Finishing Strong

Tonight we finish up the series on Flawed Heroes. It’s been a great series. I have to laugh… if you remember how when Pastor Nick taught on Shamgar in Judges 3:31, he had one verse about Shamgar… and he had to do 35-40 minutes with one verse. I have the opposite problem. According to some commentators, the beginning of Samuel’s story began in the last 20 years of Samson’s life.

The Jewish historian Josephus wrote, "Now after the death of Samson, Eli the high-priest was governor of the Israelites."

So if that is the case Samuel’s life and influence covers at least 3 Books… and I’m supposed to cover that in one night?

Samuel’s story is the story of a life lived for the Lord, but not perfect…

And I don’t want to go through this a just a history lesson about the life of Samuel. We have to get some meat from it. Paul said we should learn from the OT Stories so that we don’t do the same things…

One thing that Samuel’s story teaches us…

To finish strong, you have to start right.

You have to have a strong foundation.

Who was Samuel?

I’ve read through this book many times and I know that as well as being a prophet, Samuel performed priestly duties. But was he a priest? As I have read through this I often wondered about that.

1Samuel 1:1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

As I read through that I didn’t see any reference to the priestly line so I wondered, “Is this just a reflection of the state of Israel at that time?”.

The very last verse in the book of Judges 21:25, In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

Zuph, an Ephraimite…

Here is my point… If Samuel was from the tribe of Ephraim then his activity in the tabernacle was a violation of God’s word.

1 Chronicles 6 lists the families from the Levitical line… 25 The descendants of Elkanah: Amasai, Ahimoth,26 Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son,27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son and Samuel his son.

So it seems that what we read in 1 Samuel tells us the geographic location that Samuel came from – since the Levites owned no property and lived throughout the nation. 1 Chronicles gives his family line.

Why is that important?

God will never call us live in contradiction to His Word.

For believers, the Holy Spirit will never lead you in a direction that will take you out of God’s will. John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

I heard a story from Kenneth Hagin years ago when he talked about being in camp meetings in Oklahoma. After a meeting a young man came up to him and said, “Brother Hagin, I believe the Lord has shown me the girl that is supposed to be my wife” and he pointed out a young lady.

And Hagin asked, “When do you suppose that is going to happen?”

“As soon as I can convince her to divorce her husband”.

God, who is truth, by His very nature can never contradict His word.

As well as being from the right lineage, Samuel is supported by a praying Mom. You know the story. Hannah was the second wife – barren – ridiculed by the rival wife. And she prayed… and dedicated her son to the Lord.

Do you think Samuel is off to a good start?

Another thing we see that while Samuel was connected to a high priest who missed it in a lot of ways, occasionally he would get it right. When Samuel heard the voice in the middle of the night – three time – Eli finally figured it out. I don’t know how. Maybe it was a remembrance of how the Lord spoke to him once. Maybe it was just a revelation… Maybe he just reasoned it out. Regardless – his words to Samuel were important.

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

The Hebrew word translated “know” has a variety of meanings but one of them that is key means “to experience”. Samuel had not had an experience with the Lord… until now.

8 The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."