God Is Working In The Land

GOD IS WORKING IN THE LAND

1 SAMUEL 3:1 – 10

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. 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; 3And 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; 4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. 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. 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 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. 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. 10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

IN ORDER FOR ME TO LAY A PROPER FOUNDATION THIS MORNING THERE ARE A FEW PASSAGES THAT I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO

FIRST IN VERSE 1

And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

AS WE LOOK AT THESE VERSES IN THEIR PROPER CONTEXT WE COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A DARK TIME IN THE NATION OF ISRAEL

GOD WAS NOT GIVING OPEN REVELATIONS TO HIS PEOPLE, IT WAS AS IF GOD HAD ALL BUT STOPPED SPEAKING TO THE NATION

ELI - A descendant of Ithamar, the fourth son of Aaron, who exercised the office of high priest in Shiloh at this time. For the first time in Israel, Eli combined in his own person the functions of high priest and judge, judging Israel for 40 years

SCRIPTURE TELLS US THAT ELI’S HEALTH WAS FAILING, HIS EYE SIGHT WAS ALMOST GONE, AS WELL AS HIS AGE ALL OF WHICH WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION

NORMALLY ONE OF THE SONS OF ELI WOULD HAVE TAKEN HIS PLACE, BUT WE ALSO READ THAT NEITHER OF THEM WAS WALKING WITH GOD

IN FACT THEY WERE USING THEIR FATHERS OFFICE OF HIGH PRIEST, AS WELL AS THEIR OWN OFFICE’S OF UNDER PRIEST TO CORRUPT THE WORSHIP AT THE HOUSE OF GOD

1 SAMUEL 2:10 NIV

17 This sin of the young men was very great in the LORD’S sight, for they£ were treating the LORD’S offering with contempt.

1 SAMUEL 2: 22

22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

NOT ONLY WERE THE SON’S OF ELI WICKED SINNERS BEFORE THE LORD THEY HAD GOTTEN TO THE PLACE OF THINKING THAT THEY WERE UNTOUCHABLE

1 SAMUEL 2:25 NIV

25 If a man sins against another man, God£ may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the LORD’S will to put them to death.

IS IT ANY WONDER THAT GOD RARELY SPOKE, IT IS A MIRACLE THAT GOD WOULD SPEAK TO THE NATION AT ALL

1 SAMUEL 3: 3And 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; 4 That the LORD called Samuel:

BUT WE READ THAT BEFORE THE LIGHT OF GOD WENT OUT THAT GOD WAS WORKING ON A PLAN

HOPH ’ NI AND PHIN ‘ E – HAS WERE SO CAUGHT UP IN THEIR SINFUL EXPLOITS THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW OR CARE THAT GOD HAD A PLAN AND WAS WORKING THAT PLAN

ELI WITH ALL OF HIS HEALTH PROBLEMS DID NOT KNOW THAT GOD HAD A PLAN AND WAS WORKING THAT PLAN

UP UNTIL THAT TIME SAMUEL WHO WAS WORKING AROUND THE TEMPLE DID NOT REALIZE THAT GOD HAD A PLAN AND THAT HE WAS A PART OF THAT PLAN