The Lord Calls Samuel
1 Samuel 3:1-4:1a
Key Verse 3:10
“The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
1. Read verses 1-3. What did the boy Samuel do under Eli? (1a) What were the spiritual conditions in those days? (1b) What was Eli’s condition and where was he lying down? (2) How is the lamp of God described? (3a, Exodus 27:21) Where was Samuel lying down? (3b)
1-1) Read verses 1-3
The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.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 temple[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel+3&version=NIV1984" \l "fen-NIV1984-7280a" \o "See footnote a"a] of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
1-2) What did the boy Samuel do under Eli? (1a)
The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli.
Age doesn’t matter.
What matters is “serving God before the Lord”.
1-3) What were the spiritual conditions in those days? (1b)
In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
No word of God, thus not many visions.
Visions come from the word of God.
1-4) What was Eli’s condition and where was he lying down? (2)
One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.
1-5) How is the lamp of God described? (3a, Exodus 27:21)
3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out,
Literally, the lamp of God was not extinguished.
Symbolically, the lamp of God, God’s hope, was not gone.
God prepared one boy for God’s redemptive history in the spiritually dark moment.
God prepared the boy Joseph, baby Moses, & here boy Samuel in dark times.
The lamp of God had not been gone, has not been gone, and is not gone and will not go. God prepares one man even in the seemingly dark moment.
Exodus 27:21, “In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.
1-6) Where was Samuel lying down? (3b)
Samuel was lying down in the temple[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel+3&version=NIV1984" \l "fen-NIV1984-7280a" \o "See footnote a"a] of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
It shows Samuel’s attitude toward God.
2. Read verses 4-9. Who called Samuel and how did he respond? (4,5a) How many times did God call Samuel without Samuel recognizing who was calling him? (4,6,8) Why didn’t Samuel recognize God calling him? (7) How did Eli instruct Samuel? (8b, 9)
2-1) Read verses 4-9)
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 The LORD called Samuel a third time, 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.
2-2) Who called Samuel and how did he respond? (4,5a)
Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
2-3) How many times did God call Samuel without Samuel recognizing who was calling him? (4,6,8)
The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
2-4) Why didn’t Samuel recognize God calling him? (7)
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
2-5) How did Eli instruct Samuel? (8b, 9)
Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 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.
3. Read verses 10-14. How did the Lord approach Samuel? (10a) What was Samuel’s response? (10b) What did the Lord say to Samuel? (11-14) Why did God judge Eli and his family? (13) How did God severely judge them? (14)
3-1) Read verses 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 of 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 made themselves contemptible,[ HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel+3&version=NIV1984" \l "fen-NIV1984-7290b" \o "See footnote b" b] 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.’”
3-2) How did the Lord approach Samuel? (10a)
The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
3-3) What was Samuel’s response? (10b)
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
3-4) What did the Lord say to Samuel? (11-14)
And the LORD said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of 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 made themselves contemptible,[ HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel+3&version=NIV1984" \l "fen-NIV1984-7290b" \o "See footnote b" b] 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.’”
3-5) Why did God judge Eli and his family? (13)
For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible,[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel+3&version=NIV1984" \l "fen-NIV1984-7290b" \o "See footnote b"b] and he failed to restrain them
Two sons committed the contemptible sins before God.
Eli didn’t restrain his two sons.
We can’t neglect our duties as the servants of God. We should teach and correct our children and bible students through the words of God.
3-6) How did God severely judge 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.’”
4. Read verses 15-18. What did Samuel do after listening to God’s vision? (15a) How did he feel about sharing God’s vision with Eli? (15b) What did Eli say to Samuel? (16,17) How did Samuel tell God’s vision to Eli? (18a) What was Eli’s response? (18b)
4-1) Read verses 15-18.
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.”
4-2) What did Samuel do after listening to God’s vision? (15a)
Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD.
Samuel didn’t neglect his duty. He discharged his duty as if nothing happened.
4-3) How did he feel about sharing God’s vision with Eli? (15b)
He was afraid to tell Eli the vision.
4-4) What did Eli say to Samuel? (16,17)
But Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “Here I am.” “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.”
4-5) How did Samuel tell God’s vision to Eli? (18a)
So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him.
The basic attitude of a servant of God is that he should not add or subtract the words of God although it may be painful.
The words of God should be proclaimed and declared regardless of man’s situation.
Messenger is communication channel of God for his own people and for his own purpose.
It’s not easy to speak out “God’s judgment” to someone close to us, yet we should do it if it is God’s will. Samuel delivered God’s will to Eli and later to Saul.
4-6) What was Eli’s response? (18b)
Then Eli said, “He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes.” His response seems like he gave up disciplining his sons. He did not fear God’s judgment.
5. Read verses 19-21and 4:1a. How did God show his favor to Samuel? (19) What did all Israel recognize? (20) How did God reveal himself to Samuel at Shiloh? (21) What happened to Israel? (3:1b; 4:1a)
5-1) Read verses 19-21and 4:1a.
19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his 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.
And Samuel’s word came to all Israel.
5-2) How did God show his favor to Samuel? (19)
The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.
God’s words never falls to the ground.
a) God will carry out his will anyway.
b) God’s will (word) was never fallen to the ground due to Samuel.
c) God’s will toward Samuel was fulfilled. God let Samuel grow up as God’s prophet and servant.
5-3) What did all Israel recognize? (20)
And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD.
5-4) How did God reveal himself to Samuel at Shiloh? (21)
21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
5-5) What happened to Israel? (3:1b; 4:1a)
And Samuel’s word came to all Israel.
God’s word was delivered through Samuel.
Considering points on this passage
Samuel’s basic attitude toward God: absolute. He was faithful to his duty
The lamp of God had not gone. God’s hope in God’s men and women in the dark moment never goes out.
God calls and Samuel responses.
The basic attitude of those who handles the words of God: They should become transparent communication channel between God and men. God’s words should not be compromised because of men.
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