I Samuel 3:1-21 | lesson # 5 | THE CALL OF GOD

                                                            I Samuel 3:1-21                  lesson # 5

                                                THE CALL OF GOD

 

I.  Greetings.

 

II. Introduction.  The Condition of Israel:  I Samuel 3:1-3.

            Q What is a spiritual revival?

            Q Why are they needed?  Do churches, groups, cities, nations get dry?

            Q What causes the dry times?

            Note: I Samuel opens at a time in Israel's history when there was a need, a desperate need for spiritual revival.  Lets see how I Samuel describes it.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 3:1.

            Q What was rare in those days?

               An = The revelation of God's will & direction for the community:  no word, no visions.  He did not communicate. There is not a good relationship if there is no communication.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 3:2-3.

            Note:  The Bible is carefully written, and words are used carefully.  One key group of words used often in the Bible are the words used for sight.  They often double for the spiritual/mental concept of perception.  Eyes (and words clustered around `eyes') refer to perception or understanding.  We do this in English as well:  "Now I see".

            Q So, what could be meant in I Samuel 3:2 about Eli?

               An = He did not perceive the spiritual condition of his nation, nor perceive the spiritual direction God desired (see 3:1).

            Note:  See 3:3 where the "Lamp of God" does refer to a real lamp in the Temple, but it could also symbolize the spiritual life of Israel.  It could mean that their spiritual life was almost extinguished.

            Q According to chapter 2, what was a key cause of Israel's lack of receiving a "word from the Lord"?

               An = corrupt leadership.

            Q If corrupt leadership is the cause, what can be the remedy?

               An = New leadership.  New leadership is not a humanly engineered thing.  I believe it comes from God.  Let me show you why I think this is so.

 

II.  The Call of Samuel:  I Samuel 3:4-14.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 3:4-9.

            Q Do kids call out at night?

               An = See if some could tell stories that they know.  Mine did.  They often wanted water.  Eli no doubt thinks Samuel is a little boy who is alone and afraid at night and is calling out.  It says Eli is almost blind, but eventually he "sees" or perceives what is happening to the child.

            Note:  The little boy is an obedient lad.  Learning to obey our proper human authorities is good practice to hearing from God when He speaks.  The child who has not learned that lesson well could also have deep difficulties with learning how to obey God.

            Q Did Eli give good advice?

 

 

               An = It was excellent advice.  In Hebrew the word for "listen" is the same word to denote "obey".  Samuel is being told:  "Tell God you want Him to speak, to communicate, because you are willing to hear and to obey."  Eli could not have given better advice for dealing with Almighty God.  Notice now what happens....

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 3:10-14.

            Note:  Remember last week when we discussed our responsibility in disciplining our children?  Eli corrected them but did not restrain them.  Therefore, Eli's house is doomed. 

            Q Who is Eli?  How important was he in the nation?

               An = He was like the Pope.  In fact, he was more than the Pope, he was the official head of the nation.  He was the only "pan-Israelite" leader at that time.

            Q How do you think the child felt hearing this about his boss, especially when his boss was the most important person in the nation and the news was so bad?

               An = I am sure this was a very intimidating thing to hear.  Eli had been quite good to him and given him good spiritual advice.

 

III.  Confirming The Call:  I Samuel 3:15-21.

  A.  Samuel's Action:  I Samuel 3:15-18.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 3:15-18.

            Q Was the priest threatening the little boy to get the full information?

               An = He most certainly was!  This is quite a threat to drop on a little child.  In Hebrew what Eli literally says is "May God do to you and more (no doubt the bad news) if you hide anything from me."  Eli really wanted to know and Eli seemed to have anticipated the negative possibilities of the message.

            Note:  Samuel told everything.

            Q Are you surprised at Eli's response to the bad news?

            Q Why was he not angry at Samuel for bearing such bad news?

               An = 1)  As wrong as Eli was in not restraining his own children he still was not a totally bad man.  He did want to know the message and he was willing to accept it.  2)  Probably Eli was able to handle the news because it matched what Eli had already heard from the `man of God'(see I Samuel 2:27-34).  If God is truly speaking it will often be confirmed again.

            Q Was it fair to have a little boy, receive a "call from God" and then be plunged into a terrible crisis by having to tell the man who is in charge of your life that his future was doomed?  Why do this kind of thing to a little boy?

               An = In WWII planes coming of the air craft carriers of stressed the plans right away as they left the deck.  If the plane was going to fail they wanted to know then.  To be a bearer of the Word of God is a stress.  People will not often like to hear the truth about their sins or failures.  Samuel was shone right away "the ropes".  He learned right away that the key to spiritual success as a minister of God's truth was the need to stand against the power structure of one's life.  To be a prophet, necessitated courage as well as obedience.  Every time one is called they are immediately put to the test.  You will watch this happen right on through the books of Samuel.

            Q Did Samuel pass the test?

               An = Yes, and he therefore shows that he is totally different than Eli's sons.  There is a changing of the guard here, the passing of the baton of leadership, based on obedience.  Spiritual leadership is passing from Eli to Samuel.

>>>> Have everyone turn to Matthew 7:21-23 and have someone read these verses. 

 

            Note:  God has not changed in all these years.  To work for Him necessitates obedience and the courage to not "play to the crowds" or our "fleshly desires".

   B.  God's Action:  I Samuel 3:19-21.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 3:19-21.

            Note:  Remember last week when we discussed the word "great".  Eli's sons were great in sin and Samuel was growing "great" in the service of God.  In 3:19 we see he continues to grow and continues to grow great. 

            Note:  God began to back up Samuel's words (3:19 b).

            Note:  Israel began to note the difference (3:20).

            Q What is the difference between 3:21 and 3:1?

               An = The word was rare in 3:1 and was now being given again in 3:21.

           

            Q What is the difference between 3:1 and 3:21 that now has the Lord speaking to His people again?

               An = Samuel is the difference:  obedient leadership.

            Q Who called Samuel?

               An = God.  It is God who calls. 

>>>> Have everyone turn to Matthew 9:37-38 and have someone read these two verses.

            Close in prayer.