Samuel: The Coming of a Prophet
Notes
Transcript
Big Picture Pt. 29 - Midweek Bible Study (9/17/25)
I. Context: From Judges to Kings
I. Context: From Judges to Kings
Dark Days of Judges 😞
Central truth of Judges: "Everyone did what was right in their own eyes" (Judges 21:25).
NO CENTRAL LEADER
MOSES => JOSHUA => .... JUDGES
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Last Time: God’s Providence in Ruth
GOOD NEWS—GOD was @ WORK BEHIND the SCENES!
THROUGH TRAGEDIES—GOD PRESERVED HIS CHOSEN LINE!
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Transition to 1 Samuel ⏩
1 SAMUEL LINKS JUDGES W/ KINGS
ISRAEL MOVES from THEOCRACY to MONARCHY
Key Figures:
SAMUEL,
SAUL
& DAVID.
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Transition: FIRST WE HAVE a SPECIAL FAMILY to MEET...
READ 1 SAM… CH. 1 V1-2
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II. 1 Samuel 1: The Birth of Samuel
II. 1 Samuel 1: The Birth of Samuel
1 Samuel 1:1–2 (ESV)
1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.
2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
Family:
ELKANAH + TWO WIVES
Background: HANNAH = PROBABLY FIRST—BARREN, REMARRIES
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Apologetic: GOD NEVER ENDORSED/PROMOTED MULTIPLE WIVES.
Key Truth: EACH INSTANCE of THESE HOUSEHOLDS HAS PROBLEMS!
Illustration (Scholar): WON’T LEARN DRIVING from EVERYONE—RATHER DRIVING LAWS
explain: PRESCRIPTIVE VS. DESCRIPTIVE!
Takeaway: GOD’S PLAN = ALWAYS 1 MAN & 1 WOMAN for LIFE...
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Transition: HUMAN REBELLION BRINGS PROBLEMS
READ: V3-8
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Family Trips to Shiloh (v3-8)
Family Trips to Shiloh (v3-8)
1 Samuel 1:3–8 (ESV)
3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord.
4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.
5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.
6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.
7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.
8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
Background: SHILOH = WHERE the TABERNACLE = SET UP AFTER JOSHUA
APPROX 15-20 MILES for ELKANAH
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(v3) SACRIFICE to LORD of HOSTS
1ST USAGE in SCRIPTURE
GOD of ANGEL-ARMIES— ALL POWERFUL!
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FAMILY HAS PROBLEMS — EN ROUTE to WORSHIP! — FOR YEARS!
PENNINAH RUDE to HANNAH
ELKANAH = NO HELP
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(Q) WHO WAS the GUILTY PARTY? (V6) YAHWEH CLOSED HER WOMB!
**WISH WE HAD an INSPIRED NARRATOR’S ACCOUNT of OUR LIVES!!**
(v7) HANNAH SO UPSET— SHE WOULDN’T EAT!
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Transition: WE’LL SEE WHAT THEY DO ABOUT THIS...
READ: V9-11
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Hannah’s Prayer (v9-11)
Hannah’s Prayer (v9-11)
1 Samuel 1:9–11 (ESV)
9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.
10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.
11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
HANNAH TAKES HER PLIGHT to GOD
(Q) HOW DOES SHE ADDRESS HIM? (V11) LORD of HOSTS
Exhort: LET US REMEMBER WHO WE’RE PRAYING TO!
Ephesians 3:20 (ESV)
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
GOD ALMIGHTY!
NOTHING TOO HARD!
CREATOR of ALL!
PRAYER: REMEMBER ME (V11B)
GOD HADN’T FORGOTTEN
GOD WAS AUTHOR of HER PROBLEMS!
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HANNAH’S VOW: NO RAZOR
Background: PROBABLY NAZARITE VOW (SAMSON)
TYPICALLY for PERIOD of TIME
OCCASIONALLY FOREVER
✨Takeaway: BABY WOULD BE GIVEN to GOD’S SERVICE 100%
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Transition: WE’LL SEE if GOD ANSWERS??
READ: V12-18
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Eli Responds (v12-18)
Eli Responds (v12-18)
1 Samuel 1:12–18 (ESV)
12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.
13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.
14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.”
15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.
16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.”
17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”
18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
SO DISTRAUGHT—MISTAKEN for a DRUNK!
ELI GIVES BLESSING—MAY GOD FULFILL the PETITION.
=> HE DIDN’T KNOW the CONTENT of HER PRAYERS!
HANNAH ACCEPTS in FAITH—RESUMES EATING
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Transition: WILL GOD GRANT HER PETITION?
READ v19-20
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Samuel is Born (v19-20)
Samuel is Born (v19-20)
1 Samuel 1:19–20 (ESV)
19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.
20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”
GOD REMEMBERED— MEANING GOD ACTED on HER BEHALF.
Exhort: WHAT a PRIVILEGE that GOD THINKS of US!🤯
DAVID SAYS GOD’S THOUGHTS = INNUMERABLE!
DURING TRIALS GOD HAS NEVER FORGOTTEN US!
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Transition: GOD ANSWERED HANNAH’S PRAYER— WILL SHE FULFILL HER VOW??
READ: V21-28
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Hannah’s Presentation of Samuel (v21-28)
Hannah’s Presentation of Samuel (v21-28)
1 Samuel 1:21–28 (ESV)
21 The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow.
22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.”
23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young.
25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord.
27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.
28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
AFTER SAMUEL is WEANED (prob. 3yrs)—HANNAH FULFILLS HER VOW
HANNAH PRESENTS the ANSWER to HER PRAYERS!
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(v28) SAMUEL = LENT to the LORD.
BASIS for BABY DEDICATIONS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT that CHILDREN = GIFT from GOD— FOR HIS GLORY
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**Summarize: FOR SAKE of TIME— WE’RE GOING to SKIP HANNAH’S PRAYER (2:1-10)**
LET it BE KNOWN—ANSWERS to PRAYER OUGHT to RESULT in PRAISE
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Transition: ELKANAH & CO RETURN HOME
1 Samuel 2:11 (ESV)
11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.
SAMUEL = LEFT BEHIND W/ ELI to SERVE the LORD...
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Transition: STORY WILL NOW TAKE a TURN…
READ: CH. 2:12
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III. 1 Samuel 2: Contrast of Faithfulness and Wickedness ⚖️
III. 1 Samuel 2: Contrast of Faithfulness and Wickedness ⚖️
1 Samuel 2:12 (ESV)
12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.
GENTLE INTRODUCTION!
=> ALTHOUGH PRIESTS—THEY DIDN’T KNOW YAHWEH or SERVE HIM…
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Transition: WE’LL SEE WHY:
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The Priests’ Sinful Customs (v13-17)
The Priests’ Sinful Customs (v13-17)
1 Samuel 2:13–17 (ESV)
13 The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand,
14 and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
15 Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.”
16 And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.”
17 Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.
REMEMBER—GOING THROUGH EXODUS, LEVITICUS, DEUTERONOMY??
🔑 Key Truth: GOD HAS OPINIONS on THINGS
LEVITICUS—OUTLINES BEHAVIOR of PRIESTS!
Background: PRIESTS WOULD GET a SHARE of CERTAIN OFFERINGS
✨ Problem: HOPHNI & PHINEHAS ABUSED OFFICE—PARTAKING of WHATEVER THEY WANTED (v13-14)
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✨Bigger Problem: PRIESTS PUTTING THEMSELVES BEFORE GOD (v15-16)
Background: FAT of ANIMAL was RESERVED for YAHWEH
PRIESTS = CUTTING in LINE!
Summary: SIN GREAT in YAHWEH’S EYES—TREATED OFFERING W/ CONTEMPT.
=> ONLY 1 OPINION MATTERS…
YAHWEH SAID THIS WAS EVIL.
Ref: NADAB & ABIHU— MOSES— NOT UPHOLDING YAHWEH as HOLY 📜
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Transition: CONTRASTING WICKED FAMILY— WE’LL SEE ANOTHER EXAMPLE
Read: v18-21
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Samuel & Co (v18-21)
Samuel & Co (v18-21)
1 Samuel 2:18–21 (ESV)
18 Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy clothed with a linen ephod.
19 And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the Lord.” So then they would return to their home.
21 Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord.
(Q) DO YOU SEE the CONTRAST?
PRIESTS—ABUSING GOD’S PEOPLE— TREATING YAHWEH’S OFFERING W/ CONTEMPT
SAMUEL = FAITHFULLY SERVING w/ PRIESTLY GARMENTS.
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HANNAH & ELKANAH COMING FAITHFULLY for SACRIFICE/MAKING SAMUEL ROBES
Conclusion: GOD FAVORS HANNAH W/ MORE KIDS (5)!!
Exhort: YOU CAN’T OUT-GIVE GOD!
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Transition: SAMUEL CONTINUES to GROW
BUT AGAIN—WE’LL SEE a CONTRAST...
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Eli Rebukes His Sons (v22-25)
Eli Rebukes His Sons (v22-25)
1 Samuel 2:22–25 (ESV)
22 Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
23 And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people.
24 No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad.
25 If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.
(v22) NOT ONLY TAKING FOOD—BUT HAVING SEX W/ WOMEN @ TABERNACLE ENTRANCE!!
**NOTICE ELI DOESN’T REALLY ADDRESS PROBLEM**
ELI: “THIS IS BAD...”
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(V25) THEY WOULDN’T LISTEN—TIME for MERCY had PASSED—GOD’S JUDGMENT WAS COMING.
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Transition: AGAIN WE’LL SEE a CONTRAST:
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READ: V26
1 Samuel 2:26 (ESV)
26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.
SAMUEL = GROWING, PHYSICALLY & SPIRITUALLY
=> WE’RE STARTING to SEE: GOD is RAISING UP a REPLACEMENT!
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Transition: W/ THIS,, WE’LL SEE a DISMISSAL of PRESENT ADMINISTRATION:
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The Lord Rejects Eli’s Household (v27-36)
The Lord Rejects Eli’s Household (v27-36)
1 Samuel 2:27–36 (ESV)
27 And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Did I indeed reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh?
28 Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? I gave to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel.
29 Why then do you scorn my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded for my dwelling, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?’
30 Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ but now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
31 Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.
32 Then in distress you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity that shall be bestowed on Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever.
33 The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his eyes out to grieve his heart, and all the descendants of your house shall die by the sword of men.
34 And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day.
35 And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.
36 And everyone who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and shall say, “Please put me in one of the priests’ places, that I may eat a morsel of bread.” ’ ”
(Q) WHO DID the MAN of GOD CONFRONT? ELI!
ELI SHOULDN’T HAVE BRUSHED THEIR SINS UNDER the RUG!
(v29) NOT ONLY THIS—BUT ELI WAS COMPLICIT! HE BENEFITED! ELI GOT FAT OFF THEIR ABUSES…
THEY WERE GIVEN a PRIVILEGED POSITION & ABUSED IT!!!
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Judgment:
ELI’S LINE CUT OFF (v31)
HOPHNI & PHINEHAS WILL BOTH DIE the SAME DAY (v34)
(v25) A FAITHFUL PRIEST WILL BE RAISED UP!
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Transition: WE’VE ALREADY SEEN GOD WORKING to RAISE UP a REPLACEMENT
WE’LL SEE THIS BEGIN to TAKE PLACE:
READ: 3:1
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IV. 1 Samuel 3: The Lord Calls Samuel
IV. 1 Samuel 3: The Lord Calls Samuel
1 Samuel 3:1 (ESV)
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.
AGAIN—SAMUEL = FAITHFULLY MINISTERING to the LORD
Focus: WORD of the LORD = RARE — A SPIRITUAL DROUGHT!💡
JUDGES = DARK TIME— PEOPLE IGNORED GOD & HE LEFT THEM to THEIR DEVICES…
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Transition: BUT THIS IS ABOUT to CHANGE:
READ: V2-5
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God Calls Samuel the First Time (v2-5)
God Calls Samuel the First Time (v2-5)
1 Samuel 3:2–5 (ESV)
2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place.
3 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.
4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!”
5 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.
HOPHNI & PHINEHAS = SLEEPING W/ WOMEN
SAMUEL = SLEEPING NEAR the ARK (PRESENCE of GOD)
(v4) EARLY MORNING: GOD CALLS to SAMUEL!
(Q) WHAT is SAMUEL’S RESPONSE? (v4) “HERE I AM”
AT YOUR SERVICE—READY to GO
REF: ABRAHAM, JACOB, ISAIAH…
(V5) SAMUEL = CONFUSED—THOUGHT HE HEARD ELI.
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Transition: THIS CYCLE WILL REPEAT:
READ: V6-9
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the Lord Calls Samuel Again (v6-9)
the Lord Calls Samuel Again (v6-9)
1 Samuel 3:6–9 (ESV)
6 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.”
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
8 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.
9 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.
SAMUEL DIDN’T KNOW GOD’S VOICE YET—BACK & FORTH HERE
(v8-9) ELI REALIZES THIS = GOD.
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Transition: READ V10-14
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Samuel Answers & God Speaks (v10-14)
Samuel Answers & God Speaks (v10-14)
1 Samuel 3:10–14 (ESV)
10 And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
11 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.
12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.
13 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.
14 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.”
(v10) GOD CAME TO SAMUEL—STOOD THERE & CALLED!
(Q) WHAT’S the MESSAGE? JUDGMENT COMING to ELI & CO
Focus: GOD TESTED SAMUEL W/ DIFFICULT MESSAGE.💡
=> WILL YOU BE FAITHFUL to SPEAK MY WORD WHEN IT HURTS FEELINGS??
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Exhort: WE LIVE in a DAY & AGE—MANY CONFUSE TRUTH in LOVE W/ HATE
CHURCH CAN NEVER CHANGE MESSAGE: CHRIST CRUCIFIED for SINNERS
=> PEOPLE NEED to KNOW THEY NEED FORGIVENESS!
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Transition: WHAT WILL SAMUEL DO W/ HARD MESSAGE??
READ V15-18
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Samuel’s Obedience (v15-18)
Samuel’s Obedience (v15-18)
1 Samuel 3:15–18 (ESV)
15 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.
16 But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.”
17 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.”
18 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.”
(v15) SAMUEL = JUSTIFIABLY SCARED
(Q) WHO WAS ELI? HIGH PRIEST & FATHER FIGURE!
SAMUEL OBEYS— ELI ACCEPTS…
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Transition: WE’LL SEE our STORY CLOSE..
READ: V19- 4:1a
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Samuel Established as God’s Prophet (3:19-4:1)
Samuel Established as God’s Prophet (3:19-4:1)
1 Samuel 3:19–4:1 (ESV)
19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord.
21 And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.
1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.
GOD HONORED SAMUEL’S FAITHFULNESS—ALL of SAMUEL’S PROPHECIES CAME to PASS
Background: DAN to BEERSHEBA (NORTH to SOUTH) EVERYONE KNEW SAMUEL was a PROPHET
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Exhort: DROUGHT HAD ENDED!🙌
GOD WAS DOING SOMETHING NEW
DARK DAYS of JUDGES WERE COMING to an END!!
WORD of the LORD — NO LONGER RARE!
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V. Key Takeaways
V. Key Takeaways
1. God Hears and Answers Prayer 🙏
OH WHAT PEACE WE OFTEN FORFEIT—OH WHAT NEEDLESS PAIN WE BEAR...
SOMETIMES GOD is OUR LAST RESORT—BUT HE SHOULD BE OUR FIRST STOP
STEERING WHEEL,, NOT E-BRAKE!
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2. God is Always at Work in Dark Times 🕊️
CHOSEN LINE THROUGH RUTH
PREPARING SAMUEL—DESPITE PRIESTLY FAILURE & ABUSE
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3. God Takes Sin Seriously ⚖️
JUDGMENT, THOUGH DELAYED,, WAS SURE for ELI’S HOUSEHOLD…
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4. Samuel’s Posture: “Here I Am” 🙋♂️
HE is a MODEL for US of READINESS…
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Conclusion:
Conclusion:
1 SAMUEL (BIG PICTURE) SHOWS US WHERE the MONARCHY COMES FROM
NEXT TIME—INTRODUCED to SAUL, 1ST KING of ISRAEL…
1 SAMUEL TEACHES US (LIKE RUTH) to TRUST GOD DURING DARK TIMES
—HE is ALWAYS @ WORK UNFOLDING HIS PLAN.🔑
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Closing Thoughts/Questions?
Close in Prayer!
