The Calling Of Samuel 1 Samuel 3:1-21

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1 The Calling Of Samuel 1 Samuel 3:1-21 Message by Michael J. Barnard April 29, 2018 Teaching Aim: To explore the calling of young Samuel into the prophetic ministry. To understand why prophetic words from the LORD were rare during the 300-year period covered in the Book of Judges and the first chapters of 1 Samuel. To realize God did not give up on His chosen people Israel; in spite of the nation s sin and rebellion, God called the young boy Samuel to be His prophet, priest, and judge! DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD S WORD (BIBLE STUDY) Part I: An unfamiliar voice speaks to Samuel in the early morning hours (1 Sam. 3:1-8) 1. As we join 1 Samuel chapter 3, several years have passed since chapter 2; the Jewish historian Josephus believed Samuel was now around 12 years old. What do we find young Samuel doing in verse 1a? Who was Eli and what was his significance to the nation of Israel? (See 1 Sam. 1:9) 2. Verse 1b states, And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. Why was the word of the LORD rare? Do you find the LORD silent in your life when you are living in a lifestyle of sin and rebellion? Why does God respond this way? 3. How is Proverbs 29:18 in the King James Version often misused by churches today? What is the real meaning of this verse? (See Prov. 29:18 NKJV, NIV, ESV, or NASV) Does the proper usage of this passage explain what was happening during the time of the Judges? 4. Where did Samuel s calling into ministry take place (vv. 2-4)? Has God ever spoken to you in the middle of the night or in some other way? 1

2 5. What does verse 2 reveal about the state of the 98-year old High Priest s vision? What can we learn about the timing of God s calling from the description given in verse 3? 6. How did Samuel respond to the LORD s calling in verse 4? Who did Samuel think called him (vs. 5)? What was Eli s response when the boy Samuel woke him up? 7. What happened in verse 6 for a second time in the chapter? What did Samuel do following the second calling? How did Eli respond to being awakened this time? Was his response harsh or tender? 8. What surprising news do we learn about Samuel in verse 7? Does verse 7 mean that Samuel was not a believer yet? What does verse 7 reveal to us? 9. What occurs in verse 8 for a third time in this chapter? How did young Samuel respond? In what way was Eli s response different this time? Why is it important for us to always be listening for God s Word and willing to obey? (See John 14:15,23-24) Part II: A terrifying prophecy reveals the judgment set to fall on Eli s household (1 Sam. 3:9-15) 1. The word therefore always indicates a conclusion is coming. What conclusion did Eli come to in verses 8b and 9? How did Eli instruct Samuel to respond should the LORD call him again a 4 th time? How does God most often speak to us today? (See Psa. 119:105; 2 Tim. 3:16-17) 2

3 2. Does Scripture indicate that the LORD s visit with Samuel was a dream, vision, or a theophany (vs. 10)? What is the difference between the three? Why do you think the LORD calls Samuel s name twice in this verse? What other biblical characters had their name called twice by God. Note: Repeating the name twice demonstrated a sense of urgency and stressed the importance of the message that was coming? (See Gen. 22:11; 46:2; Exod. 3:4) 3. When God calls us into ministry, He wants us to obey that call; it is important and urgent to Him. John MacArthur defines the acrostic CALL this way: C = Confirmation; A = Ability; L = Longing; L = Lifestyle. How does this acrostic relate to your life and calling into ministry today? 4. How did God describe this upcoming prophecy to Samuel (vs. 11)? What modern idioms can be used to say the same thing? What can we learn about this prophecy from the description? Does this seem to be a rather weighty message to give to a young boy? Why? 5. Verse 12 is the confirmation of the previous prophecy conveyed to Eli by an unidentified man of God (or prophet). What was the essence of this prophecy? (See 1 Sam. 2:27-33) NOTE: Within 150 years every word of this prophecy against Eli and his family would be fulfilled. Why should that prophecies like that be a warning to us today to be right with God? 6. According to verse 13, why was Eli and his household judged so harshly by God? How long would this judgment last? What was Eli s part in the sin? The Septuagint (The Greek version of the Old Testament) reads, His sons (Eli sons) blasphemed God. What was the penalty for blaspheming God under the Mosaic Law? (See Lev. 24:11, 15-16, 23) 7. There is a big difference between presumptuous sin (or intentional sin ) and unintentional sin, what is it? God provided the sacrificial system for unintentional sins. What can we learn about presumptuous sins from Num. 15:30-31? According to verse 14, which kind of sin had Eli and his sons committed? 3

4 8. In light of Jam. 2:10, why are you thankful to be living under the New Covenant and the shed blood of Jesus Christ today? 9. According to verse 15, how did the boy Samuel react to this prophetic message from God? What kind of an impact did the terrifying words of this prophecy make on the young boy? Have Scriptures like Matt. 7:21-23 and 25:31-45 ever alarmed you? Why or why not? Part III: Young Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men (1 Sam. 3:16-21) 1. What did Eli do once morning had dawned (vs. 16)? How do you respond when you hear something bad might be happening to your family? 2. According to verse 17, how serious was Eli about finding out what God said to Samuel? Was putting a curse on young Samuel a little extreme? How did the frightened boy respond to the High Priest s demand (vs. 18)? The message was a dreadful one, but was this a repeat of the same message Eli received from the man of God in 1 Samuel chapter 2. What was Eli s response to the message Samuel shared? Was this humble submission on Eli s part or was he simply throwing his hands up realizing God was sovereign? 3. How should we respond today when we realize that we ve sinned? (See 1 John 1:8-9) 4. Verse 19 tells us Samuel continued to grow both physically and in the LORD. In looking back on your own life, what has helped you to grow in the LORD the most? According to verse 19, what was the key to Samuel s success in ministry? Have you seen the LORD at work in your life? How did the LORD s presence in Samuel s life play out in his prophetic ministry (vs. 19b)? 4

5 5. What is the meaning of the Hebrew idiom, from Dan to Beersheba? Who accepted young Samuel as a prophet of God? Why? 6. Who made His presence known again in the spiritual capital of Israel (Shiloh) once young Samuel was on the scene (vs. 21)? Why? How will compromise and the acceptance of sin affect any house of worship? What are some ways you see the church around the world being negatively affected today because of sin and compromise? 7. Why is it so important for churches to pick godly leaders today? What will happen if they don t? MINER S CORNER ~ Manna to live by! The punishment God used on the Hebrew people because of their sin was prophetic silence! When least expected, the dawning of a new day began when God called young Samuel to be His prophet, priest and judge! Young Samuel already believed in the LORD, but he didn t know Him in the sense of recognizing God s voice and receiving prophecies from Him! It is one thing to know about God, it is quite another to know God! Eli and his son s sinful lifestyle and unrepentant hearts led to their ousting from the High Priestly line and in short order to their loss of life! In the Old Testament, there was no sacrifice for presumptuous (or intentional ) sin! The key to Samuel s success (or anyone s for that matter) was that the LORD was with him! 5