"Listen to the Lord," 1 Samuel 3:1-4:1a, Dan Claire

Our fall sermon series is on First Samuel, and you can catch

up on previous messages on our website.

If you like. Today's message from First

Samuel 3. It's page 2. 13 in the.

Church Bible for. Samuel 3 is an invitation to

listen and trust in the Lord. Let's pray together.

As we begin, Lord, we thank you. That you do speak.

To us and that your. Word is good.

True and life changing, Thank you.

That you build our world through your word.

And you build our imagination and our purpose.

All of our. Calling and sense of belonging

and identity. We thank you that we find

ourselves rooted in Your word now Will.

You guide us. According to Your word, open our

minds and hearts to understand what you have to say.

To us today. And give us the courage.

To live it. As we go from this place in

Jesus name, Amen. So page 213 for Samuel.

Chapter 3 for Samuel first and second Samuel together really

combined that's how they began originally is a story about how

God intervened in history once again to.

Rescue his people. From destruction, as in the

Exodus and as he'll do in the Gospels, it begins with a woman

of faith, a woman who has a miraculous son and.

She trusts. The Lord for a son and then

entrusts her son to the Lord, and through Samuel Hannah's son,

God is going to. Deliver his people.

From their enemies, he's going to unite them under King David,

and then through King David, a man after God's own heart.

Ultimately, our Lord Jesus, the King of Kings will come.

So today's lesson. Chapter 3.

Verse one begins with Samuel serving the Lord in the

Tabernacle in Shiloh and in our English translations in verse

one he's described as a. Boy, but as I've said before.

He's probably not as our children's picture.

Bibles. Depict him because the Hebrew

word translated boy is not so much about an age.

As it is. About junior status, and so

Samuel's. Status as a boy.

Means that he is junior to Eli. The same word is used for Eli's

sons, who are in their. 40s or 50s?

And so it does not mean boy as we think of it.

And I think that Samuel by this point in the story is in his

late teens. And what we find in the first 3

verses here 3 signs immediately. Of just how dire.

Things have become. For God.

'S people in Israel look at verse one first of all.

The word of the Lord was. Rare.

In those days, there was no frequent vision.

God had visited. Abraham and Isaac and Jacob the

patriarchs, and guided them. He gave Joseph.

Dreams. He met with Moses, and he gave

Moses. The very word of God to be

recorded for future. Generations and he led Moses and

the. People through the.

Wilderness and to the Promised land he.

He guided Joshua. Into the promised land, but

then? Israel got rich.

And they quit listening to God. They moved into cities they did

not build into houses they did not build.

They drank from cisterns that they did not dig.

And over 3 centuries, their faith atrophied and they stopped

listening. To the Lord.

And everyone did, as we hear again and again.

And in the book of Judges, everyone did what was right in

their own eyes, so they were neither listening to God nor

hearing from. God, this.

Was the first sign. Second sign.

Look at verse 2. Eli's eyesight.

Had begun to grow dim so that he could not see.

And as we heard last Sunday, Eli did not teach his sons to love.

God first with all their. Heart, soul and mind.

And then when his sons became priests.

They did as they pleased. They robbed.

From God. Robbed the sacrifices.

And they also molested the women in the temple under their.

Care, Eli knew. About this but he didn't do

anything to stop them even. After a prophet, as we saw last

week, a. Prophet came to Eli and warned

him that judgment was on the. Way Eli stopped.

Listening to the Lord, and he became.

Utterly passive. And permissive like so many.

Church leaders today. And his dereliction of duty was

the main reason for the first sign, that is, that people were

no longer hearing from the. Lord, so Eli's.

Internal moral spiritual blindness was now manifested

outside. With his eyes.

Growing down, he became blind on the outside because of his

inward blindness. This was the.

Second sign. 3rd sign. Verse.

Three, the lamp. Of God had.

Not yet gone out, this signified God's presence among them at

Mount Sinai. God had given Moses a plan for

the Tabernacle, including the Ark of the Covenant, which we'll

figure very prominently in this story, and a lampstand that

would sit. Outside of the Holy of Holies.

And and show the. God's presence.

In the Tabernacle, that Tabernacle travelled with them

through the wilderness, and eventually the Tabernacle came.

To Shiloh, where it was parked for.

Centuries and over time it became a more permanent

structure they built outbuildings, they.

Built places for everybody to sleep.

And so on and so the. Priests who served there.

Eli and his sons and Samuel stayed in those buildings.

And it was. Eli's job to keep.

The lamp burning to keep it burning, and the lamp, the lamp

of God's presence, had not yet gone out, but it's time was near

and we'll. See that that?

Time comes next week. This is.

The third sign so taken together, these three signs, the

famine of God's word, the blindness of the.

Religious leadership. And 3rd, the flickering lamp of

God's presence. These.

Help us to see how dire the. Situation have become and help

to explain some of what we're feeling in our own context today

as many, many of our circumstances are similar that

Samuel was there serving in the Tabernacle.

He's our hero, so there's hope. That maybe the next generation

will be able. To to.

Lift them up out of this pit and everything is going to change.

All will be set. Right.

And everyone. Will live happily ever after.

That's the hope. At this point in the story, from

what we know of Samuel from the last.

Couple of chapters, it's really possible.

It seems like this might happen. It's easy to imagine Samuel as

the change maker that Shiloh needs.

Because he's clearly. Cut from different cloth than

Eli's wicked sons, miraculously Samuel has not been contaminated

by their licentiousness and greed.

Samuel is different. We read in chapter 2, verse 26

that he had been growing in stature and in favor.

With the Lord. And with people.

Just like Luke says about Jesus. In chapter 2.

Of his gospel. This sounds very promising,

doesn't it? Samuel seems like he's the man

for the job, and he must have sensed that his day would come

and he. Would he he?

Was likely dreaming. Of what sort of leader he could

be, How he. Could change things?

Feel familiar? Maybe you can relate to Samuel's

situation. Waiting for the old.

Guard to retire? Waiting for your opportunity to

put things. Right, so.

Money and Andrew. Talk about this every.

Week at lunch. Seriously, if you have a role to

play. In reforming an institution or

an industry or something else, chances are that you spend your

time thinking about how to improve it.

How to do it better? And maybe that will include some

cleaning house. Out with the old bad ideas and

strategies. Maybe getting rid of some lazy

people and so on. But overall, usually the way.

We think. About this is.

That there's going to be reformation and renewal.

Once we can get in charge, reformation and renewal, it's

going to go. Up, up, up.

As things get better and better and better, that is not how God

is going to use Samuel. Not at all.

We're going to discover this in the next few weeks.

Samuel is going to. Have to preside over a death?

And a resurrection of both church and state in Israel.

That's his job. Things are going to get a whole.

Lot worse before they get better.

And if Samuel knew all that was coming, probably quite.

Likely that he. Wouldn't take the job.

I read. Up this summer on an old

theologian by the name of Anselm.

St. Anselm.

You probably heard of him. He was one of the great

theologians of the Middle Ages. He was.

Archbishop. Of Canterbury after the Norman

Conquest and what interested me most about Anselm's.

Story was that. For almost half of his time as

Archbishop of Canterbury, leading the Church of England,

he was living in exile. In fear of his life about eight

of his. 16 years as Archbishop of Canterbury, he was caught up

in this existential battle for church and state separation,

more or less, and he. Suffered a.

Tremendous amount because of it, nevertheless the Lord.

Clearly. Called Anselm to.

This work he clearly. Called him to this.

Fight. He was the.

Right man for the job. It was a terrible burden to

bear. One that he never would have

anticipated. He certainly didn't go to

seminary for this. Many of our lives are going to

run a similar course, I think. I think this is often the way it

plays out. We will end up doing good,

difficult, even dangerous things.

With God's help. Knowing that he.

Called us to it. Knowing that he.

Gifted us. For it and yet also knowing that

had we. Had a choice way back.

When we would have become fly fishing instructors instead.

Right, like. This is just no way.

That you would. Have signed.

Up for this? And some of you today already

know this. To be true.

Now here's something as you think about.

This that is. Absolutely amazing and I hope is

encouraging to you. Jesus knew.

Jesus knew. Exactly what awaited.

Him and he still signed up for the mission.

He knew of the judgment that would fall upon.

The corrupt. And useless temple in Jerusalem,

as we heard in the gospel lesson, not one stone would be

left on another. And he knew that he.

Would replace. That temple, through his own

death, his own brutal. Death.

And resurrection. He would be.

The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

He knew this and he still signed up for the mission.

That's pretty amazing. I think few of us would.

Take a leadership. Role if we knew that our task

would involve. First of all.

Shutting down the institution that we.

Were called to. Lead and then secondly, unfairly

taking the blame for all of its problems and a lot of other

things. That's what Jesus came to do,

and he did it with complete awareness of the agony and

humiliation that it would entail.

That's how much he. Loves us.

And he sees us now in our difficult callings, and he can

lead. Us through.

Now back to Samuel. God appointed Samuel for this

Awesome and. Terrible task to preside over

the. Death and resurrection of both

church and state in Israel. God prepared Samuel for this

work, but in God's merciful kindness, He did not tell him

what awaited him. He only told him what he needed

to know at the time and what he needed to know in this.

Chapter Chapter 3. In this story, what he needed to

know. Was how to.

Listen and to trust in the Lord. And that's what he learns in

this story. And as Samuel learned to delight

in God. 'S word we'll.

See that he becomes like. That that tree.

Planted. By the river.

In Psalm 1 now. Here's how all.

This unfolded. Look at verse 4 here.

In First Samuel chapter 3, late one night in Shiloh, the Lord

1 Samuel 3 · chapter mention

called to Samuel, but Samuel thought it was.

Eli. Calling.

So he ran to his master, and he. Said here.

I am and then Eli. Said verse 5.

I didn't call you go. Back to bed.

And. So he did.

And so this happened once, and then it happened a second time

all over again in verse 6. And now, up until this time,

Samuel had never. Heard the Lord speak directly

to. Him that's.

Why in verse? Seven, we are told that Samuel

didn't yet know the Lord. It does not mean that he was an

unbeliever. We've already heard very

positive reports of his faith all through Chapter 2.

But up until now, the only way that Samuel had heard from God

was when. Eli would read.

The Old Testament Torah in the. Services at the.

Tabernacle. No wonder when Samuel.

Heard the Lord. Calling.

He ran to Eli because that's the only.

Way he had heard God's voice before.

Samuel mistook God. 'S voice for.

Eli and ran to his master, saying, here I am now.

Eli had been a priest for many, many.

Decades he. Should have known that God was

calling Samuel, but after many years of doing his own thing, of

being a permissive parent, he had become spiritually and

morally blind and now this is being manifest outside him.

So it wasn't until the third time that all of this happened

that Eli understood what was happening.

And then verse 9 he said, I know what to do, go lie down and if

he calls you again, say Lord. Speak, Lord, for your.

Servant is listening. And so that's just what Samuel

did. And this is the crucial turning

point in the. Story despite the.

Laziness, corruption, and. Abuse of Shiloh.

'S leaders Samuel had been in his.

Father's house. Growing in his faith and now God

is about. To activate this.

Young man. For a.

Lifetime of ministry to become a prophet and to.

Preside over the. Death and resurrection of both

church and State in Israel. So God visited for the 4th.

Time verse 10 And he called Samuel and he.

Said Speak. For your sermon is listening,

Samuel said. Then verse 11 the Lord didn't

men's words. He didn't say how you doing?

How was your? Day, he said.

Let me tell you what I'm going to do and it is going to be.

Awful. Judgement is coming for Eli and

his sons. God had been extraordinarily

patient with them. But they would not forever steal

from the Lord. They would not.

Forever abuse the. Women in the Tabernacle with

impunity. So when God's judgement comes,

Samuel is told everyone who hears it, their ears will ring

in verse 12. Just as God.

Already warned Eli through a different messenger.

He is now warning Eli. Through a.

Second witness so. That just as Jesus said every.

Matter before the judgment must be established.

By two or three. Witnesses God is doing

everything according to His own law, and God is going to do

everything he is threatened. All of it.

From beginning to end and. Here's why Verse. 13 Eli's

dereliction of duty. He knew all along about his

son's blasphemy and sexual misconduct in the Tabernacle.

He knew, yet he never disciplined them.

So verse 14 all of the. Sacrifices.

In the world won't make a difference for Eli unless he

repents and takes action to stop the wickedness.

If only I could hear. God speak well, be careful what

you ask for. This is what?

Happened when Samuel. Heard the Lord.

Speak to him. It was a message of judgement

and Samuel lay there in bed until the morning, undoubtedly

processing this life changing visit from the Lord.

Then look what happened. Verse 15.

He got up. To do his old job.

Which was to open the doors. To God's house but he.

Was understandably very afraid to do his new.

Job, the job of prophet that he's.

Just been commissioned to do. To speak God's word to Eli.

Since it's a message of terrible.

Judgement. Whatever.

Samuel may have learned from Eli about pastoring.

He has not learned how to do this thing, to speak.

Hard words to. Someone in his parish.

And so this is a moment of decision for Samuel, isn't it?

Whether to accept? His calling.

As a prophet to treasure God's. Words entrusted to him.

To obey the. Lord, and to do something.

Very, very hard. Or to go back to sleep.

And follow in the footsteps. Of Eli What's?

He going to do well Eli calls him verse 16 and it's.

Really, Eli? Calling this time, not the Lord.

Surprise so. Samuel once again goes to Eli

and he says, here I am. And then verse 17, Eli made

Samuel's decision. A little.

Easier, he did something that was completely.

Out of character. He became.

A strict. Disciplinarian, just for a

moment. He said.

May God. Do so to.

You and more. Also if you hide.

Anything from me and all that he told you and as he said this.

He probably ripped his shirt or he took a piece of bread.

And ripped it in half. Because this is what they would

do. In order to show, May God do so

to me. May God RIP me in half, or May

God. Do to.

You May God RIP you in half. If you.

Are not honest or if you don't keep your promise that was

bringing a curse upon one or another, dramatizing the curse.

That Eli was. Placing on Samuel if.

He soft pedaled. The truth of God's message.

And this is really striking, not only because of Eli's sudden

transformation, but also in view of God's mercy and grace.

Remember, Eli's family had been feasting for decades.

They have been stealing from God and from his people.

His sons had been molesting women in the temple of the Lord,

and yet God had not yet crushed them.

And why is that? Because God.

Is long-suffering. All.

The way up until this point he has continued to have mercy on

Eli and his family and he yearns to extend his mercy to save

people. In chapter 2 when he could have

destroyed Eli and his son straight up, he sent a prophet

to Eli to warn him and call him to repentance.

And now here in chapter 3, he does it once again, only this

time he uses Samuel as his mouthpiece.

And this is a testimony. To God's grace, His grace.

For scoundrels, His grace. For people like us as well.

Eli's family had deserved. God's wrath.

For a long time, but God kept on showing him mercy, and He's

doing it here with Samuel nevertheless.

As Eli showed. This moment of courage, verse

17. He reverts back to his old self,

his passive self as. Soon as he hears what Samuel

tells him, verse 18, he said it's the Lord, let him do what's

right in his eyes. Let him do what's good in his

eyes. He can.

Do whatever he pleases. It's.

Eli's moment, his last chance really to change and instead of

getting up off of. His lazy.

Rear and doing what he's supposed to, he sits back down

in his lazy. Boy, he.

Pushes the remote control and he opens another bag of chips.

It's absolutely terrible. Don't be like.

Eli. It's never too late to listen to

the Lord. Eli could have turned to the

Lord and repentance and faith even in this moment.

We can too. We can listen to the Lord and

do. What he tells us.

Eli didn't and the deed is done now. 2 witnesses have notified

him of the Lord's judgment. God has now made Samuel his

prophet. Samuel has moved into this role.

That he will occupy for the rest of his life.

He's been commissioned and he's. Had his first.

Test and he's passed with flying colours.

And now verse 19 makes clear. Of the trajectory.

Of how things were going to go because the famine of God's word

is going to come to an end no more shall the blind lead the

blind Samuel will unite all Israel from bear sheva up to Dan

that is from the. South furthest S all the way.

Up to the north, bringing the. Word of the Lord to.

Everyone but before. All of this.

Happens God has to fulfill his promise to.

Eli. And the lampstand in the

Tabernacle is going to go completely out.

Stay tuned. So money is bringing that story

next week, but. Today, if you hear the Lord's

voice. You can trust in him.

The Word of God is a treasure. Of inestimable value is a bright

lampstand to our path. We can listen to the Lord and we

can trust in Him. He has called you to.

Follow him and very likely. To do.

Hard things things. That you.

Wouldn't be able to do. Without the power of his holy.

Spirit. Things that you would never have

signed up for had you known. But he has.

Called you to himself, and he is.

With you every step of the. Way and Jesus, the risen Son has

already gone before you. He's done the hardest thing and

because of him we can do hard things too.

He knows what it's like and He has compassion for you and your

difficult calling. By his infinite mercy and grace,

he will see you through as well. Let's pray.

Thank you. Lord, for your good word to us.

Thank you, how you sustain us. Day by day, by the power of your

word. Thank you.

For Hope. Of resurrection life and the.

World set right through. Jesus, it's in his name we pray.

Amen.