I Samuel Chapter 3 "The Calling of Samuel by the Lord [1-10]." This Bible
Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's
transcription is provided with written permission by http://www.theseason.org So the good news for Samuel, that God would establish him as a prophet, was bad news for Eli and his sons. I Samuel 3:1 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." The Word of the Lord was rare in those days. The Word of God was not taught, or only very seldom as it ought to be taught in it's entirety, chapter by chapter and precept by precept to the people. This is quite obvious why this would be, for the priests had become nothing but thieves and beggars; rip off artists behind the cloth. It is time to wake up and look around us today, for this is a type and warning as to what is going on today. What are you being taught in your church house today? It is God's Word and not man's word that we must understand. The blessings come when we learn and do those things that God has instructed us. So in Samuel's day, Samuel was a student blessed of God and learning under the hand of Eli. Samuel was directed and anointed by God to bring forth the Word of God to the people. Samuel will make God's Word precious again to these Israelites. I Samuel 3:2 "And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;" I Samuel 3:3 "And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;" The work day was over and it was time for sleep, yet the lamp was not out in the temple of the Lord. This lamp was the seven branched candlestick. I Samuel 3:4 "That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, "Here am I ." I Samuel 3:5 "And he ran unto Eli, and said, "Here am I; for thou callest me." And he answered, "I called not, my son; lie down again." After Eli was fast asleep, Samuel heard this voice calling his name, "Samuel", and Samuel presumed it to be Eli, and answered him, "Here am I". Eli was not the one that called Samuel, and Eli told Samuel to go back to bed, I did not call for you. I Samuel 3:6 "And the Lord called yet again, "Samuel." And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here am I; for thou didst call me." And he answered, "I called not, my son; lie down again." When Samuel was bedded down again, he heard the voice again calling to him, and again he arose and went to Eli. Eli again told Samuel that he had not called for him, go back to bed. I Samuel 3:7 "Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him." At this time in Samuel's life, God had not yet spoken directly to Samuel in any form or fashion. Samuel did not recognize the sound of God's voice. Samuel is hearing God's voice and learning to obey that voice. I Samuel 3:8 "And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here am I; for thou didst call me." And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child." This old priest Eli was a good man and he had heard the voice of the Lord himself, even though his sons were bad. Eli's problem was that he did not practice discipline in his family, nor in the tabernacle, as was his responsibility. We see this going on today, that the preachers kids are not under the discipline of their father, and are allowed to roam free and do mischief. God demands discipline, and He expects His people holding an office in His church to have discipline, and demand it of others under his or her care. Eli finally wakes up to the fact that God is speaking to this boy Samuel. I Samuel 3:9 "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." This time Eli told Samuel to go back to bed, and if you hear the voice calling you again, say to that voice; "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth." I Samuel 3:10 "And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, "Samuel, Samuel." Then Samuel answered, "Speak; for Thy servant heareth." Back in Genesis 22:11 we see where the Lord called Abraham; "And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham:" and he said "Here am I." There are seven duplications in the Scriptures where God has spoken directly to men. I'll list them here for your clarification; First here in Genesis 22:11; Genesis 46:2 to Jacob. In Exodus 3:4 God called again to Moses out of the burning bush, and Moses answered "Here am I". So we see why Eli instructed Samuel here in I Samuel 3:10 to also answer "Here am I". In Luke 10:41 God called to Martha when she was questioning Mary's duty to Jesus; Luke 22:31 tells of the Lord's calling to Simon while at the Lords table during the last supper; and in Acts 9:4 Christ is calling out to Paul on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians. "And he [Paul] fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?". Any time that something is given in groups of seven, it is important to take notice of what is being said. God also gave us seven trumpets, seven seals, seven signs and so on, in His speaking through Jesus Christ. It is a good study into those times that God actually spoke to men that is recorded in the Word of God. God can speak to men any way He chooses, but that contact is not like many preachers use loosely, that God would tell them where to park their car, eat or any other simple thing and is nothing but using common sense. When God speaks to people, you can be assured it is to give instructions like recorded about in the seven verses stated. God is direct and to the point and that is His way. When God speaks it is for a purpose, and for those that He calls, it is clear what the purpose is. God spoke seven times in this fashion to men [women] and here He is speaking directly to Samuel. Today God speaks to us through His Word and the instruction of His Spirit, the Holy Spirit. When you hear that voice of His Spirit speaking through His Word, listen and respond to His instruction. He loves you and would never give you wrong instructions. I Samuel 3:11 "And 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." The word "tingle" in the Hebrew text is "astonishment". This "thing" that God shall do in Israel will cause all the people that hear of this event, to be astonished. Though this "thing" is a series of things, however the start will be with Eli and his sons. There are great changes that God is going to make, for remember that because of Eli and his sons, the Judgeship is going to be removed from the priesthood, and placed in a monarchy, or state of government outside the temple or church. God is going to cause a separation between the church and the state of God's people, and that carries on right down to our day in America and England. I Samuel 3:12 "In 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." "Eli"s house" is Eli's sons and their offspring. That end will not just carry to the end of Eli's house, but right down to the end of this earth age. What happened to Eli and His house is a type that will carry on to each generation to the very end of this age of the flesh. This is a prophecy that God delivered directly to His prophet Samuel when he was just a child. Today we ought to pay special attention, for we are living in that generation of the Fig tree, the time of the end that Jesus warned us of in Matthew 24:34. Matthew 24:32 "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh." This is command from Jesus directly to His elect of the final days. Learn the parable of the Fig tree! The reason is that you will not be deceived in this final generation. That is what Matthew 24 is all about, the disciples asked Jesus to tell them what it would be like at the coming of the Lord, at His return at the seventh and last trumpet, and Jesus is giving a warning to all those that are living in our generation. The Jews, Kenites and brother Judah, have returned to the land of Judah, and to Jerusalem and they have established a nation there. This started theses signs that Jesus is giving to us as being the countdown to all the rest of the signs of the final days. When we see this happening, we are to know that the end is very near. To know the parable of the fig tree is to know about the Kenites, who they are, where they came from, their intention, and what they plan to do. They will do it all because God will allow it to happen because it is in His plan. Matthew 24:33 "So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Expect that we shall also see all the other signs pass before our eyes in our lifetime, and Jesus is telling us all these things so that we will not be confused nor deceived when we see them. These things must happen before the end comes. The one world must be formed into a political system, and there will be a death blow to that one world order. Why will it happen? Because God's Word says it will, and you can count on it. Matthew 24:34 "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." The generation that saw the forming of the nation of the Jews [which are the tribe of Judah and Benjamin, mixed with the Kenites that have take over their religious practices] took place in our generation. The nation of Israel was formed in May of 1948, and Jerusalem was taken over by the Jews in the war of 1967. Our generation shall not pass away until all the prophecies that are given in His Word have come to pass. When all the seals, and all the trumpets have sounded, then the end shall come. That includes Satan sitting in God's seat on the side of the north in Jerusalem declaring himself to be God, and the world, including Christians believing him. All that is except God's elect, those with the truth of God's Word sealed in their minds. I Samuel 3:13 "For I have told him that I will judge this house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not," Wake up to the fact that Eli knew God's Word in detail, and he sat by while these riotous sons of his did all their sinful act right in the house of God. Eli allowed it to happen, and did nothing about it. When his sons raped the widowed ladies that came to them for protection, Eli did nothing. When his sons went out and stole the food that was not intended for their consumption, Eli did nothing. This is a type of what is going on today, and most pastors are sitting back and also doing nothing about it. As the Sodomites are moving in to change the mindset of the Christians, most church denominations are allowing it to happen. As the laws are being modified to accommodate the murdering of the unborn souls, many Christians are doing nothing and saying nothing. Those that do act are branded as criminals because the laws of the land have turned against God's Word, and what is right in the eyes of the Lord are wrong in the eyes of the one world system. It is no accident that all these things are happening even in the houses of God, for God's Word has warned us that it would. Those with the Word of God sealed in their minds see it, and know that the end is drawing nigh. God knew that Eli knew what his sons were doing, "because his sons made themselves vial" and Eli did not restrain these priests in any of their actions. Sure Eli warned them, but that is all that he did. There was no action taken to put them out of the tabernacle, or force them from carrying on in what they were doing. Keep in mind also that God demands discipline, and Eli was not just sloppy in his discipline of his own sons, but Eli was also the judge of all Israel. Eli should have removed his sons from the priesthood. In the Hebrew text it says that Eli didn't even frown at hearing of those things. The benchmark is set here, for Eli knew about it and did nothing to stop it. If Eli had not known of his sons actions, than God would not have held him responsible for those things under God's judgment. The other point that is made here is that when there is no action to stop or prevent those things from happening when you know them to be wrong, then you become part of those acts. If you see Sodomy taking over your church, and changing what God's word teaches about it, than you become part of those acts. When you see the murder of the unborn, and say nothing against it, than you become part of those acts. When you see the ministers and priests using their position for great personal gain and say nothing about it, than you become part of the rip-off. If God gives you a gift of understanding and duty in His service, He expects you to do that which is right and in accordance with His Word. Our discipline should be just as recorded in God's Word, and the traditions of men should not be allowed to slip in and change your responsibility to God's Word. When you follow God's discipline, than expect God to bless you. This is addressed to all of the elect of God, for they know what they should do and practice. I Samuel 3:14 "And 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." God is telling Eli through Samuel that He will not allow Eli to cover up these sins of iniquity any longer. When Eli's sons did what they did within the congregation, they caused the congregation to be part of those things likewise. The people were becoming angry toward God and towards the sacrifices and offerings that God required of His people. These sons of Eli were the rip-off artists that now stood between God and the people. I Samuel 3:15 "And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision." In the morning when Samuel got up he opened the doors of the tabernacle, which was his duty. This lets us know that no matter what your duties are or where you are, you are in the service of the Father, and we are to respect those things we are responsible for. God gives the gifts for our service to Him, and we are only responsible for those things in our care. We should be careful for not taking credit for those things that are of God, to give Him all the credit. Samuel knew now that God was going to destroy Eli and his house, and Samuel had great respect for Eli. Samuel knew the bad news and he just did not want to share that bad news with Eli. I Samuel 3:16 "Then Eli called Samuel, and said, "Samuel, my son." And Samuel answered, "Here am I." I Samuel 3:17 "And he said, "What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide in not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me all the things that He said unto thee." " Eli has a good idea that what ever God said to Samuel, it was not good news. Eli knew that he had failed in his duties to his office as both High Priest, and as the Judged of Israel. This is a prophet speaking to the boy Samuel, and Eli was warning Samuel about withholding any part of the Words that God told to him. Eli was a good man but he just did not practice discipline. This is the prime message to our generation living today at the end of this earth age of the flesh. We must discipline ourselves in the Word of God, and stop paying attention to men's traditions. God is the boss and He says will happen, and what our duty is to discipline ourselves in His Ways. If you don't focus on the Word of God in our generation, it will be easy to slip right into the ways of the world, the traditions of men, and be deceived at the coming of Satan to this earth. Satan is coming and with all his fallen angels for God's Word says he will. Revelation 12:7 "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels," This war is going on right now in the heavens and Satan is going to lose. Revelation 12:8 "And prevailed not, neither was there place found any more in heaven." Revelation 12:9 "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Satan will be cast out onto the earth in playing the role of the Antichrist [instead of Christ]. The reason that it is speaking here in the past tense, is that Jesus giving the instruction to John while John is looking back from his position at "the day of the Lord". The "Day of the Lord is at the Seventh trumpet, while this casting to the earth will be at the sixth trumpet. There will be no rapture as man's traditions are teaching, for the church is now being set up to go into Satan's camp and system, all that is except God's elect, those with the seal of God in their forehead, those that understand the Word of God as revealed by the Spirit of God. I Samuel 3:18 "And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the Lord: let Him do what seemeth Him good." " Samuel told Eli every word and thought that he had that God revealed to him. This shows us just how good Eli really was, for he knew that what Samuel told him was the truth from the Lord, and Eli accepted it. It is a good thing that whatever God places before you and reveals what is going to happen, it should be accepted. Make sure that it is from God and not from the devil or some evil spirit. God knows what is best for you, and what you need of to give service for Him. When you cease to be of service to God, nor use those gifts that he has given you, God has a way of making things right. A wise person learns from the mistakes of others, and each of us should learn from these mistakes of Eli. I Samuel 3:19 "And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground." What this is saying is that God's Words were held priceless with Samuel. Samuel absorbed all of God's Words and he applied them to his life. This applies to us today just as it did Samuel for God has let us know exactly what we are to expect in our generation, and He has let us know what He expects from His elect also. If you study any of God's Word, learn that portion well, for what good is it to read the entire bible in one year, and still remain ignorant to what God is telling you. Don't let those Word's fall to the ground, but plant them in your mind, and make them part of your life, just as Samuel did. Samuel grew up with God's Word, and the Lord was with him and blessed Samuel. Read with understanding, and when you read something that you do not understand, put it aside and pray about it. In time the Spirit of God will reveal it all to you. Samuel retained the Word of God and God allowed Samuel to be the last Judge over Israel. Following Samuel, there would be no more judges to reign, but the Israelites would fall under a monarchy. I Samuel 3:20 "And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord." "Beer-sheba" in the Hebrew tongue means the "oath of seven". This goes back to Hannah's prophecy of "seven" as given in I Samuel 2:5. I Samuel 3:21 "And the Lord appeared against in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord." Samuel remained in Shiloh, and God revealed Himself to Samuel again in his priesthood, while he was the Judge, through His Word. The Spirit of the Lord made the Word of God real to Samuel as he served God there in Shiloh. "The Lord appeared...", "...by the word of the Lord": This is exactly how he will appear to you also today, through the Word of God as directed by God's Holy Spirit.
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