1 Samuel 2:11-36; Quiet Faithfulness

Sermon in a sentence: I will quiet steps of faithfulness because God loves to bless it.

Introduction

1 Samuel: Looking on the Heart The Secret Manner of God’s Work (2:11–26)

Several years ago Leadership, a ministry journal, included a story about a B-17 bombing run over a German city during World War II. Nazi antiaircraft flak hit the gas tanks of the bomber. No explosion. The morning after the raid the pilot went down to ask the crew chief for the shell that had hit the gas tank; he wanted it for a souvenir. The crew chief indicated there were eleven unexploded shells in the gas tank! The shells had been sent to the armorers to be defused. Then Intelligence had picked them up. The armorers had found that the shells contained no explosive charge; they were empty. All but one. It contained a rolled-up note, written in Czech. Finally, Intelligence found someone on the base who could read Czech. Translation: “This is all we can do for you now.”

So there were these Czechs who were compelled to work in a munitions plant for the Nazi war effort. They didn’t try to blow up the plant or assassinate Hitler. They simply didn’t put charges in some of the shells they produced. It was all very quiet and unnoticed but worked “salvation” all the same.

Such is frequently God’s way for his people. Not all his work is noisy or dramatic. We may be tempted to conclude he has abandoned us because we haven’t ears to hear the silent manner of God’s work. This is often Yahweh’s way in redemptive history and we should mark it. We will not become too discouraged over Hophni and Phinehas so long as we see little Samuel walking around Shiloh.

A. Worthless Sons and Parenting (12-17)

B. Worthy Samuel and Parents (18-19)

B. Eli’s Blessing Upon Samuel’s Family (20-21)

A. Eli’s Rebuke of His Own Family (22-25)

b. God Blesses (26)

A. God’s Rejection of Eli’s House (26-34)

B. God Will Establish A Priesthood (35-36)

Worthless or Worthwhile (vs. 11-19)

Eli’s sons disobey God’s commands on worship.

God gave the priest’s their portion

Leviticus 7:31–32 ESV

31 The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be for Aaron and his sons. 32 And the right thigh you shall give to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifice of your peace offerings.

God required burning. The only boiling commanded is at Aaron’s consecration

Leviticus 8:31 ESV

31 And Moses said to Aaron and his sons, “Boil the flesh at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and there eat it and the bread that is in the basket of ordination offerings, as I commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’

God determines how we are to worship him corporately.

Generally it is not rowdy and ecstatic. The worship of the Lord is orderly and fully engaged in our hearts and minds.

1 Corinthians 14:40 ESV

40 But all things should be done decently and in order.

Ephesians 5:18–19 ESV

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

We have 6 verses about Eli’s sons and only 1 verse dedicated to Samuel and 1 to his parents.

Faithfulness often feels overlooked or overshadowed.

Rewarded or Rebuked (vs. 20-26)

God blessed Elkanah and Hannah for their faithful obedience to the sacrifices of the Lord and their instruction of Samuel.

Eli rebuked his sons but that is it. He did not publically rebuke them, stop them, or put them to death.

Deuteronomy 21:18–21 ESV

18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, 20 and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Once again, we get a still small voice about Samuel. And it is the blessing of God.

Notice the connection betwen 1 Sam 2:26 and Luke 2:52 .

Luke 2:52 ESV

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Also Hannah’s prayer/song is similar Luke 1:44.

We see Samuel and Jesus had miraculous births

We see both boys at a young age serving in the house of the temple

Rejected or Raised Up (vs. 27-36)

God rejected Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas due to their rejection of God.

Eli as a father and judge

Hophni and Phinehas as faithful priests and sons

Samuel would be the next priest, prophet, and judge over Israel.

But unfortunately, he would fail as well. We still need someone who will be able to be a perfect priest and establish an priesthood forever.

We still need someone who can intercede between God and man.

We need Jesus!

Conclusion

Moses’ disobedience of striking the rock and not speaking to the rock. Quiet faithfulness or loud disobedience?

Exodus 17 and Numbers 20.

Application

Each day this week, implement the spiritual discipline of silence and solitude.

Family Discussion Questions

What was the point of the text? The sermon?

How does this point us to Christ?

What is one thing you learned from the sermon?

How will you apply this sermon this week?