Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears
Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears 3/30/08 a.m.
1 Sa 3:1-11
Christians have a job to do, we are to be about the Fathers’ business
Lk 2:41-49 41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
Christians are to be about the Fathers’ business
The Christians’ business is the Fathers’ business not the things of this life
2 Tim 2:3-4 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
affairs 4230 πραγματεία [pragmateia /prag·mat·i·ah/] n f. From 4231; TDNT 6:640; TDNTA 927; GK 4548; AV translates as “affair” once. 1 prosecution of any affair. 1a business, occupation.[1]
life 979 βίος [bios /bee·os/] n m. A primary word; TDNT 2:832; TDNTA 290; GK 1050; 11 occurrences; AV translates as “life” five times, “living” five times, and “good” once. 1 life. 1a life extensively. 1a1 the period or course of life. 1b that by which life is sustained, resources, wealth, goods. Additional Information: For synonyms see entry 2222, zoe.See entry 5821 for comparison of synonyms. [2]
the affairs of (this) life—“the businesses of life”[3]
III. He must not entangle himself in the affairs of this world, v. 4. A soldier, when he has enlisted, leaves his calling, and all the business of it, that he may attend his captain’s orders. If we have given up ourselves to be Christ’s soldiers, we must sit loose to this world; and though there is no remedy, but we must employ ourselves in the affairs of this life while we are here (we have something to do here), we must not entangle ourselves with those affairs, so as by them to be diverted and drawn aside from our duty to God and the great concerns of our Christianity.[4]
The cares of this life choke the word of God in us & we become fruitless
Lk 8:14 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
1 Ti 6:7-12 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
For the Christian —“the business of life”--is the Fathers’ business
Everyone has a work to do & a limited time to do it
Jn 9:4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
Jn 4:34-36 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.
Ro 6:16-23 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were 5delivered (entrusted) . 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness 6for holiness (unto sanctification). 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit 7to holiness (unto sanctification), and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Time is running out for us to get our work done
Be strong in the Lord & His Grace in order to do your job
Eph 6:1010 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
2 Tim 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
To be strong in the Lord
Put on the armor of God & stand against the schemes of satan
Eph 6:11 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the 2wiles (schemings) of the devil.
Follow Gods’ plan
2 Tim 2:55 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
Employ and Enjoy the things of God you desire for others
2 Tim 2:66 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
Stay close to and focused on the Lord in order to do your job
The Christians’ goal- to be well pleasing to Him.
2 Co 5:9 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
We hear Him speak to us- for they know his voice
Jn 10:2-4 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
When He calls you, you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears
1 Sa 3:1-11 Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. 2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, 3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, 4 that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” 5 So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”
And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down.
6 Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!”
So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.)
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.”
Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”
11 Then the Lord said to Samuel:
What will be your answer to the Lord today?
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n n: noun or neuter
f f: feminine
TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
TDNTA Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume
GK Goodrick-Kohlenberger
AV Authorized Version
[1]Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the text of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurrence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) (G4230). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.
n n: noun or neuter
m m: masculine
TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
TDNTA Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume
GK Goodrick-Kohlenberger
AV Authorized Version
[2]Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the text of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurrence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) (G979). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.
[3]Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. On spine: Critical and explanatory commentary. (2 Ti 2:4). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[4]Henry, M. (1996, c1991). Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible : Complete and unabridged in one volume (2 Ti 2:1). Peabody: Hendrickson.
5 entrusted
6 unto sanctification
7 unto sanctification
2 schemings