1 Samuel 3:1-4:1; A Flicker of Hope

1 Samuel 3:1-4:1; A Flicker of Light

Sermon in a sentence: I will not lose hope.

Introduction

If you have ever started a fire with out perfect conditions you know how difficult it can. I’m talking no gas, diesel, kerosene. I’m talking about going into the woods after a few days of rain with just a small bic lighter or a ferro rod. It is so incredibly difficult to find enough dry material to get an actual fire that will be able to last and dry the fuel it will later use. Sometimes it can be so frustrating that you want to let your un-sanctified tongue go wild. Other times it can be so depressing that you just want to sit there and do nothing. But when you see that first real flicker of that flame, you are overwhelmed with hope and joy.

Our text this morning is much like that first flame, that first flicker of hope. God’s people had turned away from God and the society at large was depraved.

It felt like God had turned his back on the priests and prophets (1 Sam 3:1). But God gave his people a flame that would be a flicker of hope. God has indeed not forgotten his people!

Israel’s Darkness

Remember, the book of judges tells us that everyone did what was right in their own eyes. We just saw the wickedness of even the priests! Judges 19 recounts the story of the Levite and his concubine. The same story that played out in Sodom and Gomorrah with Lot and his daughters is played out with Israel. God’s chosen people had become Sodom and Gomorrah.

Isaiah 1:10 ESV

10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

Eli, the spiritual leader of Israel is described as a blind man laying in his own place.

God’s people had become blind to God’s commands.

Also, the people of Israel had their own homes yet God’s people had left the ark in Shiloh.

A Flicker of Light

Samuel is staying at the temple and the lamp had not yet gone out.

Exodus 27:20–21 ESV

20 “You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn. 21 In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel.

Samuel is serving the Lord in his small and unimportant job in the eyes of the world.

God’s lamp has not gone out - the use of a man to proclaim God’s message.

God is so gracious to allow Eli to still be useful to Samuel. Even though he is blind, he is not deaf to the word of the Lord.

It is a great blessing knowing that God uses broken and messed up people.

God spoke to Samuel 4 times!

We may think, “I wish God would speak to me just one time!” But God has spoken to use through His Word, Through Prayer, This His Son, and the Holy Spirit!

Let me ask you this, “When was the last time God spoke to you?”

The Light of God

Samuel had been faithfully serving the Lord like he should have been. Yet, God had not revealed himself to Samuel yet.

The Light of God had not yet shown upon Samuel. Sovereign grace.

Jesus Christ is the light of God that has come into the world.

Hebrews 1:1 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

John 1:1–5 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Application

The Christmas season is a wonderful time to remind ourselves of the light of Christ This week, we can remind ourselves of the hope we have in Jesus. We can do that by this week, working through the free devotional given to us by Crossway. This would be a great way for your family to have family worship this week.

Conclusion

Family Discussion Questions

What is the point of the text/sermon?

How does this point you to Christ?

What is one thing you learned from the sermon/text?

How will you apply this sermon/text this week?