Thursday, July 27, 2023

“Samuel the Prophet”

 “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.” (1 Samuel 3:1)


Eli is getting old and his vision dims. And the lamp of God went out in the temple where the Ark of the Covenant was. And Samuel laid down to sleep.


Out of the dark a voice says, “Samuel”.


Samuel answered, “Here am I”


Samuel thought it was Eli calling to him, so he ran into where Eli was sleeping. Samuel said, “You called me?”


Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.”


Samuel goes back to sleep.


Out of the dark a voice says, “Samuel”.


Samuel answered, “Here am I”


Samuel thought it was Eli calling to him, so he ran into where Eli was sleeping. Samuel said, “You called me?”


Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.”


Samuel goes back to sleep.


“Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.” (1 Samuel 3:7)


God calls to Samuel a third time.


“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.(1 Samuel 3:9)


God calls Samuel again, and this is what he said.


“11And 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.


12In 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.


13For 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.


14And 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.” (1 Samuel 3:11-14)


Some people talk about being kind to others. God was certainly kind to Eli. Eli, through his sin filled sons had turned their backs on God. God had warned Eli, but gave him enough rope to bring in a Judge and Prophet through Samuel.


Samuel didn’t want to tell Eli everything God had spoken to him, but Eli wanted to know. Samuel told him everything God had said. Eli surrenders and repents to all the sin he has done.


“19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.


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


21And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 3:19-21)


Stay Tuned…

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