Samuel’s Early Years

Transcript

GRS 2-60
3/11/2007
Samuel’s Early Years
1 Samuel 2-3
Gil Rugh

We’re in First Samuel Chapter 2. First Samuel Chapter 2, we come to a very unique man, the man Samuel, he’s unique from the beginning, his birth is unique, he has a unique mother. I think that his father is a godly man but the attention is not on his father. It’s mentioned Elkanah, but his mother Hannah is the one who comes to the fore in the account. She’s the one who demonstrated a great faith. Remember, she was barren, had no children, she prayed and consult the Lord to give her a child. When they were at the tabernacle at Shiloh, they went up annually as a family; she had conversation with Eli, told her the burden of her heart and Eli said the Lord would grants her request. He did and she had made a promise to the Lord, if you give me a son, I will devote him to you, he will be yours.

This just wasn’t symbolic or a spiritual commitment, she meant what she would actually give this son physically to the service of the Lord at the tabernacle, meaning that this child would move out of their home and live at the tabernacle at Shiloh. And so she stays home with the child until he is weaned which would have been about three years of age in those days and then she goes to the tabernacle with her husband at the sacrifice time and takes the young child Samuel, and Chapter 1 concluded verse 26, she tells Eli, as your soul lives, my Lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. For this boy I prayed; and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of him. So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord and he worshipped the Lord there.

We have a Chapter break but it leads right into Hannah’s prayer that begins Chapter 2, when you can see that through the first 10 verses. Chapter 1 ended and he worshipped the Lord there, indicating that Samuel is going to be left there. So she’ll have her prayer and then returned home and leave the young child Samuel in the care of Eli and there were women who served at the tabernacle and so it would not have become Eli’s sole responsibility to care for all the needs of this young child, but Eli would take responsibility now for raising him and training him. The Chapter will open up with the song of praise and that will be followed by a contrast between the family of Eli and the family of Samuel.

This had to be an emotional time for Hannah. She had waited so long, prayed so earnestly for this child, now she is had the joy of having him for a son, three years she cared for him, watched over him, now she is going to take him and leave him in the care of someone else and she will have the opportunity to see him yearly as she comes to worship at the temple. Obviously, as any mother could appreciate, agree, emotional pressure and strain on her, you would think and yet the song or prayer that she has is one of thanksgiving. You might think at this time Hannah would be saying, oh Lord give me the strength to do this. Oh Lord, get me through the emotional pain that this brings and the heartache of being separated from the son that I prayed for love so thee, none of that comes into her prayer.

It’s all about the Lord and the majesty of the Lord and the wonder of the Lord and the sovereignty of the Lord and the greatness of His work. It had nothing to deal with her feelings. And I have remind myself while I go through this, she is a normal human being, she is a mother, she will have normal feelings, but it’s all about the Lord and who He is, what He does. The song is broken down into four stanzas or the prayer and interestingly if you read the prayer or song praise of Mary the mother of Jesus when she visits Elizabeth who we call the magnificat in Luke Chapter 1 verses 46 to 55. You see that she has drawn much from the prayer of Hannah, much of the same things that runs through Hannah’s prayer here, runs through the prayer of Mary the mother of Christ as she exalts in the work of the Lord in calling her to be the mother of the Messiah.

Here it’s further along for Hannah, she’s leaving this son, but she’s praying the Lord for answered prayers. So let’s walk through it. The first two verses as we have it, our thanksgiving and prays and it starts out in a node of excitement, not the, perhaps sadness or emotional pain that you might expect. Then Hannah prayed, and said, my heart exalts in the Lord, my horn is exalts in the Lord, my mouth speaks boldly against my enemies because I rejoice in your salvation. My heart, my horn, horn symbolizes strength in the Old Testament. My heart, my horn and my strength, my mouth, my whole personality, my entire being joins together in exaltation in joy and rejoicing because of what God has done.

Verse 2; there is no one holy like the Lord: indeed there is no one beside you, nor is there any rock like our God. He is the incomparable God. Now, this follows right on verse 28 of Chapter 1; I have lent him to the Lord, dedicated him to the Lord, as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord. Basically she is saying is what sees we get into Chapter 2, I’m leaving him here, he belongs to the Lord. You see, she loves this son but he hasn’t taken the place of the Lord in her life. And so she is filled with joy and rejoicing over what the Lord has done. There is no one holy like the Lord, indeed there is no one beside you, nor is there any rock like our God. And that’s a word rock is used in the Old Testament refer to God's unchanging reliability. He is the one who can be trusted.

Back up to Deuteronomy 32, we just look at one passage. Deuteronomy 32, perhaps, this passage from the law was on her mind. Deuteronomy 32, this is the song of Moses; give ear, O heavens, let me speak, let the earth hear the words of my mouth. Drop down to verse 3; for I proclaim the name of the Lord ascribe greatness to our God, the Rock, His work is perfect: For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteousness and upright is He. He is the rock, he is the unchanging God, the one upon whom we depend and rely. Down in verse 15; but Jeshurun, referring to Israel, grew fat, and kicked: you are grown fat, thick and sleek; then he forsook God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation.

Down in verse 18; you neglected the Rock who begot you and forgot the God who gave you birth. Down, the verse 30; how could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had given them up? Indeed their rock is not like our Rock. No one that they’re depending on, he’s not dependable like the one we depend on, not reliable. That sovereign God, he is the Rock of our salvation. And so back in First Samuel 2; nor is there any rock like our God. It’s all about God. Think how wonderful he is. Here she is, giving this child to the Lord, to be separated physically from him now. And she just cannot get over the wonder of God, his majesty, his greatness, the joy that fills her heart as she can place him.

Verse 3 is a warning to the proud; talk no more so very proudly; do not let arrogance come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and with him actions are weighed. There is no place for arrogance or proud, pride, in the context of the living God, he is the God of all knowledge, He is the God who will bring justice. Everything here is on the character of God. Look at just what we’ve covered in verses 2 and 3, its holiness, its uniqueness, its reliability, its knowledge, its justice. I mean, she is absorbed with the character of God, it’s not all about Samuel, it’s all about God. It’s not all about what a wonderful child Samuel; it’s all about what a wonderful God I serve. And what great things he is done in my life in blessing me with this child.

Verses 4 to 8, you have that humiliation and exaltation; those who are humble and those are exalted. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble girded on strength. Those who were full hired themselves out for bread, but those were hungry ceased hungry, even the barren gives birth to seven, but she has many children languishes. The Lord kills, and makes alive: he brings down the shield, he rises up. The Lord makes poor and rich: he brings low, he also exalts. He raises the poor from the dust, he lifts the needy from the ashes, to make them sit with nobles and inherit a seat to honor: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he set the world on them.

God is totally sovereign. He has established the earth and he is so sovereign over everything. And so he can exalt the lonely, and humble the mighty. He can kill and make a live and its all under his sovereignty. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, reveals herself as a significant theologian, taken up with the mighty hand of God. She has confidence for the future and that’s verses 9 and 10, the combination of fourth stanza of this prayer. He keeps the feet of his godly ones but the wicked ones are silent in darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail. Those who content with the Lord will be shattered, against them he will thunder in the heavens. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, he will exalt the horn of his anointed.

Then Elkanah went to his home at Ramah but the boy ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest. I mean, this is a declaration, she has full confidence in the power of the Lord to protect, the power of the Lord to crush the wicked. Man cannot prevail against God. In verse 9, the last statement; therefore not by might shall a man prevail. Zechariah Chapter 4 verse 6, not by might, nor by power, said Lord, but by my spirit. That’s it. Not by might as man prevail. She has full confidence in the Lord and his sovereignty. You know, Samuel hasn’t been mentioned in this pray. O Lord I’m leaving this young child in your care. Lord I’m leaving this child in the care and under the oversight of Eli, a man who has failed with his own sons, whose sons are a disgrace in Israel and a disgrace to the priesthood. O Lord, I mean, if you did read the context around that you just read the prayer of Hannah, you wouldn’t even know it was about a son and the result of a son the Lord given her and a son she is now leaving with the Lord is all about the Lord.

If in my situations in life, even in the most emotionally draining situation, I just fix my attention on the Lord and who he is the wonder of his person, the majesty of his person, the majesty of his person, the power of who is his sovereignty over all. All a sudden, I’m not overwhelmed with my situation, dragged down by my emotions, because that’s not where my attention is, even with my family, it’s all about the Lord, he is the great and mighty God. He is established the earth, neither I worry about my son Samuel. He is the sovereign God. All right, you’re noted the end of this prayer, I mentioned, she’s quite a theologian.

Israel didn’t have a king at this time. We’re years away from the first king of Israel, yet she prays at the end of verse 10, he will give strength to his king, and will exalt the horn of his anointed. Again, she is the woman that evidently is well versed in Scripture. Come back to Deuteronomy Chapter 17; Israel did not have a king, remember, we’re still in the days of the Judges. But in Deuteronomy Chapter 17, Moses has spoken of the time when Israel would have a king. In Deuteronomy Chapter 17 verse 14; when you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, and you possess it, and live in it and you say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations who are around me; you shall surely set a king over you, whom the Lord your God chooses: one from among your countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves, you can’t have a foreigner over you.

Then instructions for the king in subsequent verses. So when Hannah prayed, she prays in anticipation that he will give strength to his king even as Moses prophesied, when that king is established who gives strength to him. He will exalt the horn of his anointed. And she privileged to be the first one to use this expression Messiah. We get the word messiah from the anointed one. This is the first reference in the Old Testament to an individual called his anointed, he will exalt the horn of his anointed, Messiah of Israel, the Christ is the anointed one. So this is the first reference to his anointed in the Old Testament in this conclusion of the prayer of Hannah.

Now the family of Elkanah returns home. Elkanah went to his home, also his family went with him and that would have included Hannah. It’s clear when you get down to verse 19, we’re told that she came up to him, to see him every year and would make a robe for him because as he grew, he’d outgrow the one. So she made a new one. So what she do through years, she made a robe, so she’d have to take to him. So he’d have a new robe and one that would have been adjusted for his increased growth through another year. So the family returns home. Samuel’s days, he begins his ministry a Levite. Remember, he is a descendant from the tribe of Levi as is Eli, but from a different son, different line here but they are Levites. So he is to be trained for the priesthood ministry under Eli’s care. Note the contrast that’s going to come out through this section. The end of verse 11 says that boy ministered to the Lord before the Eli the priest.

Now the sons of Eli were worthless men, they did not know Lord. And you see the contrast between Samuel and the sons of Eli. The boy ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest, the sons of Eli were worthless men, they didn’t know the Lord, I’ll say it. Here Eli has sons who do not know the Lord and you have the clear contrast that’s going to be drawn out several times in this section that we’ll see now an example of their action is given was the custom of the priest with the people when any man was offering a sacrifice, the priest servant would come and while the meat was boiling with three prong fork in his hand; he would thrust it into the pan or kettle and the big fork pull out and whatever came out he would take. They did this to all the Israelites who came to Shiloh with their offering.

Verse 15; before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant will come and say, I want the meat now, I don’t want it cooked. And if you don’t give it to me, I’ll take it by force, the end of verse 16. We will go back to Leviticus Chapter 7 verses 29 to 34 but the instructions are given there. When they came and brought their peace offerings, the fat was to be burnt on the altar to the Lord, then the meat’s cooked and the breast and the right thigh was to be given for the priests, and the rest then could be by those who made the sacrifice. Eli’s sons were willing to do that, they were willing to let the fat be burnt to the Lord, they weren’t willing to just take the portion the Lord gave and they were willing to wait until it’s been cooked, they will go it their way. So something of their worthless, godless character as men who did not know the Lord.

Verse 17; thus the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for the men despise the offering of the Lord. You know what happens here, by not worshipping according to the instructions that God had given, they were despising the Lord. And that will bring severe judgment on them. Now you note again the contrast between the statement in verse 17 and the one in verse 18; the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: the men despise the offering of the Lord. Now Samuel is ministering before the Lord, as a boy wearing a linen ephod, you are again told of the character of Eli’s sons and yet the conduct of Samuel is in stark contrast.

Verses 18 to 21 talk about the faithful godliness of Samuel and his family. Verse 19 is referred to his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him from year to year, when she would come up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. I mean, a great sacrifice here, a great commitment on her part to go home and spent a year there, making this robe and going about her duties, then to come up and see the son that she had prayed for, that was so precious to her, bring him the new robe. To be there for a short time as they offered their sacrifice and the fellowship there, and then return home for another year. No wavering here, no indication of any change of heart, just followed the pattern that she had committed to herself to before the Lord.

Eli would bless Elkanah and the end result is, verse 21; the Lord visited Hannah, she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. I note the contrast again in the end of verse 21, and the boy Samuel grew before the Lord. Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel and how they lay with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting. Again you see the contrast here between Samuel and the sons of Eli. They’re godless men, not only did they despised the offering of the Lord, but even the women that served at the tabernacle; they had sexual relations with them. And they are godless in their worship, and they are godless in their morals. They are sons of Belial, worthless men, men who did not know the Lord.

Exodus 38:8 refers to the ministry of the women at the tabernacle and as I noted, they would have been there to help also care for Samuel, all wouldn’t fall on Eli. This is well-known among the people. Eli asked his son, verse 23; why do you do such things, the evil that I hear from all these people? No, my sons; the report is not good for I hear Lord which I hear the Lord’s people circulating. This is becoming common knowledge throughout Israel, becoming the talk of the people. If any man sins against the Lord, God will mediate for him, but the man sins against the Lord, who can inner see for him? But they would not listen to the voice of their father for the Lord desired to put them to death.

Now the boy Samuel is growing and stature in favor with the Lord and with men. See the contrast again. The end of verse 25; they would not listen to the voice of their father, the Lord desired to put them to death. Now the boy Samuel’s growing in stature, favor both with the Lord and with men, that constant repeated contrast between the sons of Eli and Samuel as the one who is faithful to the Lord. Eli rebukes his sons but it’s late in life and get fall short of what it should have been. You should have dealt with this action and should have been removed. He fails to do it and it’s going to bring severe judgment upon him, when it says at the end of 25; the Lord desired to put them to death.

The time of mercy has passed. It’s similar to Pharaoh; we will go back and look at Pharaoh, back in the Book of Exodus where he hardened his heart and the opportunity for his response. He’s not there, the Lord hardened his heart. So they’ve persisted in this. The Lord has determined that they will die for their sin. So there is no responsiveness to this point, only hardened hearts. Verses 27 to 36; a man of God, a prophet, comes to Eli and tells him the judgment of God will come upon him for what is happened in his house. Man of God came to Eli, verse 27, and said to him, thus says the Lord, Did I not indeed reveal myself to the house of your father, when they were in Egypt, in bondage to Pharaoh's house? Did I not choose them from all the tribes of Israel to be my priests?

Remember Eli is of the tribe of Levi and of the priest, those have ordained and appointed to be priest. To go up to my altar, burn incense, carry an ephod before me, did I not give to the house of your father all the fire offerings of the sons of Israel? This refers to, after the burning of the fat and the cooking of the meat, then you give the breast and the right thigh to the priest. I made provision for you. Verse 29; why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my dwelling. And note this, you’ve to underline this, and honor your sons above me. Serious, serious matter, by not dealing with his sons, he was placing them above the Lord. By making yourself with the choices to every offering of my people Israel? Therefore the Lord God of Israel declared, I did indeed say that your house, the house of your father should walk before me forever but now the Lord declares; far be it from me; for those who honor me I will honor, those who despise me will be lightly esteemed.

The days are coming when I will break your strength, the strength of your father's house, so there will not be an old man in your house. You will see the distress of dwelling in spite of all the good that I do for Israel and an old man will not be in your house forever. Yet I will not cut off everyman of yours from my altar so that your eyes will fail from weeping and your soul grieve; and all the increase of your house will die in the prime of life. I’m not going to annihilate your line, I’m going to let them live so that they constantly, repeatedly, endlessly are reminded of my judgment on them. They lived to the prime of life and die, nobody is going to live to be an old man in your descendants. This will be sign, verse 34, which you come – which will come concerning your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. So on the same day both of them will die. But I will rise up for myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in my heart and in my soul: and I will build him an enduring house; and he will walk before my anointed to always.

Everyone who’s left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver, a loaf of bread, and say, please assign me to one of the priests' offices, may eat a piece of bread. Your descendants are going to be left begging from those that replace them, quite severe judgment. He permitted the activity of his sons to go on, later in his life, verse 22, we’re told Eli was very old that he heard all his doing. Now he’s got a feeble rebuke, you shouldn’t do this, you know, bring the judgment of God. But it’s too late, he put his sons before the Lord and honored them above God and judgment comes, his sons both will die on the same day. We’ll see that in our next study.

Verses 35 and 36, God says, he rise up him for himself, a faithful high priest. This will take place in the days of Eli’s great, great grandson ultimately. Turn over to First Kings, we take account in order to do this. First Kings 2:27, we get some idea of how serious this sin is and its consequences. It will have impact in the millennial reign of Christ. First Kings 2:27, now here you have Abiathar is the priest, then he is a descendant from Eli. Verse 27; so Solomon, we’re in the days of Solomon, dismissed Abiathar from being priest to the Lord. Note this, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord, which he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh. So here now, after the days of Samuel, after the days of Saul, after the days of David, in the time of Solomon the realization of this.

If you turn over a page yourself to Chapter 4 of First Kings, verse 2; Solomon now, appoints his officials; Azariah the son of Zadok was the priest. That’s a different son of Levi. So above, the priest come from Levi but now Zadok line, and I believe he’s the fourth son of Aaron, becomes the wine of the priest. I mentioned this, because now you have the line Zadok as the priestly line and again, Levite, the Levitical priesthood but through line of Zadok. Eli’s family is done. When I say the impact of this goes on, turn over to Ezekiel Chapter 40, sin can have far reaching consequences. Ezekiel Chapter 40 and if you are aware of Ezekiel, these chapters are about the millennial temple, the temple that will be constructed during the millennium.

During Christ rules on the earth there will be a temple, there would priesthood and so on and note in verse 46 of Chapter 40; the chamber which faces toward the north is for the priests to keep charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok who from the sons of Levi, come near to the Lord to minister to him. All the way down now, in the millennium when the Messiah rules on the earth, it will be the descendants of Zadok who will be serving as priests. The punishment of the line of Eli goes on and what they have forfeited? The honor that they have given up in Chapter 43 of Ezekiel, verse 19; you shall give to the Levitical priest toward from the offspring of Zadok, who drawn near to minister to me, declares the Lord. Chapter 44 verse 15; but the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of my sanctuary and so on. Chapter 48 verse 11; it shall be for the priests who are sanctified of the sons of Zadok, all of that.

We come back to first Samuel 2, we realize the seriousness of the consequences of the sin of Eli and the sin of his sons, just not well you get over it. And we get into the millennium, impact to that still will be there. It will be the sons of Zadok, who are given the honored position, Eli and his sons forfeited it by their disobedience. Chapter 3 is the prophetic call of Samuel and when I highlight this Chapter, then we’ll draw this together. We’ve pronounced judgment on the house Eli. Now we’re going to talk about his immediate replacement. Not the priestly order, we saw that, that will go to Zadok, that’s down the line, but in the immediate replacement, it will be Samuel. So Eli will not be succeeded by his sons. They’re to die. Samuel will become the next Judge and priest and prophet in Israel.

So verse chapter 3 opens up; now the boy Samuel is ministering to the Lord before Eli. You see the contrast again, we talked about how terrible the situation is with Eli and his family, we’ve just read of the judgment, now we come to Samuel’s administering to the Lord before Eli. And the word of Lord was rare in those days, visions were infrequent. We just had one message from the Lord, the message of judgment from the prophet, the man of God in verse 27 of following of Chapter 2. But that was unusual. These are the days of spiritual deterioration and decay. These are the days of the Judges and there’s not a word coming from the Lord very often. And in a period of the time that Eli was lying down in his place, he is basically lined, well advanced in years. The lamp of the Lord, verse 3, had not gone out.

When it says Samuel is a boy, this is the same word, boy that used in David when he kills Goliath later in Samuel, First Samuel 17:33, he is referred to as a boy. So he is a young man and that’s all we have here. So what that means? How old is Samuel? 17, 18, we don’t know, who is a boy, it doesn’t mean he is six years old here, probably, a young person, say, David was old enough when he went to kill Goliath, I mean, more than just great school age person that probably 17, 18, somewhere in there is where Samuel is. What it says verse 3, the lamp of the Lord had not gone out as a reference to the candle stick in the tabernacle and its seven branches and it was lit every evening and it would burn until morning. And so we are in the early hours of the morning before dawn. When it says the lamp of the Lord, it not yet gone out, we’re moving toward morning but we’re not yet at dawn when the lamp stands that had been lit, would go out.

Samuel’s lying down in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was, that’s where he sleeps and the Lord called to Samuel and Samuel hears a voice, an audible voice calling him and he thinks it’s Eli’s. so you’re familiar with the account. He say here I am and he runs to Eli, since here I am, you called me, verse 5. Eli said, I didn’t call you, go back to sleep. And the Lord called again, in verse 6, Samuel rose up, went to Eli, here am I, you called me. Eli said, I didn’t call you, go back to sleep.

Now verse 7; now Samuel did not know the Lord, nor heard the word of Lord yet been revealed to him. And that may indicate that even though Samuel is been growing, and maturing at this point, to this point he had not been truly a saved man. He did not know the Lord and the word of the Lord hadn’t been revealed to him or it maybe that this is the next step in faith moves him into his position as God's spokesman, but it says he does not know the Lord, that may indicate that this will be time of his conversion. The third time this happens, Eli recognizes God must be calling to Samuel. So he tells Samuel, the next time you hear this voice, verse 9, you say, speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. So when it happens in verse 10, Samuel response accordingly and the Lord said to Samuel, interesting how the Lord reveals Himself.

It’s true in the prayer of Hannah, his mother. There are her joy and rejoicing which you note in that how the Lord deals with his enemies; he crushes his enemies, they’re scattered, bad recognition of God's sovereignty and any opposition to him will be dealt with. You might think the first revelation to the young man Samuel from God would be something uplifting. I’m very pleased with you, I’m going to do this for you, I’m going to use you in this way, and ultimately you will have the privilege of anointing the first two kings of Israel and not at all, first thing God has to say to Samuel is, I am going to do, come and fears judgment on the house of Eli. So God's speaks to him and verse 11; the Lord said to Samuel, I am about to do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of anyone who hears it will tingle.

In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I has spoken concerning his house from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knew because his sons brought a curse on themselves, and he did not rebuke them. Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoning for by sacrifice or offering for ever. This severe message for the first time Samuel receives the word from the Lord and it is a devastating message of judgment. On the man, who has been his mentor, his trainer, and his family. I want you to note something of verse 13; I have told him that I am about to judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knew because his sons brought a curse on themselves, and he did not rebuke them. Two things here, his sons brought a curse on themselves. Eli is not held accountable for his son’s sinning.

His sons are responsible are responsible for their own sin. They brought a curse on themselves. He is responsible because he didn’t rebuke them, said nothing about the practice should have been a better father or that he was responsible for their actions. They’re responsible for their actions; he is responsible for his actions, not doing what he should have done in rebuking them for their sin. Nothing said about the family life of Eli, nothing is said about how he raised his children; it’s irrelevant to their sin. They’ve brought a curse on themselves. They brought judgment on themselves. Samuel turns out fine; he is raised in Eli’s house too. He didn’t turn out as a son of Belial or worthless man who didn’t know the Lord. I mean, he is the one person rode. The first danger signal is the preoccupation with profession to the exclusion of his family needs. Where do you get that out of this account?

The first danger signal is the preoccupation with profession, in another words, Eli was too involved in his work, his profession to the exclusion of family needs. God doesn’t rebuke him for neglecting his family, as a rebuke in for spending too much time with his job and not enough time with his kids, he rebuked him for not discipline the kids for the sin, not putting a stop to the sin of his sons who are priests under his authority, his priesthood in Israel. The sons brought a curse on themselves. Eli didn’t bring the curse on his sons. Eli brought a curse on himself by not rebuking his sons and dealing with the sin. It’s important to see here both, I can use the word both for three, the two sons and Eli are each independently accountable and responsible for their action and God doesn’t tell Eli if you expend more time with your kids, they would have turned out differently.

And he doesn’t tell the kids, if your father expend more time at home and less time at work, being a priest and a prophet and a Judge, it might had better kids, those are non-issues, we psychologies the bible and read into things that are not there. Each are responsible, they brought the curse on themselves. I will be accountable over to God for the kind of father I was, whether I dealt as I should but it’s my kids’ sin, they bring a judgment on themselves. We need to be clear as God sets it down, all right, let’s look at verse 14; the iniquity of Eli's house cannot be atoned for. Numbers 15 verses 30 and 31 talks’ defiance sin, the sin of a high hand or you sin defiantly against the Lord and that’s what Eli and his family are guilty of.

Eli honored his sons above the Lord by not dealing with their sin. Eli’s sons dishonored the Lord, despised the offering of the Lord as it was put by their action. For that there is no atoning sacrifice. Sin of the high hand and there again sin of ignoring God said and hopefully rebelling. So that’s why when we get to the millennium, Eli’s descendants will still be bearing to consequences because it will be descendants of Zadok that will be serving in the millennial kingdom in the temple there. That’s a heavy message for a young man from the Lord, Samuel. But now he’s got to pass it on to Eli and that would even be more difficult. Verse 15; Samuel lay down until morning, then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord but Samuel was afraid to the vision that Eli. How do I go and tell Eli, God told me tonight that he’s going to bring judgment on you and your sons are brought a curse on themselves.

So he is afraid to have to tell this to Eli. Eli calls him, he knows the Lord had a reason to speak to Samuel. So he bind Samuel that if you don’t tell me everything, may the Lord do to you what he said he is going to do, or Eli knows, he’s already heard once. He’s got every reason to know why God came to Samuel, not to him. Samuel told him everything and to Eli’s credit, he said in verse 18; it is the Lord: let him do what seems good to him. Samuel grew, the Lord was with him, let none of his words fail. All Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord appeared again in Shiloh, because the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

It’s going to 130 years plus before this prophesy is fulfilled regarding Eli and his descendants but time doesn’t hinder, it’s good as it’s done. It’s like telling yesterday is been, since we talked about what God's prophesies, often prophesies in the Old Testament are given what we are referred to as the prophetic pass because prophets gave their prophesy in a past tense. Everybody knew they’re talking about the future but they’re speaking off it in past tense because God said, it was good as it happened yesterday, even though maybe a hundred years, four hundred years, a thousand years in the future doesn’t matter. From God's perspective it is settled as it was an event being reported from yesterday. So it is with what is been said about Eli and is the sentence.

All right, let me summarize this with a series of lessons for us and I have just highlighted several. Starting with the prayer of Hannah in Chapter 2; our hearts and mind should be occupied with the greatness of God and his character. We’re not think it that in mind in our prayer, nothing wrong with praying for those things that we’re burdened about and concern us. A major part of our prayer, I thought, a focus on who God is and that wonder of his person and that puts everything else in perspective. I am praying and praising him as the God who has established the earth, the God whose will is always done on this earth, the God who crushes his enemies, the God who lifts up his people. Always and now as I come to bring my need before, it is put in proper perspective.

Things are not at control, I mean, my sovereign, I have filled with joy, I belong to him, his work will be done in my life. I come to him in that context, our hearts and mind should be occupied with a greatness of God and his character. Number two; our worship of God must be in accord with his instructions, Chapter 2, verses 12 to 17. In order to understand this today, Book of Hebrews speaks to this in warning, about coming to God and coming to him his way. That doesn’t change. God will be worshipped according to his instructions and he is offended, and it is an offense against the holy God to attempt to worship him any other way. And we tend to go soft on this, we think, well, everybody has their own views and we don’t want to be narrow, we have to be as narrow as the word of God is, because it’s not good enough that they didn’t take all them need of the offering. Well, they didn’t do it in exactly the way but at least they left some of it. To not do in exactly the way God said to do, it was to despise the worship of the Lord. And that hasn’t changed. God must be worshipped exactly as he is said through his son today, there are no other alternatives that to do, him to do any other way is to despise the Lord. And, behold, accountable for that.

Number three, sin hardens against reproof in preparation for judgment and in verse 25 of Chapter 2; they would not listen to the voice of their father for the Lord desired to put into death. Sin hardens against reproof and that is a preparation for judgment. And the Romans 1; God gave them over to the lustful desire to their heart because he’s determined to Judge them and even as he did with Pharaoh. Number four; God's blessings bring responsibility, verses 27 and 28; God reminds Eli through the problem, did I not reveal myself to the house of your father, when they were in bondage in Egypt. Did I not choose them from all of the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to do all this? To whom much is given, much is required God's blessing brings responsibility; that doesn’t change.

We are greatly blessed people, we are people given the word of God, we are people with the blessings of God in so many ways and for that we will be accountable and have great accountability. Number five; we must put no one before the Lord, verse 29; God said to Eli, you honored your sons above me. Remember what Jesus said, you love father and mother more than me, you can be my disciple. You don’t hate your family, you can’t be my disciple you say hate your parents so that no but there is no comparison, they’re no rivals for the affection of the Lord. I must love him all heart, soul, and mind, more than my children, more than my parents. I cannot honor my children above the Lord; I cannot honor my family above the Lord. I’ve to honor my parents but I cannot honor them above the Lord.

He will have no rivals that was true in the days of Eli. Jesus made it clear. The challenge that people of his day was a cast of following him. No one before the Lord has put the pressure on us when it comes to our family. And we begin to think we all, maybe I, I don’t know, but now I stand, I follow the Lord. I want my children to follow Lord, I want my wife to follow Lord, you want your parents to follow, but regardless I will follow the Lord. I mean, that’s what Jesus said, you love father, mother, brother and sister, family members more than me, you can be my disciple. And so people often, you cannot honor the Lord by exalting him to second place in your life.

Number six; children bear the responsibility for their sin. Verse 13 of Chapter 3, we’ve jumped down for time. Children bear their responsibility for their sin. His sons brought a curse on themselves. It wasn’t dad didn’t spend enough time with me; dad was off running and exercising judgment and are off doing this or off doing that. It doesn’t matter; they brought a curse on themselves. Verse number 6 and number 7 goes with that; parents are responsible before God for their sins, for not doing the right thing. We have to take a moment, we’re almost out of time, go to Ezekiel 18, quickly. Ezekiel 18:20 is the person who sins will die, the son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity. The righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, the wickedness of the wicked upon himself, no excuses here. Parents won’t be able to blame their children, children won’t be able blame parents, each of the accountable directly for God. Well, if I had a better parents, I might have, if my kids had, I might; it doesn’t matter, same principle as we have in the days so Eli.

They brought a curse on themselves and Eli brought the curse on himself. It wasn’t the kids’ fault; Eli had been say to his kids look what you’ve done to me. And the kids look to father and said you fail. They’re both accountable before the Lord. Point number eight in my list is we cannot undo the damage our sin causes, verse 14. Eli couldn’t undo the damage his sin caused. Maybe you careful, there is forgiveness but don’t presume upon God's forgiveness. Don’t think I will sin because I know God will forgive me. He’s the forgiving God but you cannot undo the consequences and damage the sin the causes. And we don’t think about that. We think about the enjoyment, we think about what we want to do.

We don’t think about the consequences and we also don’t know how would Eli think that in thousands of years when the anointed one rules on the earth, my family will be bearing the consequences of this. Forgiven, yes, as there in the kingdom there will be, but the consequences, the damage done, Zadok’s line will be serving in the privilege position. So just a word of warning about sin, who would think of its consequences, the damage go that far even into millennium? Yes. Faithfulness in service sometimes mean pay full ministry, Samuel had to tell Eli of his coming judgment in verse 18, and we served God according to his appointment as the Chapter concluded with Samuel. Tragedy will line as sons stands and start contrast with the simple faithfulness of Samuel and his family, particularly his mother, Hannah.

Let’s pray together. Thank you Lord for your grace. Thank you for the revelation you’ve given in verse. Lord we are people entrusted with greater responsibility even as we are privileged to read the record and observe the lives of these that you’ve recorded, to see their failures, to see their successes, to see how ugly and awful sin is. Lord may cause us to hate sin, to turn from it, to run from it, to avoid it. Lord may our desire be to honor you. We pray in Christ’s name, amen.