Hearing the call of God

1 Samuel 2:1-3:21

 

 Intro: Oregon - prayer

 

Intro: In Chapter 1 we saw the prayer of a barren Woman Hannah

A) She was broken because she couldn’t bear a son – for her husband she was completely barren – { No children….. Cursed by God

 

B) What made matters worse is that her husband Elkanah had another wife – Pen/ nine/ nah – who was fruitful in Child bearing

1) Pen/ nine/ nah made Hannah life miserable because she was barren – she mocked her / teased her/ tried to make her Jealous { Hannah was the Fav.

 

C) Hannah wanted a Child to bless her husband – but God had something greater in mind – A PROPHET TO BLESS THE NATION!!!!

 

D) Things Changed dramatically for Hannah when she finally came before the Lord - & said – Lord if you give me a Son I will give him back to you

1) That is what the Lord was looking for – He had a special plan for this miracle Baby – that He was going to bless Hannah with

 

E) But He wanted Hannah’s heart to be ready for that Plan – So when she comes to that Place - God responds – by blessing her – She get pregnant

1) She gives birth to a son { Named Samuel – God hears } When Samuel was at the age to be weaned – 3or 4 she took him to the temple … to God

 

CH. 2 Is her response to that Blessing – No Longer the prayer of a barren woman – but the Praise of a Blessed ONE !!!

A) As we Consider this prayer tonight – I want to consider what Hannah says here about the Lord { Awesome Insights into God

 

B) But I also want you to see – how real she is REAL she is about her feelings – toward Pen/ nine/ nah –

 

C) I point this out because this is a prayer that is recorded in the Bible – and yet there is some real EARTHY language in it

1) Which tells me that the Lord wants us to be real with Him !! RD v.1

1 Sam 2:1 And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

A) Now I love this – My heart rejoices in the Lord – not my heart rejoices in my Son – this beautiful little baby

 

B) But my heart rejoices in the Lord – In My God !

1) Her prayer isn’t one where she is trying to talk God out of this arrangement – God do you really need my son – Does he have to be your Prophet

 

C) Here she is rejoicing in the one who is taking her son from her !!!

1) She was a woman of VISION – woman who was able to see beyond the immediate to the Future = Big perspective – God had plan for Sam

 

D) Our need to be people of Vision – See the Big Picture -

 

Hannah rejoiced in the Lord because she saw the full Scope – God is good / faithful / true / His will & way is best – Special plan for Samuel

A) Now as I said I want to key in on the Way she describes the Lord here

 

1 Sam 2:2 "No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You,

Nor is there any rock like our God.

 

B) First she keys in on his Holiness – "No one is holy like the LORD

1) Holy speaks of his unspotted Purity – Completely Perfect in every way – Totally Righteous or Right in all things

2) This attribute of God is most often praised in the scriptures – He is Holy – ISA 6 / Rev 4 { Angels singing – Holy is the Lord …….

 

C) Next she mentions His Incredible Stability - Nor is there any rock like our God. /

Ps 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

 

D) People go thru life looking for things to build their lives upon – things to stand upon -  There is no Rock – like the Lord

1) He is the Rock that can’t be moved -  TIMES OF TRIAL – He is the Rock

 

1 Sam 2:3 "Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth,  { NOT TALKING TO THE LORD HERE ANYMORE - }

A) Now we see her getting real – She is talking about Pen/nine/nah and maybe anyone else who ridiculed her in her Barrenness

 

For the LORD is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed.

 

B) The Lord Knows how you have been treating me – and he is weighing your actions  -

 

4 "The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are girded with strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the hungry have ceased to hunger.

 

C) God resist the Proud but he gives grace to the Humble -  Exalt yourself – you will be exalted – Humble yourself – You will be lifted up

 

Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble.

 

D) Hannah ended up having 5 more kids – 6 in total – not to far off

1) Pen/ nine/nah – we don’t hear about her again!!!

 

6 "The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. 7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up.  8 He raises the poor from the dust  And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,  To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory.

Now Hannah is telling us this about God – He is the God of Rez

A) He Brings the dead to life again / He brings the poor Rich / He lifts up the lowly / he raises the poor

 

B) This is really almost a self portrait here for Hannah – This is how she was made to feel in that Society

1) Her womb was Dead / She was considered poor – no kids / she was down / She was a beggar – for yrs she begged God for a A Child

 

C) This is what Blesses me though is that Hannah saw herself as being wealthy not because of her possessions – but because she was w/ the Lord

1) She gave up her son – But still considered herself to be blessed

 

V. 8b "For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, And He has set the world upon them.

A) This is a Reference to the Sustaining Power of God over the earth that holds the earth’s orbit in tact -

 

9 He will guard the feet of His saints, { Guarder

But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. "For by strength no man shall prevail. 10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces;

From heaven He will thunder against them. { He protects his people

The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed."

 

D) This Beautiful Song of Praise { Exalting the goodness of God

 

V. 11 Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the LORD before Eli the priest.

                                                                        RD V.12-17

 

Now the priest were assigned a portion of the Sacrifice by the Lord

A) It was the way that the Lord provided for their families –

 

B) But here is what the Son’s of Eli were doing they were taking the best part that belonged to the Lord – and keeping it for themselves

1) And they were doing it by force –

 

C) The Sad result of their actions is seen there in V. 17 – They caused the people to ABHOR  the sacrifice of the Lord

1) In other words – their actions made it so that the people didn’t even want to go to the temple – Unpleasant experience

 

You know there are some Pastors today – who possess a wealth of information { Bless the body of Christ

A) But unfortunately there are those in ministry today – who are only interested in Possessing Wealth – Use their position to get Rich

 

B) Some Pastors FEED the flock of God – but others are only interested in FLEECING the flock of God –

1) They have their schemes at how to take advantage of God’s people

 

C) The Bible makes it clear that a WORKMAN – ( Minister ) is worthy of his hire – It is ok for a minister of the gospel to be compensated for his work

1) But it is sad today – that because of the ABUSE in this area in part of the church today – it has caused some people to ABHOR the Church / Ministry.

 

D) That is one reason we never make a big issue of giving here – Not because it isn’t important – Bible talks a lot about it

1) But because of the Abuses – Don’t ever want to be put in that other camp – so we go to the opposite extreme

 

E) This story also illustrates how seriously God takes it when those who are in a position to represent him before people – Abuse that privilege

1) It is a Serious thing to God – Rd On V. 18-21

 

Now here we see this incredible Contrast- Eli’s sons are ripping the people off – causing them to Abhor – worship & Sacrifice

A) But Samuel is ministering TO the Lord & BEFORE – the Lord and he and his family are being blessed

 

B) Hannah has 5 more Children – She gave God one – She gets 5 back

And Samuel is Growing before the Lord –  as a Young man of God !!!!!

v.22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

A) Now here we see a principle that is found in scripture that is true of Humanity and that is this –

                  Sin & Compromise always leads to more sin and compromise

 

B) They started by taking of the offering that belonged to the Lord and now they are taking THE women that Belonged to other men

1) They are using their place of POSITION to take advantage of God’s people

 

C) Sin is always Progressive – the occasional Pot smoker – ends up using more often / - then progresses to harder drugs

 

D) It is human nature – If I think that I am getting away with one thing – I will seek to get away with More

 

E) Well when Eli hears of it – he confronts his sons :  RD V.23 – 25a

 

v. 23 So he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.24 No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the Lord’s people transgress.25 If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?"

 

Listen up all of you who aspire for the ministry: Serving the Lord is a great Blessing – But you are called to a higher accountability  25 If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?"

A) The Bible tells us that to whom much is given much is required – there is a greater degree of  Accountability for those in ministry.

 

B) Because our actions can cause others to Stumble – God warns us about stumbling our brothers and sisters { James 3

  James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

 

C) That is a sobering Reality: – My actions are going to affect a lot of people. { People watch you - 

 

D) SO Eli confronts his Son’s but unfortunately they don’t listen – v. 25b Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the LORD desired to kill them.

 

Now in v. 26 we are given another CONTRAST: 26 And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men.

A) The Son’s of Eli are causing the people of God to be grieved – they aren’t well liked – God is ready to Kill them

 

B) But Samuel on the other hand is growing in Favor w/ God and with MAN

1) God is smiling at Him and so are the People !!!!!  His life is a blessing to the Lord and to the People

 

C) That is the way that it should be: Your life – blessing to the Lord – You honor God with your heart and actions

1) You are a blessing to God’s People                             RD V.27-29

 

 

Now Eli did a good thing in Rebuking his Son’s but he should have done more – Instead of Just a Rebuking – they should have been removed

A) And because Eli – didn’t remove his sons – God was going to Remove Eli’s family from serving in the Priesthood

 

B) Several things to consider here: 1st is that our actions can have a far reaching affect – Not just on us – but those after us

 

C) 2nd v.29 When we allow sin & compromise to go undealt with in our lives we are honoring that sin or in this case the SINNER – instead of God

1) Eli in essence was picking his sons over the Lord

D) How often is that scenario repeated in the Church – Those who give into sexual temptation – Honoring that person / their own flesh over the Lord

1) A Child’s Rebellion:  Instead of dealing with it – we ignore – or pacify

Honoring that Child over the Lord – Spare the Rod & Spoil the Child

 

E) In Business: We work with some one who is cutting corners – we remain silent – Honoring that person over the Lord –

1) Eli was HONORING his boys above – the Lord and God was angry with Him for it – [ AGE OF GRACE TODAY – take sin lightly – no fear of God]

 

 

V. '30 Therefore the LORD God of Israel says:’ I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.' But now the LORD says:’ Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.

A) This is such a simple thing that the Lord is declaring here – You honor me and I will honor you – but If you Despise me – that is another Story

 

B) Jesus gave this indictment against the religious leaders of his day

Mark 7:6-7'These people honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

 

C) It is easy to give Lip service to God – Say right things – heart is far from him and their actions show it -                   RD V.31-36

 

D) Throughout the History of Israel and even the History of the Christian Church – There have been those times – where God has been forced to tear down & Remove – shepherds – Replace with new ones

 

E) So that his people would be cared for Properly and He would be represented in the right way!      Ezk 34

1) Shepherds – Selfish – fleecing – neglecting –

2) God says remove and replace with one’s after my heart –

 

Ch 3 V. 1-4

A) Now here we see God calling out to Samuel – even though Samuel doesn’t realize that it was God at first

 

B) This passage gives us some neat insights into hearing God’s voice

1) Not audibly like hear – but the still small voice of His Spirit speaking to our hearts

 

C) Note 3 things here: 1st note WHEN the Lord spoke to Samuel v.1 When he was ministering to the Lord

1) Ch. 2v11 MINISTERED TO / Ch. 2v. 18 Ministered before ……

     Here again Ministering to

 

D) Listen there is a Difference between ministering to the Lord vs. for the Lord – For the Lord = Service – activity

1) To the Lord is worship – adoration – Exalting the Lord

 

Acts 13:1-2 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: …..As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said,” Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

A) God speaks to those who have first given themselves to ministering to Him – { Why Mary was so tuned in - } Practice to sit at His feet

 

B) 2nd Thing notice WHERE  the Lord spoke to Samuel – In the Temple

1) Now the Bible – says that we are the temple of the HS – God dwells in his people / 2 or more gathered in His name – He is in the Mist

 

C) Gathered here in His name – He speaks { Pastor Rob how did you know ?

 

D) Home groups / Women’s groups / Men’s groups – God speaks very often to you by his spirit thru a Brother or Sister –

1) So it was WHEN – Ministering to…. / WHERE: When  SAMUEL was in the temple /  3rd WHY ?   2THINGS HERE

 

#1  In v. 5-10 Samuel was responsive – Rd v.5-10

A) God speaks to Samuel and right away he gets up to see what is going on – he thinks it is Eli and first

 

B) God is speaking in the middle of the night – Samuel is responsive

1) not ignoring – not too tired – Does God ever wake you up at night

 

C) I have had that happen – Sad to say- sometimes – frig / TV

1) But the times I have realized it was the Lord – Amazing insight

 

D) Good thing when God stirs us – speaks to us –

1) He is looking for RESPONSIVE HEARTS

 

E) Has God’s voice been FAINT to you ? Listen is it possible that the reason is because you were not responsive – the last time he spoke

1) Your looking for new direction – He is still waiting for you to follow last month’s orders !!!!!

 

 

So the first reason that the Lord spoke the Samuel – is because Samuel had a Responsive heart – Speak Lord I am listening

A) Reason #2 – V.11-15 – Samuel’s Humble heart

 

B) When Samuel gets this heavy word of Revelation concerning the future of the Priesthood and Eli’s family –

1) And when he does he doesn’t go barging into Eli’s room – BOY HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU ………………… No Samuel is reluctant to say a word

 

C) Listen I don’t believe the Lord will ever share wisdom & revelation of this nature with you if you are EAGER TO SHARE IT

1) Those who find their sense of purpose in a group by having the  “INSIDE SCOOP”

 

D) I think the Lord hates that type of Attitude – I know I do !!!

1) Yrs ago there was this person in the Church – gone – Who constantly wanted the scoop on things and people – 100 questions – over analyze

E) Every time saw me – What about this and what about that – what if this happened and do I think – this is going to take place

1) I avoided her like the plague

 

Samuel’s heart here blesses me – He just goes to bed – ponder this word from the Lord – he doesn’t call his friends – guess what……………

A) He doesn’t tell Eli – afraid to – He knew it was going to hurt – but Eli is going to get it out of him anyway  V. 16- 18  -

 

B) Eli’s response is good here : Let the Lord do what seems best to Him

 

V. 19-21 – Note how Ch. 3 begins and ends

 

Begins v.1 The word of the Lord was rare in those days – no widespread revelation

 

V 21 Then the LORD appeared again in Shiloh. For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

 

Difference ? The Lord found in Samuel a responsive and Receptive ear !

A) Same is true in our Lives – God’s word dull – Problem is not God it is w/ us – Distracted – Lackadaisical – not diligently seeking

 

B) Not responsive – God knows – they are not going to listen { Why Bother

 

C) But when we come w/ the right heart – ME JOURNAL – God will speak