Recognizing the Voice (1 Samuel 3:1-21)
Notes
Transcript
1 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.
2 One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God. 4 Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!”
“Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” 5 He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
“I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did.
6 Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!”
Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
“I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.”
7 Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. 8 So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went back to bed.
10 And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”
11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. 12 I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end. 13 I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn’t disciplined them. 14 So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.”
15 Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then got up and opened the doors of the Tabernacle as usual. He was afraid to tell Eli what the Lord had said to him. 16 But Eli called out to him, “Samuel, my son.”
“Here I am,” Samuel replied.
17 “What did the Lord say to you? Tell me everything. And may God strike you and even kill you if you hide anything from me!” 18 So Samuel told Eli everything; he didn’t hold anything back. “It is the Lord’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.”
19 As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. 20 And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.
Samuel’s Backstory
Samuel’s Backstory
Samuel is the son of Elkanah and Hannah
Elkanah WAS faithful to God amidst the dark, spiritually corrupt time of the judges...
Hannah had bore no children and was barren. Yet, she prayed year after year that God would provide her with a son.
One time she prayed so fervently and with anguish, where her lips were moving, but no sound was coming out, that the priest (Eli) thought she was drunk. She assured the priest that she was not drunk, but was praying fervently, with great sorrow.
Eli blessed her saying 1 Samuel 1:17 “17 “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.””
Hannah eventually was able to bare a child - named Samuel.
She dedicated him to the Lord’s service when he was weaned. She took him to Shiloh and gave him back to the Lord.
1 Samuel 2:19–21 “19 Each year his mother made a small coat for him and brought it to him when she came with her husband for the sacrifice. 20 Before they returned home, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the Lord give you other children to take the place of this one she gave to the Lord.” 21 And the Lord blessed Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.”
Samuel would grow and learn to hear the Word of the Lord and become a prophet who would anoint kings and speak on behalf of God.
Eli’s Backstory
Eli’s Backstory
Eli is old and his sons have taken over most of his duties as priests. But, his sons were corrupt!
His sons treated with contempt the sacrifices that people brought.
12 Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord 13 or for their duties as priests. Whenever anyone offered a sacrifice, Eli’s sons would send over a servant with a three-pronged fork. While the meat of the sacrificed animal was still boiling,
12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.
The sons were taking more than what was alloted for the priests and ignoring God’s desires and commands for the priests. The sons also did terrible things with the women who assisted at the Tabernacle.
Eli was aware of his son’s behavior - but did not stop it.
1 Samuel 2:23–25 “23 Eli said to them, “I have been hearing reports from all the people about the wicked things you are doing. Why do you keep sinning? 24 You must stop, my sons! The reports I hear among the Lord’s people are not good. 25 If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?” But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death.”
God sent someone to speak a warning and Judgment to Eli concerning Eli’s sons… (1 Samuel 2:27-36)
God said that Eli’s family will be ended, that Eli’s sons would die on the same day. And, that God would raise up a faithful priest who will listen to God… And, for whatever reason, Eli did not stop what his sons were doing.
That supplies the background for what happens in our text today...
This was in Shiloh
This was in Shiloh
SHILOH (שִׁלֹה, shiloh). A city in the hill country of Ephraim, centrally located between Shechem to the north and Bethel to the south. Joshua and the tribes of Israel camped here after the settlement in the land. Home of the ark of the covenant and the tabernacle during the time of Joshua to Samuel.
Location
The city of Shiloh is located within the hill country of Ephraim. Judges 21:19 states that it is located “north of Bethel, on the east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem” (ESV). Shiloh is identified with the archaeological site Khirbet Seilun.
Here Eli lived, and Hannah prayed and was answered, and here Samuel served and was called to the priesthood. Here the holy oil burned before the ark “ere the lamps of God went out in the temple of the Lord,” and the ark, captured by the Philistines, came no more to Shiloh.
Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Ark of the Covenant
Shiloh, about 30 miles north of Jerusalem, was Israel’s religious center for over a century after the conquest of Canaan and the place where the ark of the covenant was kept.
Because of the faithless superstition of the wicked sons of Eli, the Hebrew tribes were defeated in the battle of Ebenezer, and the ark was captured by the Philistines (1 Sam. 4). The adventures of the ark in the cities of Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron are told to magnify the strength and glory of the Lord of the ark. The Lord vanquished Dagon and spread bubonic plagues among the enemy until they propitiated the God of Israel by symbolic guilt offerings and a ritually correct sending away of the dread object (1 Sam. 5:1–6:12). The men of Beth-shemesh welcomed the return of the ark, until they unwisely violated its holiness by looking into it (1 Sam. 6:13–15, 19–20). Then it was carried to Kiriath-jearim, where it remained in comparative neglect, until David moved it to his new capital and sanctuary in Jerusalem (1 Sam. 6:21–7:2; 2 Sam. 6
Some Notes on the Text at Hand...
Some Notes on the Text at Hand...
1 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.
CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 3
Prophetic visions were not widespread because of the general corruption of the time. God might withhold his word from people who showed by their conduct they did not want to receive it
New Living Translation Study Bible Chapter 3
God was not disclosing his will through prophets or priests, so the period was spiritually dark. However, that darkness was about to end when God communicated with Samuel (3:2–4:1a)
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 3
During the period of the judges, the nation is characterized by flagrant sin. The lack of communication from God indicates His displeasure
How does this help us with discerning God's voice?
How does this help us with discerning God's voice?
Well, if God isn’t speaking, maybe it’s because we are unwilling to hear!
Also, please note, this was during a time when the idea was that God would speak through specific people for specific purposes. The Judges were God’s mouthpiece for the people. And, the Judges would lead, but after the Judge died, the people would revert back to their sinfulness. So, during this time, God STOPPED speaking through prophets and priests. There were no further special instructions!
But, this leads to another observance. God was displeased because the people were ignoring what He had ALREADY said. They KNEW the commandments! They KNEW the ordinances and decrees from God - but they refused to listen to them - they refused to OBEY (To OBEY LITERALLY means TO LISTEN!). So, God went silent. He was displeased with their behavior and He gave them the silent treatment.
But, think about it, why WOULD God speak when the people are already ignoring what He has already said.
When you serve under command , for example, like the military, you follow through with what you have been told to do, until that order is changed or repealed. So, until something NEW is stated, you continue with your marching orders. THE PEOPLE HAVE FAILED TO DO THIS! Do what you KNOW you are supposed to do, and then God MIGHT provide further instructions.
Even Eli struggled with this. Someone came to him FACE TO FACE to warn him about his sons and Eli did not OBEY - he did not listen. So, when God DID speak (which was rare) it wasn’t listened to. EVENTUALLY, in times like this, you STOP speaking...
The short of it is this…Yes, God wasn’t speaking, but this DOES NOT mean that the people were clueless. They KNEW what God expected of them, but refused to obey what God had already said. SO God stopped speaking anything MORE.
This is ALL about to change with Samuel
This is ALL about to change with Samuel
2 One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God.
There’s a couple of things...
Eli’s eyesight has gone dim (bad, blind)
This highlights the spiritual darkness of the land, of the people, of Eli’s son’s and also Eli himself. No, this is NOT to say that blindness is God’s curse on people today for spiritual rebellion. But, it is to show in THIS TEXT that Eli is just as blind as the people around him - and as the story unfolds (where God speaks 3 times to Samuel before Eli recognizes this, and given the story up to this point) that Eli is a part of the Spiritual Blindness)
But God’s HOPE holds on!!
3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God.
This verse indicates that it was nearly dawn of the coming new day. But, it also indicates the HOPE of the NEW THAT IS COMING! GOD WILL SPEAK!!!
The Lampstand...
MENORAH (מְנוֹרָה, menorah). The lampstand placed on the south side of the first portion of the tabernacle, which sat opposite the table of showbread. It was lit every evening and dressed every morning (Exod 27:20–21; 30:8; 1 Sam 3:3).
It represented God’s light and presence in the earth. Even though the earth is dark, God’s light still shines...
And, it takes on more meaning because of Christ...
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
There was 1 Golden lampstand in the tabernacle of the Old Testament
There were 10 in Solomon’s Temple (assuming because there was more light needed)
In Revelation, in God’s throne there are 7
A number of perfection and completeness
However, they also represent the Church that is Christ’s presence in the world
12 When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. 13 And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. 14 His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. 15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.
Jesus is among the lampstands...
20 This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Jesus is among the churches...
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
We are the Menorah of Christ for our world today!!
IN Exodus 27 we read… Exodus 27:20–21 “20 “Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. 21 The lampstand will stand in the Tabernacle, in front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the Lord’s presence all night. This is a permanent law for the people of Israel, and it must be observed from generation to generation.”
Because Eli was blind, and Eli’s sons were corrupt and probably wouldn’t do their job, it was most likely Samuel’s duty to keep the oil in the lamp burning all night. When the new day dawned the lamp could be allowed to burn out. This verse locates the time of night when God spoke, but it also foreshadows the coming of the NEW that God is providing. God’s light hasn’t gone out. The light, which would remind the people of God’s presence, even in the darkest of times, has NOT gone out.
SAMUEL is the one tasked with making sure God’s light did not go out in the tabernacle - JUST LIKE he would be tasked to do that as the prophet in all Israel. (And sometimes he would FUNCTION like a priest too)
The NEW DAY is about to come, and with that NEW DAY God is going to do something… NEW!
And, God did that. God transferred prophetic and priestly authority from Eli onto Samuel and a NEW ERA of God speaking began...
Samuel was POSITIONED for this word and appearance from God...
First off, we can see how God worked in Samuel's life for God’s plan to unfold
When it looks as though God isn’t doing anything...
When our prayers aren’t being answered
When our cries go unheard
When God seems silent
God is WORKING! He’s aligning the pieces for HIS PLAN to unfold. Look at the providence in Samuel’s life. That he was born at the right time, to the right family, who would give him over to God’s service. That he was in the Tabernacle that night and that he was sleeping where he was...
3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God.
Samuel was sleeping in the room closest to the Ark of God - they footstool of God’s throne...
He was PHYSICALLY positioned to be the closest to God. Yes, God can speak no matter our geographic location. But, think of the symbolism...
Here in this story we have a young child/young man (we really aren’t sure of his age at this point) who is the CLOSEST to God. Not the priest, not his sons, But this young one who is simply the “HELP” is PHYSICALLY and SPIRITUALLY Closer to God than all the others...
AND, he’s not even fully trained to hear from God...
7 Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before.
This child is IGNORANT of a message from God
Please note, this is not that he has IGNORED God like Eli and Eli’s sons - it is that the child has NEVER experienced God like this before - he has never been TRAINED to TUNE INTO what God is saying...
God called 3 times...
Every time God spoke Samuel thought it was Eli. Ok, this is not to say that God sounds like Eli. This is to say that Samuel heard something, but at this point he is trained to hear Eli. Most likely, Samuel was used to Eli calling him during the night. Remember, Eli is old and blind - Samuel is there to help Eli. Samuel is used to Eli calling to him. But, this night Samuel heard a voice and thought it must be Eli calling him for assistance.
However, it took Eli 3 times of telling Samuel that he didn’t call him before Eli realized it was the Lord speaking.
Eli was able to tell Samuel, at the 3rd time, that it was God speaking. Samuel NOW has been trained to hear from the Lord!
What does this mean for us?
When God wants to speak to us a specific message it will be confirmed and God will continue to try to get our attention!
God had an URGENT message for Samuel - another message regarding Eli and his sons. It was a message that ordained Samuel to hear from God and speak God’s message to the people (including the priests and later the kings).
Eli couldn’t run from this message and neither could Samuel. So God kept speaking.
In OUR situations God will continue to speak until we listen. If we ignore God, he will speak again. Look at Samuel, that night God spoke 3 times. But also, look at Eli… God sent someone to speak to him and Eli ignored that message, so God sent another (the boy Samuel) to speak the message again.
God will continue to speak until we listen!
Surely we have ALL had situations where in hindsight we realize that God was speaking all along - that God was directing us. And, surely, we have had situations come up that seem to mirror other situations and we wonder what God might be speaking to us through these situations (or is it just me…)
Samuel was Faithful to Deliver the Message
Samuel was Faithful to Deliver the Message
We are told that the next morning Samuel delivered the message to Eli with fear, but with CONFIDENCE that this was God’s word.
19 As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. 20 And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.
Samuel was faithful to deliver God’s message. Chapter 4 tells us that Samuel’s words went to all the people of Israel.
When God speaks we MUST be faithful to OBEY
When God speaks we MUST be faithful to OBEY
As stated last week, the 1st place to go to know what God is saying is in God’s Word. God will not speak ANYTHING contrary to that WORD. We will also see later that God speaks definitively through His LIVING WORD - JESUS CHRIST the WORD MADE FLESH.
There are NO NEW PROPHETS today who speak new words from God as though they are a new revelation. But, there are those who speak REMINDERS of what God has already said (and sometimes that voice is as chaffing as the voice of the prophets of the previous times).
But, there are a few lessons for us...
1 God will speak through His word. If we aren’t willing to listen to that do not expect God to speak through another source
2 God can speak audibly (but he doesn't’ always)
3 God will keep speaking until you listen
He called Samuel 3 times
He sent multiple people to Eli
4 God confirms he is speaking
Usually through someone who is more trained to hear God speak
5 When God speaks YOU HAD BETTER LISTEN AND OBEY
Eli ignored (at first)
Samuel obeyed
Eli is remembered for his failures
Samuel, although he had failures, is remembered for his victories!
May God help us to hear God’s voice and Obey God’s voice. May God help us to be FAITHFUL to God’s voice. May, as God speaks, our course of action in life change (if God is speaking about sin and rebellion) and may our story be filled with God’s providence as we follow God’s voice and God’s leading!
