Samuel

A Dejected Leader-Samuel’s Sorrow

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

A Dejected Leader – Samuel’s Sorrow

Book of 1 Samuel Chapter 7-8

The theme of this lesson:

1Sa 8:7  And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: [for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them].

Israel had a great desire to desire to have a king though God had demonstrated many times His capacity to protect His people.

God would soon allow a king but God had some rules for any king of Israel, They are not to be like those of the other nations!

God had already laid out His guidelines for any king of Israel and given them to Moses:

Deu 17:14  When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;
Deu 17:15  Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.
Deu 17:16  But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
Deu 17:17  Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
Deu 17:18  And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
Deu 17:19  And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
Deu 17:20  That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

1) This king would have to be a Jew of the family of Jacob
2) He was not to multiply horses, this was a sign that he trusted in his flesh and not in God.
3) He was not ever to send Israel back to Egypt, for any reason.
4) He should have only one wife.
5) He was not seek riches for himself, only for the people.
6) He was have his own copy of the Word of God from the preserved text. (Such as we are today as KJV)
7) He was to read the Bible daily and not only learn God’s Word but be a doer of the Word of God.
8) He must teach his children to obey God’s Word.

Let’s begin:

*****1Sa 7:1  And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

When we left off last week the Ark was back in possession of Israel but it had not returned to Shiloh and it would never make it back to Shiloh.

Kirjathjearim was a city that belong to Benjamin. Eleazar was a priest of the Tabernacle and since he and all his house treated the Ark with reverence no harm came to him nor to his household during the years that the Ark remain there.

They knew what had happened to the men of Bethshemesh.

*****1Sa 7:2  And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

The Ark was not removed from Abinidab’s home until after the judgeship of Samuel, which was 40 years, the time of King Saul, which was 40 years, and probably at least eight or more years into the reign of King David.

This would be 90-100 years.

But, this is still not a mistake in the Bible!

This verse simply states that all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord for 20 more years after the Ark was in this place.

The 20 years mentioned in this verse represent the time until Samuel called the people together at Mizpeh, and their victory over the Philistines which we are about to read.

*****1Sa 7:3  And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

It had taken 20 years for Israel to come to this point of repentance.

But this could not be a symbolic gesture because it had to come from the heart.

We know that God looks into the heart!

In later years the prophet Joel reminded Israel of this same thing:

Joe 2:12  Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
Joe 2:13  "And rend your heart", and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Another thing we can see here, is that Samuel has now become the spiritual leader of the nation of Israel, something Eli had never been able to do.

And we will soon see that Samuel could also be the military leader of Israel.

And it is a fact that we must serve the Lord only!

There is no room in our lives to place any other god before our Lord!

The Bible teaches us with these words:

Exo 34:14  For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

We seem to forget these things that can cause us to have more bad days than good days sometimes!

*****1Sa 7:4  Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

The worship of Baal and Ashtaroth, who were the false gods of the Canaanites, had been a snare to Israel, since the death of Joshua.

Baalim is the plural of the title Baal and means that there were many such false gods, as was Baal.

Remember Baal was the supreme false god of the Middle East and today is remembered as Allah.

These things show us the need for a strong godly leader in every nation!

We can see that Israel, after Joshua, had not had such a leader until this time of Samuel, even though the worship of all idols would not be totally removed until Israel was carried into Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.

We should also be able to see that what the Ark represented to Israel, Jesus represents to the Church!

Jesus Christ must be first in our lives to receive the blessings of God!

*****1Sa 7:5  And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
1Sa 7:6  And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

It is not enough just to put away the false idols that we place in front of The Lord Jesus Christ.

We must also repent of our sin!

BUT, There can be no deliverance without repentance.

The Bible teaches us:

Psa 66:18  If I regard iniquity in my heart, "the Lord will not hear me":

Samuel understood this very well and he gathered Israel as a nation to Mizpeh.

Repentance must begin with sincere motives but "if there is no action that follows", then there has been no repentance!

Repentance is not only a change of mind but it is also a change of direction!

King or no king, there is no nation that can stand without the Lord Jesus Christ!

The drawing of the water and pouring out before the Lord was a sign of humility.

The Bible teaches us:

Isa 12:2  Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Isa 12:3  "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation".

Remember what Jesus said to the woman at the well:

Joh 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; "but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life".

*****1Sa 7:12  Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

We learned in chapter 4:1 that the place where Israel had battled and lost to the Philistines, would be named Ebenezer.

We learned in chapter 5:1 that in this same place the two sons of Eli and been killed and the Ark of the Covenant had been stolen by the Philistines.

We now learn that it was Samuel who had given this place the name of Ebenezer.

That word Ebenezer means "the stone of help"!

The people of Israel had put away their false gods and declared to serve the Lord only and God had helped them.

The Bible teaches the Church:

Act 10:36  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

If Jesus is not your Lord of all, then He is not your Lord "at all"!

Who is Ebenezer to the Church?

1Co 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Not only is Christ Jesus our "well of salvation", He is our "Rock of offense". Our stone of help.

The Philistines did not bother Israel anymore during the time of Samuel.

And there was even peace with all the Amorites which were all the people left in Canaan.

But every man, and every woman born on this earth has a short life time so time passed as it always does!

*****1Sa 8:1  And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

The people of Israel had again placed their faith in a man and not in the God of that man. This time it was Samuel.

They had again forgotten their Maker!

These years had passed quickly and at this time Samuel would have been about 75 years old

*****1Sa 8:2  Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges Beersheba.
1Sa 8:3  And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

Samuel had been allowing his sons to stay in Beersheba to see how they would judge Israel and they were not judging according to the Law of God, "which they would have known".

Deu 16:18  Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
Deu 16:19  Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

These two sons neither served the Lord nor did they do justice to men as their father Samuel had done.

In fact that word "lucre" means they plundered the people and gained in personal wealth by being dishonest and in some cases by being violent toward the people.

They took bribes to sway truthful judgment!

They were crooked judges that were for hire!

This is much like the world is in our day!

*****1Sa 8:4  Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
1Sa 8:5  And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

Samuel was getting old but God had not removed him as judge and prophet of Israel.

A true servant of God serves until their death!

A God called prophet is God’s man until he dies!

The people came to the home of Samuel and demanded something be done, in fact they demanded a king.

Israel wanted to have a king like the nations that were around them!

Notice these people did not even ask Samuel to remove his two sons as judges.

They only acknowledged that Samuel was getting old and before he died they wanted a change in their government.

We usually get in serious trouble when we want to be like everybody else!

The Lord teaches us:

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, "and be ye separate", saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

God does not promise to be a "Father" to those in the world but only to those that separate themselves form the world.

The "world" refers to those that reject the Lord Jesus Christ!

Israel had always been different from all other nations because they had a special relationship with Jehovah God.

They depended on God for their existence!

They depended on God to defend them when their enemies approached!

Most of the time our strength "comes from our differences" and not by conforming to this world!

To be a Christian is to be totally unlike the world and we should never compromise on the Word of God.

To be Christian is to be like Jesus Christ!

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, "a peculiar people"; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

*****1Sa 8:6  But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

We do not read where Israel went to the Lord in prayer but we do read that is the first thing that Samuel did.

We must realize that it is not God’s will for us to get everything that we desire!

That word "displeased" means that they broke the heart of Samuel.

And, Samuel certainly was not going to approve this request!

The Apostle Paul had this same problem with the Galatians:

Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Why would anyone that knows the truth want to be in bondage to some other form of government?

*****1Sa 8:7  And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

Israel had not needed a king to judge them.

Israel had not needed a king to fight their battles.

We have already read that Moses had instructed them on how a king should rule and how he should be chosen.

We began our lesson with scripture from Deuteronomy 17.

God had plans for a future King of Israel but it was not at this time!

We will soon see as a result of their complaining, and instead of being grateful in obeying God, God would grant their request.

But that is not all God gave them!

The book of Psalms reads this way:

Psa 106:15  And he gave them their request; "but sent leanness into their soul".

In other words while God pampered them giving in to their request, their souls would be starving  for God’s guidance.

*****1Sa 8:8  According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

Even until this day we live in now 2013 Israel has never fully trusted in the Lord.

In America our national motto has always been "In God We Trust" but  we know that there is a movement today to remove these words from everything that involves our government.

Foolish, America does not want God to rule over our government.

Just like Samuel, this breaks my heart!

In our Pledge of Allegiance we have always said  we are "One nation under God".

But there are those it want these words removed also.

America is headed in the same path that Israel took this day with Samuel!

America wants a King and we are getting a taste of what I King will be like today with our existing government!

Our Creator, and Our Maker, has been rejected and has been replaced by "evolutionary uniformitarianism" or also called The Evolutionary New Age Movement.

And this is the false theory that completely dominates the scientific and educational establishments of every nation in the world today.

*****1Sa 8:9  Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

God told Samuel to do what they had asked.

But God also told Samuel to do so under protest by showing them that "evilness" was behind their request.

Samuel laid out for Israel exactly what would happen.

1) Their sons would be drafted as soldiers for the military and for many other things, like slaves.

2) The military would be ruled by the king and not by the people.

3) The king would build his military war machines and weapons of mass destruction at his own discretion, n not influenced by the people.

4) A king would take their daughters for cooking, baking and other things in support of his government.

5) A king would take their own possessions to be his own and make them to be his own servants.

6.) A king would cause a great taxing to support the government.

7) A king would take whatever he thought would be necessary to run his government, this included personal freedoms and human rights.

8) He would control their means to make their own living.

9) A king would take away everything that rightfully belonged to the people, the will of the people would be ignored!

10) Kings are not for the people, kings are for their own selves and will do most anything to remain in power!

*****1Sa 8:18  And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

Many people say that this sounds harsh and God would not do such a thing.

But the Bible says that any nation that rejects the Lord and follows after man will then not be heard of God when they cry out.

In our day God deals with individuals!

We must have a personal relation with the Lord!

God will deal with individuals who trust in His holy name!

God will not deal with nations of communism or socialism or any nation that rejects His Word!

This is the age of the Laodicean church and Jesus is on the outside of the door knocking trying to get back in.

*****1Sa 8:19  Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

Israel believes that a King will bring relief from injustice but instead they will experience oppression by his hand.

Remember God had just answered the prayer of Samuel and delivered Israel from the Philistines.

But God would no longer answer a rebellious Israel who cried out because of their king.

The people refused to listen to Samuel.

In other words when we read this portion of the Bible we should see that our Lord had no wrongdoing in this matter!

God only gave this people what they asked for!

*****1Sa 8:20  That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

We read in this verse the underlying reason for the people’s demand.

In their minds the Ark had failed them in their battles with the Philistines!

They wanted a king to lead them into battle.

They had soon forgotten that it was the Lord that had led them in the time of Moses and the time of Joshua to victory in many battles.

*****1Sa 8:21  And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
1Sa 8:22  And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

These people wanted to be like their neighbors.

They want a king who would not only fight their battles but would also be there judge.

We never read in the Bible where an enemy of Israel had ever prevailed while they were following the Word of God!

To be quite honest this same thing would happen today if Israel would follow the complete Word of God!

Israel still has this promise from the Lord!

SO, God told Samuel to make Israel a King!

As Christians our first priority is to please the Lord!

Everything else has to be second in our lives and this includes family.

We can never turn our backs on the Lord and survive in this world!

You see, we can never influence the decisions that the Lord makes!

But in Israel’s mind they felt like they might be able to influence some king who they allowed to rule over them but they never could.

They wanted some input into their own government but they never got the opportunity.

We should be very careful when we pray because if our prayers are not in the will of God, He may actually allow some of the things we ask, so we can learn some valuable lesson!

Every prophecy of Samuel came to pass but the people of Israel did not even notice!

In our day most all the prophecies of the Bible have come to pass and there are some that time has not allowed them to happen but they will, but the world has not even noticed.

God is not through with Israel even in our day.

God has promised a True King for Israel but that King will not come until the time of Church Age has passed.

That King is our Savior, King Jesus!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

A Submissive Child God Calls Samuel

/ Bobby Mayfield / 2 Comments

A Submissive Child, God Calls Samuel

Book of I Samuel Chapter 3

When we left off last week we saw that Eli had lost favor with God. We also saw that Samuel was gaining favor with the Lord.

It is stated that as Samuel grew he was in favor both with the Lord and also with men.

It is at this time in Samuel’s life God made Himself known. The Lord revealed Himself in different ways to Samuel and his fame and his influence increased throughout the land as people realized that Samuel had been divinely called to be a prophet.

So let’s begin:

*****1Sa 3:1  And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

Samuel was still a child.

The Hebrew word "naar" used here means that Samuel was not yet a teenager.

Hebrew children were taught in stages. At the age of five they were ready for the Scriptures and they began with the book of Leviticus.

At the age of 10 they were ready to study all of God’s Word.

At the age of 13 they were expected to uphold the commandments of God. This included the 10 Commandments while beginning to learn the other 603 commandments.

At the age of 15 they were expected to show wisdom in God’s Word and make sound judgments.

At the age of 18 they could marry.

At the age of 20 they were expected to seek an occupation to provide for themselves.

At the age of 30 they could go into the ministry and were expected to do so.

At the age of 40 they were expected to go about the ministry without supervision.

And at the age of 50 they were considered to be wise enough to counsel others.

Samuel was probably at least 12 years old at this time.

But without a doubt our age should never be a factor in our service to the Lord!

We are never too young and certainly never too old to serve the Lord Jesus Christ!

There will be no honor from the Father in Heaven unless we serve the Son:

Joh 12:26  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

That phrase "no open vision" along with "the Word of the Lord was precious in those days" indicates that God had not given any direct revelation to His people as He had in former times.

Since Moses, there had not been a Prophet!

That word "precious" means that many desired the Word of God but they were not receiving it!

There was a great need for a true prophet of God!

*****1Sa 3:2  And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
1Sa 3:3  And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
1Sa 3:4  That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

We know that when the Temple was built that there were chambers where theTemple priest could sleep.

And it is most probable at this time it Shiloh, since the Tabernacle was not moving from place to place, that a place had been built for the high priest and those that worked at the Tabernacle perhaps even under the same roof.

Wherever Eli was sleeping, Samuel had his own bed very close because of the near blindness of Eli.

No doubt Eli called on Samuel many times during the night.

The Lamp of God was a seven branched golden candlestick that stood in the Holy place before the Veil. (Note Rev. 1:20)

Eli was so old that, he had his place near this Candlestick.

It was the only source of light in that place and the priests were ordered to keep it burning.

Exo 27:20  And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

These lamps were to trimmed, filled with oil, and lit at twilight every single night and they were to remain burning until morning.

To allow this lamp go out showed laziness and to put it out showed disobedience and contempt for the Word of God.

But this also shows us the place that Eli and Samuel slept were very near this Candlestick.

And the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel’s answer was not intended to declare the place where he was sleeping.

Samuel’s answer shows us his readiness and his cheerfulness to do anything that was required of him.

*****1Sa 3:5  And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
1Sa 3:6  And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
1Sa 3:7  Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

We know that Samuel answered the first call but he did not understand who was calling.

And he ran to Eli. It is always important that we understand who is calling and what we are being asked to do!

Salvation and the Lord’s service are too important to be misunderstood and taken wrongfully.

Samuel also misunderstood the second call.

We can see that Samuel did not know the Lord at this time. Even the third call by the Lord was still misunderstood but Samuel was certain that he was being called by some one.

*****1Sa 3:8  And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
1Sa 3:9  Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Our lesson here is that we may not always recognize the call of God at first!

Think back to the first time you came under conviction, did you really know it was the Holy Ghost?

Eli never scolded Samuel and did finally give him the right instructions.

God deserves an answer every time He calls!

We cannot be like Jonah and try to run away from God. We will certainly learn some of the same lessons Jonah had to learn, the hard way!

There is another great lesson we will learn in these passages.

"God will never be without someone to teach the truth of the Gospel no matter what preachers who have strayed from the truth are teaching!"

*****1Sa 3:10  "And the LORD came", and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

When we see where a name is spoken twice, especially by the Lord, then the message is very important and the action is coming very soon.

It happened to Moses at the burning bush:

Exo 3:4  And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

It happened to Abraham when he was about to slay Isaac:

Gen 22:11  And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

We see Jesus speak to Jerusalem:

Mat 23:37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

And the calling of the Apostle Paul:

Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And also the Apostle Peter:

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

Samuel understood and replied that he was listening and we must always listen patiently to the Lord when He calls.

Every message of the Lord is important and sometimes requires our "immediate" attention!

*****1Sa 3:11  And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
1Sa 3:12  In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
1Sa 3:13  For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
1Sa 3:14  And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

God’s message to Samuel was a message of "Judgment"!

It was inexcusable for the sons of Eli to behave as they had!

It had been Eli’s duty to force them to behave in God’s House!

Their crimes were crimes punishable by death according to God’s commandments and it was Eli’s duty to have them executed them and all of Israel knew these things.

But Eli honored his sons more than the Word of God!

So, God said His judgment would shock this nation of Israel!

God said this judgment would be so intense that the ears of every citizen in Israel would tingle!

God had already told Eli that he and his sons had forfeited their right to the priests’ office.

Brother Johnny explained that last week in chapter 2.

In our next chapter we will see Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas will all die the on same day.

And later, when Saul is king, he slew Ahimelech, who was the grandson of Phinehas.

And even later, Abiathar was removed by Solomon who was the last of the priesthood of the family of Eli.

From that point on it was the family of Zadok. This would fulfill the promise God had made to Moses about "another Phinehas" the son of Eleazar, the third born son of Aaron, which was the true line of the High Priest of Israel.

Num 25:12  Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:
Num 25:13  And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.

But not only would this happen to the family of Eli, the Ark of God would fall into the hands of the Philistines and would not be totally recovered to it’s place, until the time of King David.

And also we know that Shiloh was completely destroyed:

The Bible says:

Jer 7:11  Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.
Jer 7:12  But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see "what I did to it" for the wickedness of my people Israel.

God was serious then about the things that went on in the House of God!

And God is serious now about what goes on in the House of God!

Notice those words "that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged"

God did not forgive Eli nor those of his family!

And God will not always forgive those that try to rule in the House of God!

It’s God’s House and He will rule by His Own Word or that house will cease to exist as a house of God and become Satan’s house! (Note Rev 3:20)

*****1Sa 3:15  And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.

We do not know how much Samuel understood of the things of Eli and his sons but Samuel did not get anymore sleep that night.

Eli was like a father to Samuel and he did not want to tell Eli what the Lord had said.

But we should remember these words to Jeremiah who was also called as a child:

Jer 1:6  Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
Jer 1:7  But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
Jer 1:8  Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

Can God talk to children and they understand Him? Sure He can!

*****1Sa 3:16  Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
1Sa 3:17  And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
1Sa 3:18  And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

Samuel did not want to tell Eli what God had said. This was out of respect for Eli but Eli did not show the same respect for this 12 year old but actually had to threaten him.

A true Prophet of God takes no pleasure in delivering a message of judgment!

But the truth is always still the truth!

Eli insisted that Samuel swear that he would tell everything and even told him that the Lord would bring the same judgment upon him if he did not.

Samuel understood what Eli was saying and told him everything the Lord had said.

*****1Sa 3:19  And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

Three things here:

1) Samuel grew, in other words he increased in manhood.

2) It was the Lord who became Samuel’s teacher and not Eli, filling him with grace and holiness.

3) And Whatever this young prophet said, God fulfilled it and the words of Samuel were received "as coming from the Lord".

The Bible says:

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

We must not forget that Samuel was also a priest of the family of Kohath a son of Levi.

So we see that it was Samuel that brought reform to the priestly order:

1Ch 9:22  All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David "and Samuel" the seer did ordain in their set office.

*****1Sa 3:20  And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.

Israel may have not been unified politically at this time but all of Israel were unified in the knowledge that Samuel was the voice of God!

Dan was the most northern border and Beersheba was the most southern border.

*****1Sa 3:21  And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

In Chapter 4 we will read of the war with the Philistines but just before this takes place we read that the Lord appears again to Samuel.

In the Book of John we read these words:

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2  The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

I believe that none other than the Lord was with Samuel this night in Shiloh.

Again God can take one man and bring change to Israel.

And God has taken one man "Jesus" and has changed this world we live in!

Samuel was about to have "a new beginning" even at such a young age!

Eli’s sons showed nothing but contempt to the house of God, the sacrifice, and the women of the church, but worst of all toward the Lord.

They were greedy, immoral and worthless sons of Belial!

Next week we will see God’s judgment on the house of Eli.

But, we must also remember these words of Peter:

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

We owe it to the Lord to know how to act in the House of God!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

A Special Life The Birth Of Samuel

/ Bobby Mayfield / 9 Comments

A Special Life, The Birth Of Samuel

Text:

1 Samuel; 1 Chronicles

Our Focus: 1 Samuel

Theme: There are no accidents with God. God has a plan and purpose for every life born into this world!

The Books of Samuel could be considered transitional books in the Bible.

The Books of Samuel roughly cover the years 1070-970 BC.

To some Samuel is considered the last of the judges.

To others Samuel is considered the first of the kings.

In truth Samuel was the last judge, but Samuel was also a priest, and Samuel was also a prophet.

And, it could probably be said that Samuel was the founder of the "school of prophets" mentioned more by Elijah and Elisha.

But Samuel was never King of Israel, the first king being King Saul.

Samuel is probably the author of most of the Book of Samuel but he could not have written all of it because the book notes his death.

It is because of this that we can believe we have actual eyewitness accounts of the events that are described in both First Samuel and Second Samuel.

This was an extremely important period in the history of Israel, marking the end of the dark period of the judges, and the transition to the United Kingdom of King David.

This is the transition in the Bible from a theocracy to a monarchy.

Believe me we are fools to want anyone but Jehovah God ruling in our lives.

Those that want a king deserve a king. Only when King Jesus rules during the Millennial Kingdom will there be a just king and this comes after the Church Age!

So let’s begin with the birth of Samuel:

*****1Sa 1:1  Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
1Sa 1:2  And 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.
1Sa 1:3  And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
1Sa 1:4  And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
1Sa 1:5  But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
1Sa 1:6  And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
1Sa 1:7  And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
1Sa 1:8  Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

We must remember the theme of the Book of Judges.

Jdg 17:6  In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Something was needed to break the endless cycle of sin, punishment, and oppression.

These judges were only a temporary solution and Israel felt that perhaps law and order would exist if they had a king.

But before the first king arises we will first see the last great judge of Israel!

Elkanah, which means "God created" was from Ephraim geographically, but he was also from the family of Levi, the priestly family.

Elkanah was a descendent through Kohath.

It was the duty of this family to take care of the Ark of the covenant, the table of shewbread, the candlestick, the alters, and the vessels of the sanctuary, with all the hangings of the Tabernacle.

We should have a clear understanding that though Elkanah had two wives, "polygamy" was not, and never will be a part of God’s original design and intent.

When the Lord instituted marriage, He made it quite clear that marriage be between one man and one woman, and this is the pattern for all marriages. No Same Sex Marriages are biblical!

Polygamy and any other unbiblical marriage will always cause additional consequences and hardships in a family!

Hannah may have been the favored wife but it was the other wife that was providing the children!

Barrenness in the Old Testament era, was considered a curse on a married woman since her husband’s legacy and inheritance largely depended on a son to continue the family’s bloodline.

So Hannah was not only barren but she was also ridiculed by other women especially Peninnah!

The Hebrew men had to go to the Tabernacle to worship the Lord at least three times each year.

They had to observe the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, which included the time of the Passover.

They had to observe the Feast of the First Fruits.

And they had to observe the Feast of the Tabernacles.

AND, the Tabernacle was located in Shiloh at this time, which was about 10 miles from where Elkanah lived.

At this time, Eli was the high priest of Israel, but he was also the judge of Israel after the death of Samson.

Eli had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, but they profaned the priesthood, and caused great disgust amongst the people of Israel in their worship of the Lord.

That phrase "a worthy portion" really meant that Elkanah offered an offering for Hannah that was enough for two.  He offered for Hannah and for a child she had never had up till this time!

But Hannah’s female rival taunted her and caused her great sorrow year after year and she despised this trip to Shiloh.

But Hannah, whose name means "Grace" could not leave off serving the Lord!

SO, Hannah shows us two of things that are required for answered prayer!

One of those is patience.

The Bible says:

Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: "knowing that tribulation worketh patience";

Another one is the fact that the Lord looks into the heart of that one who prays.

And the Bible says:

Psa 34:18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

It is truly a miserable when trials and troubles come, but many use this as an excuse to stop going to church.

This will never solve the problem and it will only make things worse!

*****1Sa 1:9  So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
1Sa 1:10  And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

There’s just something special about praying in the house of God! We cannot always do this but we can get into our closet and get alone with God!

While everyone else were still sitting around the table, Hannah rose up to go pray.

When we fully understand that is only the Lord who has the power to answer prayer, then we will live in such a way that our prayers can be answered.

We see Eli, who was the high priest, and a descendent of Ithamar, though all high priest should actually have come through the family of Eleazar, the firstborn son of Aaron.

King Solomon corrects this when he becomes king and installs Zadok as High Priest.

We also see that Eli sat upon a seat.

In other words he was more prepared to judge God’s people than he was to be a priest to God’s people!

Hannah was in bitterness of soul and Hannah cried to the Lord who knew her needs.

Hannah not only wept but she wept with such intensity, that she became emotional in her sadness sadness.

We know that when weeping begins in the heart it will show outwardly and with great stress!

*****1Sa 1:11  And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

Normally, if Hannah had had a son he would have been involved in the ministry of the tabernacle from the age of 25 to the age of 50.

But by this vow for her son, he would to be devoted to the ministry from his childhood and "also" being subjected to the discipline of a Nazirite all his life.

We see a lot of pictures of Jesus with longhair but these pictures could better describe what Samuel would have looked like as Jesus probably did not have long hair but resembled most any other Jewish man of that time!

*****1Sa 1:12  And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
1Sa 1:13  Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
1Sa 1:14  And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

Hannah’s faith and devotion was so strong that it brought misunderstanding and criticism from Eli.

Again, Eli sat as judge before his main function as priest!

We will see that Eli was tolerant of the sin of his two sons, but he was quick to judge and condemn the devotion of a godly woman!

We will also see that if your prayers do not come from your heart, then they cannot be heard of God!

John Bunyan said: "in prayer it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart".

And, this is the way that Hannah prayed!

BUT, Eli, the high priest, reputed Hannah while she was still praying!

He accused her of being a drunk and therefore wasting God’s time!

But Jesus said:

Joh 7:24  Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

We soon find out as Christians that as we serve our best, the world will judge us with great harshness!

AND, we see this more and more of in the days we now live!

*****1Sa 1:15  And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
1Sa 1:16  Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

Hannah immediately denies that she even drinks alcohol and Hannah kept a meek and humble spirit because her heart and soul were stayed on the Lord!

A "daughter of Belial" would mean that Hannah was a "worthless" person in the eyes of man.

She just tells Eli that she was pouring out her soul before the Lord! 

Eli would have known this if he had just listened, and finally we see Eli acting like a priest which he should have done from the start.

*****1Sa 1:17  Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
1Sa 1:18  And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

We know that the United Nations seeks ways to change this world every day, but what we will read here, in the Book of Samuel, Is That God Can Change The World With The Birth Of One Child!

Hannah was crying out for a child not knowing "that it was in the will of God to use such a child" at this very time!

God had made plans for Samuel before he was even born!

Eli then added his own blessing to the prayer of Hannah.

Hannah may not have known her prayer would be answered but she knew she had gone to the only source who could provide her request!

Five times Hannah had called herself a handmaid, which tells us she had submitted herself to the Lord. (Five also being the number for Grace)

Hannah returned to the feast with peace in her heart, and joy showed on her face, her burden was lifted!

*****1Sa 1:19  And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
1Sa 1:20  Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

"Remembered" means that God kept this prayer of Hannah on His mind!

There are over 40 times that the Bible uses the word "remembered" associated with God.

The Book of Revelation states this fact:

Rev 8:3  And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with [the prayers of all saints] upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4  And the smoke of the incense, [which came with the prayers of the saints], ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

The "prayers of the saints" are a sweet aroma in the presence of God!

And God does not forget any prayer that reaches into Heaven and each of those prayers He will answer in His own time.

The Book of James tells us:

Jas 4:2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, [yet ye have not, because ye ask not].
Jas 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, [because ye ask amiss], that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

The art of praying is best learn on our knees with a humble heart and just talking to God!

First we see that Hannah did ask of God and her prayer did reach into Heaven. Hannah had lived a life that allowed this to happen and Hannah had not asked "amiss"!

In other words what Hannah had asked was not wrong!

It was not out of order!

AND, it was not improper and God had heard this prayer!

The next thing we see in this verse is the fact that the birth of Samuel would not be a supernatural event but would come from his parents Elkanah and Hannah.

In fact, the name Samuel means, "heard from God", because she had ask for him from the Lord.

*****1Sa 1:21  And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
1Sa 1:22  But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.

Most children can be weaned from their mothers milk in two or no more than three years and this could be true of Samuel.

But one commentator writes that there was a threefold weaning of children in these times.

1.) There would first be a weaning from the mother’s milk up to three years old.

2.) There would next be a weaning of the toddler stage up to seven years old.

3.) There would last be a weaning from childless manners at the age of 12.

In other words it was very probable that Samuel was 12 years old and fit to serve in the Tabernacle, so that he may appear before the Lord and abide forever.

We know that in the life of Jesus, growing up we first see Him at the age of twelve at the Temple in Jerusalem:

Luk 2:42  And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

Luk 2:46  And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

*****1Sa 1:23  And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

It was not sin for Hannah to stay at home and Elkanah approved of Hannah’s decision. It was only required of the men to make those three yearly trips to the Tabernacle.

*****1Sa 1:24  And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.

1.) Hannah brought with her three bullocks. This probably but did not mean that Samuel was three years old as some suggest but there were three offerings that had to be made.

There was the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the peace offering.

2.) Hannah brought and ephah of flour. It took 3/10 part of a ephah for each offering, of each bullock.

3.) And Hannah brought a bottle of wine.

God will never go against His Word so this was grape juice and not fermented wine, as some may think and probably "freshly squeezed" or "yayin mi-gat", wine from the vat as only the best would be brought before the Lord!

In fact, The Jewish Encyclopedia provides a concise description of the various usages of "yayin": Which is "Fresh wine", before any fermenting.

And in the more recent Encyclopaedia Judaica (1971): "The newly pressed wine prior to fermentation was known as "yayin".

In the King James Bible "yayin" can be used for fermented and unfermented wine.

Such as:

Pro 23:30  They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Pro 23:31  Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
Pro 23:32  At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

This verse tells us specifically not to look upon wine that is fermented and if you cannot look upon it then you certainly should not drink of it.

Again, God will never go against His Own Word.

1Sa 1:25  And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
1Sa 1:26  And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
1Sa 1:27  For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

Hannah had taught her son well and had prepared him for serving the Lord.

At this time Samuel did not have a personal knowledge of the Lord!

This would come later when God spoke to him!

But Hannah was woman of prayer and she taught her son to be a man of prayer.

Hannah reminded Eli that she was the woman who had prayed for a son earlier.

And, She also reminded Eli that God had answered her prayer!

*****1Sa 1:28  Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

That word "Lent" used by Hannah here, means that she was making a lifelong and unconditional loan of her son, to the Lord.

Hannah had been obedient to her vow!

And, Hannah is a wonderful example of praying in the "Will of God"!

God works through mankind and God wanted a man like Samuel!

But, True prayer can only be offered on the grounds of sacrifice.

When Jesus Christ offered Himself as payment for our sin, He also opened the doors of Heaven that our prayers could be accepted through Him.

The Bible is specific:

Joh 14:13  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified "in the Son".
Joh 14:14  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

There was much more work done on the Cross than just a payment for our sin!

Prayer is about changing us, as much as it is about changing our circumstances, and none of that can happen without Jesus!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!