BIG IDEA:
THE FAITHFUL SPOKESMAN FOR GOD COMMUNICATES EVEN THE HARD WORDS OF JUDGMENT
(WHAT IT MEANS TO DECLARE THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD)
I. (:1-9) THE CALLING OF THE PROPHET – THE SURPRISE OF THE PROPHET (FOR GOD TO SPEAK TO HIM PERSONALLY AND DIRECTLY)
A. (:1a) The Circumstances of the Calling
God Calls Us as We Faithfully Minister in Our Everyday Responsibilities
“Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli”
B. (:1b) The Rarity of Direct Revelation in Those Days
“and word from the Lord was rare in those day, visions were infrequent”
C. (:2-6) The Persistence of the Lord’s Calling – Despite our Failure to Comprehend
Twice both Eli and Samuel missed the message
But the key = Samuel’s Responsiveness:
– Quick to respond — “then he ran to Eli”
– Available to obey — “Here I am”
(Wouldn’t it be great if our kids always responded in this fashion)
D. (:7) The Inexperience of the Prophet Did Not Disqualify him
“Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord yet been revealed to him”
Blaikie: “Hitherto Samuel had not known the Lord – that is, he had not been cognizant of His way of communicating with men in a supernatural form – and it had never occurred to him that such a thing could happen in his case.”
E. (:8-9) The Guidance From Spiritual Mentors in Discerning the Lord’s Calling
“Then Eli discerned that the Lord was calling the boy”
II. (:10-14) THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PROPHET — THE HARD WORDS OF JUDGMENT
A. (:10) Attentiveness is Key
“Speak, for Thy servant is listening”
B. (:11-14) Judgment is Not a Happy Message
The Prophet is often commissioned to deliver an unpopular message
III. (:15-18) THE TESTING OF THE PROPHET — THE FAITHFUL COMMUNICATION OF THE MESSAGE
A. Fear Did Not Disqualify the Prophet
“Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli”
B. Faithfulness to the Message and Obedience to the Mission are the Keys
“So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him”
C. Godly People Will Surprise Us With Their Positive Reception of Words of Discipline
“It is the Lord; let Him do what seems good to Him”
What will be our response if the Lord chooses to judge America for countless iniquities?
IV. (:19-21) THE CONFIRMATION OF THE PROPHET – CYCLE OF FAITHFULNESS AND BLESSING
A. (:19a) Personal Growth
“Then Samuel grew”
B. (:19b) Spiritual Favor
“and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fail”
C. (:20) Ministry Confirmation (on a national scale)
“And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord”
D. (:21) Further Revelation
“And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, because the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord”
(Note the priority of the Word of the Lord)