The Lord Speaks!
Notes
Transcript
1 Samuel 3
1 Samuel 3
Intro Remarks - Ballots available for members and printed explanation of network vote
This morning, we are stepping into an incredible story of God’s faithfulness—specifically, His faithfulness to His Word.
But here’s the challenge we face as we read this text today: we live in a time of such overwhelming blessing that what is truly extraordinary has started to feel ordinary.
Think about it—we have full access to God’s Word. Printed Bibles fill our bookshelves, digital versions are at our fingertips, sermons stream endlessly, and Bible studies are more abundant than ever. This kind of access was unimaginable for most of redemptive history. There were generations who clung to fragments of Scripture, churches that thrived underground with only a few handwritten pages, and believers who risked their lives just to own a Bible.
Consider the words of Amos 8:11-12
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God,
“when I will send a famine on the land—
not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,
but of hearing the words of the Lord.
They shall wander from sea to sea,
and from north to east;
they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord,
but they shall not find it.
Yet, here we are—the most resourced generation of Christians that have ever walked the earth—and somehow, we’ve become the least impressed.
In our hands, in our pockets, and on the back of the pulpit in front of you, rests everything humanity has ever needed—the living, breathing Word of God. And yet, we are generally... indifferent.
This morning, I want us to pause and consider: How did we get here? And more importantly, how do we recover our awe?
To answer that, we need to go back to a time when things were very different—a time when:
When the Word Was Rare (1)
When the Word Was Rare (1)
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.
This verse sets the stage for a pivotal shift in Israel’s history. It describes a period marked by divine silence—one in which God’s voice was neither commonly heard nor His will clearly revealed through prophets.
The phrase “the word of the LORD was rare” speaks to the spiritual barrenness of the time. Much like in the days of Amos, when the prophet warned of a “famine of hearing the words of the LORD” (Amos 8:11), the people of Israel in Samuel’s day suffered from a lack of divine guidance.
This silence was not accidental. God had spoken in generations past—through Moses, Joshua, and the judges—but by the time of Eli, corruption and neglect in the priesthood had left Israel spiritually adrift.
Without God’s word, the people stumbled.
Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,
but blessed is he who keeps the law.
Or as the KJV says - Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he
Israel had no fresh revelation from God, and as a result, they drifted into idolatry, corruption, and disobedience.
Which this story teaches us, are the consequences of compromise:
Eli: The Consequences of Compromise (2-3)
Eli: The Consequences of Compromise (2-3)
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. 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.
There is something you need to understand about 1 Samuel, and specifically this story. We don’t know who the author is, but it is clear that they were very intentional in their writing.
Throughout this passage, seemingly small details are mentioned—not as random descriptions, but as symbols of deeper spiritual realities. The author desires to paint a vivid picture of Israel’s condition at the time, particularly the spiritual decay of the priesthood and the coming renewal through Samuel.
So, let’s look at this text in light of four symbolic details described in verses 2-3.
Eli’s Failing Eyesight – A Symbol of Spiritual Blindness
Eli is old, and it’s obvious he is beginning to lose his sight, but the picture painted here is far worse than that—he’s been spiritually blind.
As high priest, Eli was supposed to be the one who saw clearly, the one people could turn to for wisdom, discernment, and truth. But instead, he had grown dull to God’s presence, complacent in the face of evil, and unwilling to act. He chose not to see sin for what it was.
And I get it, there is nothing that will weigh heavier on a leader’s soul than confronting sin in the church. It’s devastating, it’s painful, and it will cost you. That’s why many churches today refuse to do it—they either ignore sin entirely, or they sweep it under the rug.
And the reason they do this, hear me here: is because if you take sin seriously, I promise you, it will cost you.
Friends will reject you and those you love.
Family will cut you off.
People you once trusted will slander you and do WHATEVER it takes, to protect their sin and fake reputation.
But no matter what the cost, the alternative is far worse.
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” (Galatians 5:9)
It might take decades, but slowly and surely, unaddressed sin weakens the church, confuses the lost, and mocks the holiness of God.
Eli saw the sin in his sons, and he chose to ignore it.
Maybe he was afraid of losing them—what father wouldn’t feel that?
But among the people of God, especially among those called to lead, the stakes are too high for willful sin to be tolerated.
It’s worth stopping here to remember that Scripture says Eli’s sons were “worthless men” (1 Samuel 2:12).
Now, the implications here are true for men and women alike, but, in this particular case the term defines two men who were called to lead and didn’t, so I want to lean into that for a moment.
I was told a long time ago, a young man is like an old truck, he runs better with a little weight in the back, and so since in our church, we have a lot of young men, and I am humbled at how many of you desire to one day be leaders amongst God’s people, allow me to throw a little weight in the back this morning.
Brother, you need to understand something: being worthless is a real option.
Despite what your mom and your kindergarten teacher told you, not everyone is “special.” Many people waste their lives—trading purpose for pleasure, responsibility for selfish gain, and calling for compromise.
The world tells you that manhood is about indulgence—how much beer you can drink, how many women you can seduce, and how much money and power you can attain.
And do you know what those all have in common? They make YOU the most important thing in your life.
And there are a thousand podcasts and countless books that will pat you on the back and tell you that’s exactly how it should be. What matters more than your happiness?
It’s why a man trades his wife for a fling, his kids for a studio apartment, and his calling for thirty pieces of silver.
But here’s the truth: A life lived for yourself is worthless.
You weren’t made to worship yourself. You were created to worship God.
To make yourself the object of worship is literally to follow in the footsteps of Satan.
Worthless men live for themselves.
Godly men, and women, live in service to another.
Eli’s sons, likely middle aged men, had long abandoned this calling. And though Eli rebuked them mildly in 1 Samuel 2:22-25, he didn’t do what was necessary.
They should have been removed from the priesthood. Instead, he let them continue defiling God’s house, and in doing so, he compromised with sin, and disqualified himself as a leader of God’s people.
Robert Bergen (New American Commentary) notes:
“Eli’s failure was not outright rebellion but neglect—neglect to correct, neglect to remove, neglect to stand firm for God’s holiness.”
And the consequence of this neglect, this compromise: was that God withdrew his voice.
The ones who were supposed to hear from God and speak on his behalf had become so corrupt and compromised that God stopped speaking altogether.
And thus, we find:
2. Eli Lying in His Own Place – Separated from God
“Eli was lying down in his own place.” (1 Samuel 3:2)
Seems like a minor detail, right? But it’s not. And in a second, you’ll see the contrast being made with Samuel.
Eli, the high priest, the man whose job was to be near God, is lying in his own place—far from the ark, far from the presence of God.
Eli made his bed with compromise, and now the distance is put on display.
- He should have been in the tabernacle, near the ark of God.
- He should have been standing in the gap for the people.
- He should have been seeking the Lord, interceding, leading. protecting.
But, he’s lying down.
Compromise with sin, is the product of spiritual laziness.
And when a leader stops fighting for holiness, stops seeking God’s presence, stops leading with conviction—God moves on without them.
And we see this in the contract with where Samuel was:
“Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.” (1 Samuel 3:3)
Eli is lying in his own place.
Samuel is near the presence of God.
Eli is detached. Samuel is expectant.
Eli is fading. Samuel is rising!
And that’s the big point of this picture. God is on the move, about to replace one with the other.
Because, despite man’s failure:
3. The Lamp of God Had Not Yet Gone Out – A Flickering Hope
This is a powerful symbol. Exodus 27:21 tells us that God commanded the lamp in the tabernacle to burn from evening until morning because darkness would not prevail over God.
And so in the midst of a situation that seemed hopeless, this light of God symbolized hope in the last hours of darkness before dawn.
- Yes, the priesthood is corrupt.
- Yes, God has been silent.
- Yes, Israel is in a spiritual drought.
But hope is still burning!
The church is fundamentally flawed, because it’s filled with people, and we are sure to mess it up.
Consider the churches written to in Revelation:
In Revelation 2:4, the church in Ephesus had lost its first love—it was still active, but its heart for God had grown cold.
The church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:15-17) was lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, indifferent to God’s call.
Sardis (Revelation 3:1) had a reputation for being alive, but it was dead spiritually, much like the corrupt priesthood in Israel.
And yet, in each case, hope still burns! The invitation is to "Repent and return to Me, and I will restore you."
Return to the light that burns forever!
Ephesus was called to remember, repent, and do the works they did at first (Revelation 2:5).
Sardis was told to wake up, strengthen what remained, and repent (Revelation 3:2-3).
Laodicea, in its self-sufficiency and lukewarmness, was called to be zealous and repent (Revelation 3:19).
The priesthood had failed, but God isn’t done yet. Despite His silence, His presence hasn’t left.
He will be faithful to provide a mediator for His people, and His word will return and be heard by:
4. Samuel Lying in the Temple – Positioned to Hear from God
Samuel was lying near the ark, this is the first time the ark is mentioned in 1 Samuel, but it will play a major role in the next three chapters.
The point hear is that Samuel had never heard from God before (1 Samuel 3:7). But he was positioned to, he was ready and expectant to be lead by God.
- Eli had grown deaf.
- But Samuel was ready to listen.
And this is the turning point of the story. For the first time in years, God is about to speak.
Not to Eli.
Not to the high priest.
Not to the men in power.
But on this night, in the shadow of the lamp still burning, in the temple of the Lord that still stood, close to the ark where God’s presence still dwelt, God would speak to a boy—a faithful, humble servant named:
Samuel: The Word Revealed (4-9)
Samuel: The Word Revealed (4-9)
Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
What was rare in those days, was now happening.
But Samuel didn’t realize it at first, and this is explained in the words “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord”
This is a peculiar phrase in this context. We’ve seen thus far that Samuel ministered to the Lord and was growing with the Lord, but yet scripture says he did not yet know Him.
What makes this phrase especially odd is that it’s the exact same language used in regards to Eli’s sons in 1 Samuel 2:12
Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.
While the same term is used, the contrast is stark and important.
Hophni and Phinehas didn’t know God, because they rejected Him and His commands.
Samuel did not yet know the Lord, because as verse 7 says:
“ the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him”
When we talk about dealing with sin, there is a stark contrast between the one that doesn’t yet know truth, and the one who knows it but rejects it.
And there is an additional layer of condemnation that comes when one has been has been tasked with leading and teaching God’s word, and then rejects it by embracing sin w/o repentance.
This is why Jesus is so gracious to the sinner seeking truth, and so firm with the “blind guides” who lead people astray by their rebelliousness.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.
The sons of Eli didn’t know it yet, but there judgement was coming, they would one day stand before God and give an account.
But while Eli and his sons embodied the corruption of the old order, Samuel represented a new beginning.
A renewed movement of God in Israel, that would to the rise of King David and the establishment of the kingdom of:
The Lord: The One Who Speaks (10-18)
The Lord: The One Who Speaks (10-18)
And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”
Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the Lord. Let him do what seems good to him.”
Though Samuel was slow to understand what was happening, Eli was not. He knew the Lord was calling Samuel, and he trusted that the One who called his name would come again, and he was right. For in this text, God doesn’’t call the young boy from a distance, but this text says something astounding, the Lord came and stood.
This direct and personal appearance of God to Samuel is significant because it is the first recorded time in generations that God manifests Himself in this way.
Unlike the visions or angelic messengers given to the prophets like Eli, God Himself comes and stands before Samuel.
This marks the end of a period of divine silence and the beginning of Samuel’s ministry as not only a priest, but a prophet.
The last clear manifestation of God standing in someone's presence was likely in Genesis 18 with Abraham or in Joshua 5 with the commander of the Lord’s army. By appearing to Samuel in 1 Samuel 3, God was making a powerful statement—His voice was returning to Israel, and He was raising up a new leader to speak His word.
And this first word from God was a heavy one. He tells Samuel that He is about to do exactly what He said He would do in 1 Samuel 2:27-36—bring judgment on Eli’s house.
The term “punish” in the text is the same as “judge”, but this is no ordinary ruling. For the past two hundred years, God had appointed judges to mediate justice, but this time, He steps in personally. The blasphemy and corruption among the leaders of God’s house are so severe that they demand direct intervention from the Almighty Himself. And their sins, He will not atone for.
Now, I want to just acknowledge that this sounds harsh—I mean, was Eli really that bad?
After all, he shows humility here. When Samuel delivers the judgment, Eli simply responds: “Let Him do what seems good to Him” (1 Samuel 3:18). That’s a level of submission, right? And earlier, when he mistakenly accused Hannah of being drunk, he quickly acknowledged his mistake and spoke a blessing over her (1 Samuel 1:17).
Sure, he failed to restrain his sons, but wasn’t he just an good old priest who got a little too passive in his later years?
This sentiment might resonate with us, but it’s incredibly dangerous. Because it's the exact line of thinking thats excused pastors who covered up sexual abuse, leaders who turned a blind eye to corruption, and authorities who ignored the cries of victims for the sake of institutional preservation.
“Yeah, he made mistakes, but he’s a good man.”
“He may have known something about it, but he didn’t actually do it.”
“But he served faithfully for years, and no one’s perfect right?”
People’s lives have been wrecked, and churches witnesses destroyed, by the power of these phrases.
And thus, God does not see it this way.
Eli’s failure was not just personal—it was systemic. He knew what his sons were doing, he heard the reports, and yet he did nothing decisive.
His mild rebuke wasn’t enough, because his role wasn’t just to advise—it was to lead.
And God takes spiritual leadership seriously, and blasphemy even more so!
Throughout Scripture, we see moments where sin among God’s people becomes so great that He doesn’t just send a warning—He intervenes directly:
In Numbers 16, when Korah and his followers rebelled against Moses’ leadership, they weren’t just opposing Moses—they were opposing God’s order for His people. What did God do? He split the earth open and swallowed them.
In Joshua 7, Achan secretly stole devoted things from Jericho. No one else knew, but God knew. And because of one man’s sin, the entire nation suffered defeat. God exposed Achan, and he was put to death.
In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit about their offering. Peter didn’t kill them. The church didn’t stone them. God Himself struck them down on the spot.
In the letter to the churches in Revelation, God warns that if they won’t repent, He Himself will come and remove their lampstand.
God is patient, but He is not passive.
When spiritual leaders abuse their authority, when corruption takes root in God’s house, when His name is mocked by those who should honor Him—there comes a point where He steps in.
That’s what’s happening here in 1 Samuel 3.
One of the most difficult situations a Christian faces is discerning how to approach the sin of someone they love or admire. There’s a tension—we are called to grace and truth (John 1:14), and both must be present in our response.
And while I don’t want to make a blanket statement—because every situation is unique—I will tell you that one of the first questions I ask is this:
“Does this person claim Christ?”
That distinction matters deeply because, while the starting point is always a call to repentance, the way we proceed next depends on that answer.
For the one who does not claim Christ, our approach is like Jesus with the lost—we plead, we share, we pray, and we call them to the truth. We recognize that they are spiritually blind and in need of salvation.
But for the one who knows the truth, yet continues in rebellion, the situation is far more serious. This is the warning found in Hebrews 10:26-31:
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment…
This is not about struggling with sin—every believer battles the flesh. This is about persistent, willful rejection of God’s authority. The one who continues in sin after receiving the truth has not only disobeyed but has trampled underfoot the Son of God.
And notice: This passage is written to those who “received the knowledge of the truth”—people who have been part of the church, who have heard the gospel, and yet still persist in rebellion.
“The Lord will judge His people.”
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
The reality is this: God will judge sin, and we cannot afford to treat it lightly.
If we truly love someone, we cannot let them persist in destruction.
If they are ignorant of Christ, we share the truth in love.
If they claim Christ but reject His commands, we must warn them of the judgment to come.
Closing:
Closing:
The Church: The People of a Better Mediator (19-21)
The Church: The People of a Better Mediator (19-21)
And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.
This is a heavy text, but I want to leave you with this word of hope and encouragement. The same God who saw Hannah’s need and heard her prayer, has heard the prayers of His people for a Godly leader, and more important, a worthy Mediator.
God’s people were in crisis, and it’s important that we recognize His response. He didn’t institute a new form of government, He didn’t start a new temple, he didn’t hire a man with exceptional entrepreneurial gifting, what He did, was send His word!
And as remarkable as that act of grace was, we, as His church, have experienced far greater.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
We have a lot left to learn about Samuel, and he certainly a man born by God’s grace. But consider this, ultimately, he was a temporary messenger, and an imperfect mediator.
Jesus Christ, is the better Samuel, the perfect Prophet, the Perfect Mediator, The Word made Flesh!
My time is up this morning, but I want you to know that no matter your circumstances, God is not silent!
Unlike the people of Israel who long waited for God to speak, we are those to whom God has spoken once and for all through His Son.
Jesus has given us the word we need for all times and all seasons, and His Spirit does not dwell in an ark, but in our very hearts, that we might know and understand what is right and true and good.
Let us not grow weary of His word.
Persecution is an enemy the church has met and mastered many times. Indifference could prove to be a far more dangerous foe. - Brother Andrew (God’s Smuggler)
Friend, don’t live like Eli—ignoring sin, tolerating what God has condemned, and finding false comfort in indifference. Eli knew what was right, yet he refused to act. He let sin fester in his house until it was too late. Don’t make the same mistake.
As Eli should have removed his sons, you must remove everything that stands between you and God. Jesus Himself said, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away” (Matthew 5:30). That’s not a call to self-harm—it’s a call to radical repentance. Whatever compromises your faith, weakens your witness, or leads you into rebellion, it has to go.
But here’s the good news: You are not left to do this alone.
Just as God showed up and stood among Samuel, He has shown up for us too. But in an even greater way—He put on flesh, stepped into history, and walked among us.
Jesus is the true and better Samuel.
Samuel was a prophet who heard God's voice—Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14).
Samuel pointed Israel back to God—Jesus is God Himself, calling us home.
Samuel grew in wisdom and favor—Jesus is wisdom and truth incarnate.
And just as God called Samuel, He is calling you today. He calls you to repent, to return, and to rest in Him.
You don’t have to be enslaved to sin. You don’t have to walk in darkness. You don’t have to fear judgment, because Christ has already taken your judgment upon Himself.
Through the cross, Jesus bore the punishment that we deserved. He took the weight of our sin, our rebellion, and our indifference, so that we could be forgiven and set free. And through His resurrection, He has opened the way to eternal life.
So don’t harden your heart like Eli. Don’t reject God’s voice like Hophni and Phinehas.
Instead, respond like Samuel: “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.”
Repent, and rest in the grace of Christ.
He is still speaking.
The question is—are we listening?
Let’s Pray
Communion
Communion
