OASIS – Spring 2024 – May 21-22, 2024 - SAMUEL “Hear I Am” – 1 Samuel 3
The Samuel narratives (1 and 2 Samuel) tell the account of Samuel, Saul, and David.
• 1 Samuel begins with the birth narrative of Samuel to his mother Hannah.
• Hannah honored her vow to the LORD and took him at a young age (4-5 years old?) to enter service to the LORD at Shiloh with Eli the priest.
1 Samuel 2:18-21: 18 But Samuel was ministering before the LORD—a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the LORD give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the LORD.” Then they would go home. 21 And the LORD was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD
• Chapters 2 and 3 present a sharp contrast between the boy Samuel and the sons of the Eli the priest, the wicked Hophni and Phinehas.
• “a linen ephod” = A priestly garment worn by those who served before the LORD at his sanctuary. It was a close-fitting, sleeveless pullover, typically of hip length, and is not to be confused with the special ephod worn by the high priest.
• 2:19: Hannah continues to have contact and impact in the life of her son Samuel, bringing to him “a little robe.” More than likely a garment reaching to the knees that would be worn over the undergarment and under the linen ephod. Looking ahead, in 1 Samuel 18:4, Jonathan will take off his robe and give it to David as a sign of their deep friendship.
• Eli the priest prays for continued blessing for Elkanah and Hannah because of their fulfillment of the vow to give Samuel in service to the LORD. The oncebarren Hannah will go on to have five more children, 3 boys and 2 girls.
• 2:21: Samuel GREW UP in the presence of the LORD, although it must have also included exposure to the wicked behavior of the sons of Eli. More on this next week.
1 Samuel 3:1: 1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions
• Samuel is no longer a little child. Many years have passed. The Jewish historian Josephus places Samuel at 12 years of age in this text. Who else do we read about in the New Testament that had an amazing adventure at the age of 12?
• “The word of the LORD was rare; there were not many vision” = During the entire period of the Judges, apart from the prophet in 1 Samuel 2 (next week’s lesson), we are told of only two prophets (Judges 4:4 – Deborah and Judges 6:7-8 – unnamed prophet) and only five revelations (Judges 2:1-3; Judges 6:11-23; Judges 7:2-11; Judges 10:11-14; Judges 13:3-21).
• Question: Why would this reality (the word of the LORD being rare) be unfolding? 1 Samuel 3:2-9: 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
• Eli the priest has seen better days physically, no pun intended!
• “The lamp of God had not yet gone out”: This is a reference to the golden lampstand, which stood opposite the bread of Presence (Exodus 25:31-40) in the Holy Place. It was still night, but the early morning hours were approaching when the flame would dim or go out. For the lamp to be allowed to go out before morning would be a violation of the regulations Leviticus 24:3-4 (and other texts in the Hebrew Scripture).
• Three times, Samuel hears a voice and assumes it is Eli the priest, but it is not. Eli eventually figures out what is happening and gives wise advice to Samuel
• 3:7: “Samuel did not yet know the LORD: the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.” Not the Torah, but rather direct revelation from Yahweh. Samuel will join an impressive list of Old Testament leaders that heard directly from the LORD.
1 Samuel 3:10-14: 10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 11 And the LORD said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”
• It is interesting that the word of the LORD for Samuel is not really about Samuel, but instead about the evil actions of the sons of Eli and the inaction of Eli the priest.
• The sin of the sons of Eli? “They blasphemed God.” NIV 84 uses the phrase “His sons made themselves contemptible.” This change probably comes from a tough teaching in Leviticus 24:13ff. The punishment for blaspheming God is horrific capital punishment (stoning the blasphemer to death outside the city).
• God is absolutely a God of GRACE and LOVE, but God is also a God of JUSTICE and TRUTH
• How would you fill in this blank? God is _______________.
• How does this scripture speak to parents and our responsibility in raising up children to love and follow and serve the LORD? Or does it?
1 Samuel 3:15-4:1: 15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes.” 19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. 1 And Samuel’s word came to all Israel
• Young Samuel is put in a most difficult position! He becomes a PROPHET who proclaims DIFFICULT and DEVASTATING news to his mentor!
• Eli’s response is interesting. He is almost RESIGNED to the fate that is predicted. What does this tell us about his state of mind and heart?
• Samuel has a most blessed resource: “the LORD is with him as he grows up.”
• “He let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.” = Samuel becomes a reliable voice from the LORD throughout Israel.
• “From Dan to Beersheba” = used throughout Samuel, this expression speaks of the entire land of Israel from the far north (Dan) to the far south (Beersheba).
Lessons from Samuel the boy and his growth in the LORD:
#1: Samuel the boy was continually FAITHFUL in his service to the LORD and developed healthy RHYTHMS and RITUALS.
• Interesting article in The Atlantic last week, that states the sharp decline in church attendance and involvement is not so much about a lack of BELIEF all the time, but instead the BUSYNESS of culture and the challenges that result.
• How do we follow this example of Samuel in 2024, and remain faithful in all aspects of our walk with the LORD, and the important spiritual rhythms of worship and fellowship?
• Hebrews 10:25: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another . . .”
#2: Samuel the boy struggled initially to RECOGNIZE the voice of God. It is crucial that we put ourselves in position to recognize the voice of God in 2024.
• GT’s belief: “God is STILL SPEAKING in 2024.” I don’t believe the Bible will be added to, or modern-day prophets have new and unique words from the LORD that run counter to scripture. Not at all. But God is still speaking to us through his written word and the preaching, teaching, and devoting of Christ followers.
• Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God” is a classic scripture. Interestingly, the Hebrew for this phrase “be still” literally means “Enough!” The NASB uses the phrase “stop striving.”
#3: Samuel the boy was willing to be a TRUTH-TELLER, even when the message being delivered was PAINFUL and might create TROUBLE
• We are reminded that God’s word is not always easy to speak. But we must NEVER fall into the trap of capitulation with culture!
• The sons of Eli are flat-out WICKED, but Eli is not without FAULT.
• The model of Jesus remains our best example 2,000 years later in this arena of life. John 1:14 declares that Jesus began his earthly ministry “full of grace and truth.” We should as well!
Oasis May 28: Eli the priest and his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, 1 Samuel 2.
REMINDER: Evening Oasis concludes for the summer after TONIGHT!
This summer in Main Auditorium: The Samuel narratives. This Sunday: 1 Samuel 17 and epic David and Goliath narrative.