and so a fit man to be a prophet of the Lord, being eminently qualified with gifts by him for that office; the Targum is, “that Samuel was faithful in the words of the prophecy of the Lord,” in relating them. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 433). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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