On Thursday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke at the United Nations in New York returning to his usual cursing Israel, and threatening it with extinction. Indeed, his hatred is obsessional, and dominates his view of the entire world. He even went so far as to blame America for the slaughter of its own citizens — and to do so in a speech on American soil. The speech resulted in the delegates from Canada, the United States, and other nations to leave. It is difficult to make any sense of practically anything that Ahmadinejad says.
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010/09/24/rex-murphy-once-a-noble-dream-now-just-a-joke/#comments#ixzz10aLSvibT
In 1 Samuel 3, Samuel received a message from God. God rejected the sinful Eli, yet used Eli to help Samuel receive God’s message.
For different reasons, it can be difficult to discern God’s voice, His direction for our lives at some critical juncture. Questions like what to do about a relationship, which job to take, how to deal with a problem, or what to do with our lives are often made clearer by someone with spiritual wisdom who helps us to hear God’s voice in the familiar and encourages obedience as the best way. These people come to in the form of professors, pastors, aunts and uncles, parents, classmates, spouses, and even my children. In a contemporary way, we can play the role of “Eli” by trying to give wise counsel to others who need a little help in interpreting the voices they hear" (Chafin, K. L., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1989). Vol. 8: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 8 : 1, 2 Samuel. The Preacher’s Commentary series (42). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.).
In order to hear the voice of God we must have the right: 1) Closeness (1 Samuel 3:1-6), 2) Confirmation (1 Samuel 3:7-9), 3) Center of attention (1 Samuel 3:10-15), 4) Compliance (1 Samuel 3:16-20)
In order to hear the voice of God we must have the right:
1) Closeness (1 Samuel 3:1-6),
1 Samuel 3:1-6 [3:1]Now the young man Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. [2]At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. [3]The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. [4]Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, "Here I am!" [5]and ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. [6]And the LORD called again, "Samuel!" and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." (ESV)
In order to hear the voice of God we must be Where God Speaks and ready to hear what God wants to say to us.
Josephus (Antiquities v.10.4) preserves a Jewish tradition which says that Samuel had just completed his twelfth year when the word of God came to him. In other words, he had attained his religious maturity. We are here reminded of Jesus’ visit to the temple when he was twelve years old and his discussion with the teachers of Scripture there (Luke 2:42, 46) (Robinson, G. (1993). Let us be like the nations : A commentary on the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. International theological commentary (22–23). Grand Rapids; Edinburgh: Eerdmans; Handsel Press.).
1 Samuel 3:1 explains the relationship between Samuel and Eli and the negative situation with regard to the word of the Lord. The name Samuel appears 24 times in this chapter; thus, for the first time Samuel becomes the major figure. Yet Eli still appears 17 times, and the Lord 19 times, though the Lord appears in person only to Samuel. The term ministering is a key word for explaining Samuel’s relationship with the Lord (also 1 Sam. 2:11; 2:18).
The rarity of the word of the Lord might be construed as a sign of divine disfavor (see Ps. 74:9; Lam. 2:9; Amos 8:11; Mic. 3:6f.). The time of the judges was a period of extremely limited prophetic activity. The few visions that God did give were not widely known (MacArthur, J. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible : New American Standard Bible. (1 Sa 3:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
• In the midst of all this discussion on "Discerning the voice of God" I want to be clear about what I am saying and not saying. I am not saying that we should expect to hear the audible voice of God. Even at this time, that was a rare thing.
• Be very careful and clear as to using the phrase "the Lord spoke to me". As we will see, in Scripture this referred to an audible voice that could be confirmed by exact events consistent to what God has previously said.
• If we are caviler in using the phrase "the Lord spoke to me" and we are not explicitly referring to discernment and wisdom, we put ourselves in the same category of a false prophet.
• What I am referring to is our present situation. Now that we have a completed canon of Scripture, we need the Holy Spirit to help us understand and act upon it.
Quote: Frank Tupper, says, “God speaks to us through familiar voices.” While there is a tendency to think of the more dramatic revelations of God as normative, most people experience God’s guidance in quite ordinary ways: through experiences good and bad, while reading the Scripture, through the counsel of another, or out of a growing interest (Chafin, K. L., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1989). Vol. 8: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 8 : 1, 2 Samuel. The Preacher’s Commentary series (41–42). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.).
The Hebrew term rendered vision is not the same as a dream, though the vision takes place at night. This term is used in contexts that suggest receiving of words and not visual images; that is, while a person is sleeping, he hears a voice speaking to him. The footnote in NJB states “It [God’s revelation] is not a dream; the voice awakens Samuel. Nor is it a ‘vision’ except in the wide sense, since Samuel hears but does not see Yahweh (Omanson, R. L., & Ellington, J. (2001). A handbook on the first book of Samuel. UBS handbook series (90). New York: United Bible Societies.).
Thus far, Samuel had not had opportunity to experience the receiving either of an oracle or of a vision (Baldwin, J. G. (1988). Vol. 8: 1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (68). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.).
The phrase in 1 Samuel 3:2 at that time/on that day appears 35 times in 1 and 2 Samuel. Here the SETTING of the story changes from a distant in those days (v. 1) to a specific at that time/on that day.
The participle was lying down (šōkēb) is used for both Eli (here) and Samuel (v. 3), denoting their common circumstantial situation, though they were lying down in different places. The sentence in v. 2b, which explains Eli’s eye condition (see 4:15), that his eyesight had begun to grow dim (impf.) suggests that the weakening of his eyesight was in progress; at this stage Eli could still see a little
1 Samuel 3:3 shows the contrast between the “darkening” of Eli’s eyes and the “light” of the lamp of God ( Exod. 27:20f.; 30:7–8; Lev. 24:1–4). The golden lampstand, located in the Holy Place of the tabernacle, was filled with olive oil and lit at twilight (Ex 30:8). The lamp was kept burning from evening until morning (Ex 27:20, 21). Just before dawn, while the golden lampstand was still burning, Samuel was called to his prophetic ministry (MacArthur, J. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible : New American Standard Bible. (1 Sa 3:3). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.).
In a broader context, we can not piece together a string of events that cast a light on the present situation. In the days of Eli, prophetic revelations in the form of visions and divine words had been “rare” (v. 1; lit., “precious”), a circumstance that can be linked to divine displeasure (cf. 14:37; 28:6) and helps explain why society was so degenerate at that time (cf. Prov 29:18; Amos 8:11). Eli’s eyes—and by extension his spiritual insight—were “so weak that he could barely see” (v. 2). The mention of “the lamp of God” (v. 3) still burning in the midst of Shiloh’s darkness provided not only a temporal setting—the predawn hours (cf. Exod 27:21)—but also a symbol of Samuel’s presence in that spiritually benighted worship center (Bergen, R. D. (2001). Vol. 7: 1, 2 Samuel (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (86). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.).
• A word to Samuel is now the light in the midst of darkness.
Please turn to the Book of Amos
That Eli and Samuel were Lying down in his own place suggests that Samuel slept in a chamber contiguous to the “temple”. Since the ark was kept in the inner place (i.e., “the holy of holies,” debîr) at the back of the temple, Samuel must have slept in the main room of the temple (hêkāl). Probably he slept there to carry out a task or be on call for some duty.
To discern the voice of God in the midst of darkness depends on our closeness to Him and His word:
Amos 8:9-12 [9]"And on that day," declares the Lord GOD, "I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight. [10]I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on every waist and baldness on every head; I will make it like the mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day. [11]"Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "when I will send a famine on the land-- not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. [12]They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it.
In 1 Samuel 3:4 The Lord called Samuel. We cannot be sure where the Lord called from, possibly from the ark; Samuel answered immediately where he was (“Here I am!. His willing obedience was a qualification for receiving God’s word (Baldwin, J. G. (1988). Vol. 8: 1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (68). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.).
• If we desire to hear and discern the voice of God, to have the Holy Spirit give us understanding and guidance, we must first be obedient to what has already been revealed. If we are not presently showing obedience, the Spirit will not give us further understanding or guidance.
Samuel was particularly close to God, which qualified him to be fit for God’s task:
Illustration: 3460 “One Misfit Could Ruin Us”
Ann Judson, a pioneer missionary to Burma, wrote of the kind of missionaries needed: “In encouraging young men to come out as missionaries, do use the greatest caution. One wrong-minded, obstinate man would ruin us. Humble, quiet, persevering men of sound, sterling character, with good accomplishment and some natural aptitude to acquire a language; men of an amiable, yielding temper, willing to take the lowest place; men who live close to God, and who are willing to suffer all things for Christ’s sake without being proud of it—these are the kind of men we need.”
(Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible Communications.)
In order to hear the voice of God we must have the right: 1) Closeness (1 Samuel 3:1-6), and:
2) Confirmation (1 Samuel 3:7-9)
1 Samuel 3:7-9 [7]Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. [8]And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the young man. [9]Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ’Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. (ESV)
To say in 1 Samuel 3:7 that Samuel did not yet know the Lord, these words do not mean that Samuel did not know who God was or did not know anything about God. Rather, Samuel had not yet had a personal experience of receiving a revelation from God (Omanson, R. L., & Ellington, J. (2001). A handbook on the first book of Samuel. UBS handbook series (93). New York: United Bible Societies.).
In 1 Samuel 3:9 Eli is able to explain why someone is ready to listen to God. God should speak if someone is listening. This is no magical formula, but an expression of adequate human response to God. The Hebrew word used here is ˓ebed, a noun which is translated both as “servant” and “slave.” ˓Ebed, the slave, is one who submits his personal will to the will of his master. That condition is reached when one can sincerely say, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven”—when one can say with Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me …” (Gal. 2:20). This, then, is the condition in which one can receive God’s word. When self-seeking personal will stops, then the saving will of God can begin to work in and through the human mind. This is what happened in Samuel (Robinson, G. (1993). Let us be like the nations : A commentary on the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. International theological commentary (26). Grand Rapids; Edinburgh: Eerdmans; Handsel Press.).
Although Eli shows himself to be orthodox in his knowledge, he is a complete failure in his duties.
Never confuse those who are busy in ministry as a sure sign of faith. There are may who are deceived to assume to be in a right relationship with God because of service. That is why Jesus said:
Matthew 7:21-23 [21]"Not everyone who says to me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22]On that day many will say to me, ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ [23]And then will I declare to them, ’I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’(ESV)
• Eli was ministering in the Temple, yet failed in fundamental dues of controlling his children.
• Those who serve as spiritual leaders in the church are to set an example by their family life. In listing the duties and qualifications of a pastor, Paul wrote to Timothy: “He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)” (1 Timothy 3:4, 5).
Once again, don’t assume because you know the right doctrine, that your practice is equally so. Too often we store up information yet habitually fail to utilize that information.
• On Wednesday we went though the most prevalent fears of evangelism, showed how to overcome them and provided a basis message in what to share. The test in whether this is actually understood is if someone shares the Gospel this week with someone who needs to hear in the way that we saw from 1 Thessalonians that we need to share it.
Confirmation of a message understood is an appropriate action:
Illustration: ("The Bridge")
During the famous valley campaign of the US Civil War, General Stonewall Jackson’s army found itself on one side of a river when it needed to be on the other side.
After telling his engineers to plan and build a bridge so the army could cross, he called his wagon master in to tell him that it was urgent the wagon train cross the river as soon as possible. The wagon master started gathering all the logs, rocks and fence rails he could find and built a bridge. Long before day light General Jackson was told by his wagon master all the wagons and artillery had crossed the river. General Jackson asked where are the engineers and what are they doing? The wagon master’s only reply was that they were in their tent drawing up plans for a bridge.
(Pulpit Helps, May, 1991)
In order to hear the voice of God we must have the right: 1) Closeness (1 Samuel 3:1-6), 2) Confirmation (1 Samuel 3:7-9) and:
3) Center of attention (1 Samuel 3:10-15)
1 Samuel 3:10-15 [10]And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant hears." [11]Then the LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. [12]On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. [13]And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. [14]Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever." [15]Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. (ESV)
In 1 Samuel 3:10 we see for the first time it is said that the LORD “came” and “stood” before he called. Until now, only “calling” has been mentioned. Does this mean that the Lord had been calling from a distance and now, finally, came close and called? Probably so. It is possible that “the revelation now to Samuel involved a vision as well as an audition,” These words reflect Samuel’s very real sense of God’s presence. This appears to have been a theophany, a visible appearance of God, as in Gen. 12:7 (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (1 Sa 3:10). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.).
Repeated pronunciations of a person’s name: Samuel! Samuel!: (“Abraham! Abraham!” (Gen. 22:11); “Jacob! Jacob!” (Gen. 46:2); “Moses! Moses!” (Exod. 3:4) may have a special significance.
Samuel said that "your servant hears". (Heb. shama˒) (1 Sam. 3:10; 17:28; Gen. 3:10, Ex. 2:15; Is. 6:9) Strong’s #8085: The Hebrew word translated hears also means “to listen” or “to obey.” This important OT word appears over 1,100 times. It implies that the listener is giving his or her total attention to the one who is speaking. In some cases, the word connotes more than listening and indicates obedience to what has been said. In the present passage Samuel is listening for God’s word and is determined to obey it. This young man is an example of the kind of person God delights to use—one who is always ready to receive His Word and follow it (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (1 Sa 3:9). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.).
• We will not discern God’s voice unless we are willing to hear it with interest as to obey. Otherwise, scripture will come across as mere historical accounts instead of being illuminated by the Holy Spirit.
In 1 Samuel 3:11 The Lord is preparing Samuel to be his messenger, that is, “prophet,” by informing Samuel of what he is going to do in Israel. A thing … such that … : literally, “a word.” Here a thing refers to a disaster or a terrible thing, as conveyed by the man of God in 1 Sam. 2:27–36. The idiom that the two ears of everyone who hears will tingle (teṣillênāh štê ’oznâw) would be equivalent to ours of hair standing up on the neck, or making one’s flesh to crawl; it is used also in II Kings 21:12, and Jeremiah 19:3 of the fall of Jerusalem. Here it refers to the events which comprise the fall of Shiloh (KJV Bible commentary. 1997 (540). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.)
In 2 Samuel 7, God says he will “establish” David’s house, but here in 1 Samuel 3:12 the establishment of God’s word means the destruction of Eli’s house. When God refers to All that I have spoken it includes, but is not necessarily limited to, 2:27–36.
In 1 Samuel 3:13 God notes that Eli’s sons brought a curse on themselves in that they "blasphemed God.” Cursing God was an offense worthy of death (see Lv 24:11–16, 23). Eli’s failure is that he did not restrain/rebuke them. The word translated restrain occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible. It suggests a rebuke that sets things right (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (1 Sa 3:13). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.)
Eli was implicated in the sins of his sons because he did not intervene with judgment. (MacArthur, J. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible : New American Standard Bible. (1 Sa 3:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.).
• To say that others need to figure things out for themselves or it’s none of my business, misses the responsibility we have for others. We too may suffer the consequences for their sin.
In 1 Samuel 3:14 "the doom of the house of Eli is sealed by an awful.” Eli’s house had despised the sacrifice and offering (2:29), and hence these things will not have any efficacy on their behalf.
Though normal or inadvertent sins of priests could be expiated by offering (Lev. 4:3–12), Eli’s sons had sinned defiantly, and their guilt could not be removed (Num. 15:30f.; cf. Heb. 10:26).
Be very cautious in having no concern for sin.
Hebrews 10:26 [26]For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (ESV)
In 1 Samuel 3:15 Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli/about what he saw. Here Samuel is playing his role as the prophet of the Lord for the first time by delivering God’s message as the one who was called by Him. He received His message, and was sent as His messenger (R. P. Gordon, ed., “The Place is Too Small for Us”: the Israelite Prophets in Recent Scholarship (SBTS 5; Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 1995).
In summary form then: What Is a Prophet?
Someone who is the mouthpiece of God. He stands between God and man to communicate to man the word of God. When the prophet spoke as the mouthpiece he was inspired and without error. The prophet, though, is not a puppet or a mindless repeater of what he hears. Instead, he retains his own will, mind, and thoughts as he speaks for God. God would put His words in their mouths (Deut. 18:18; Jer. 1:9). A prophet was God’s servant (Zech. 1:6) and messenger (2 Chr. 36:15). The prophecies fell into three categories: concerning the destiny of Israel, the messianic prophecies, and eschatological prophecies (Galaxie Software. (2002; 2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.).
• Samuel was now being called as a Prophet. He kept hearing from God as the center of his attention.
In order to hear the voice of God we must have the right: 1) Closeness (1 Samuel 3:1-6), 2) Confirmation (1 Samuel 3:7-9), 3) Center of attention (1 Samuel 3:10-15), and finally:
4) Compliance (1 Samuel 3:16-20)
1 Samuel 3:16-20 [16]But Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." And he said, "Here I am." [17]And Eli said, "What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you." [18]So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him." [19]And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. [20]And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. (ESV)
It is implicit that in 1 Samuel 3:16 Eli was ready to call Samuel as soon as he heard Samuel open the doors, as if he were eagerly waiting for him.
1 Samuel 3:17-18 is “an oath of loyalty and professional conduct". In Israel too prophets may have been called upon to take an oath to reveal all they were told. It is possible that Eli is drawing upon such an oath formula. However, here Eli is adjuring Samuel, not taking an oath himself.
• This is the calling that each of us have in terms of the word of God. We must be open and honest about God’s word, not to try to please people with the message, to resist the temptation to edit or moderate the word, or even to try to be a mediator between God and the one to whom the word was sent (Chafin, K. L., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1989). Vol. 8: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 8 : 1, 2 Samuel. The Preacher’s Commentary series (43). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.).
Once the message is confirmed as from the Lord in 1 Samuel 3:18, Eli accepts God’s sovereign will.
As a prophet of the Lord, 1 Samuel 3:19 notes that Samuel kept growing, preparing to become a mature prophet both physically and spiritually. That the Lord was with him, means that the Lord’s presence was with Samuel, as it would be later with David (16:18; 18:12). The Lord’s presence validated His choice of a man for His service (MacArthur, J. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible : New American Standard Bible. (1 Sa 3:19). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.).
Please turn to Deuteronomy 18
That Samuel let none of his words fall to the ground: refers to Samuel’s words (cf. 9:6) of the Lord’s message. Everything Samuel said with divine authorization came true. This fulfillment of Samuel’s word proved that he was a true prophet of God
God said to Moses:
Deuteronomy 18:18-22 [18]I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. [19]And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. [20]But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ [21]And if you say in your heart, ’How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’-- [22]when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. (ESV)
• For those who we claim that God told them something, a sure test is if their words come to pass. If they do not, then they should never be listened to.
The reference in 1 Samuel 3:20 From Dan to Beersheba refers to the traditional limits of Israel to the north and south (cf. 2 Sam. 17:11).
We now see Samuel at the point towards which the whole story has led, from the time before his birth by God’s action, through the notes of his growing up. He had served God as a child in the temple, but now he serves all Israel as a prophet.
Poem:
“In Israel’s fane, by silent night,
The lamp of God was burning bright;
And there, by viewless angels kept,
Samuel, the child, securely slept.
A voice unknown the stillness broke,
‘Samuel!’ it called, and thrice it spoke.
He rose—he asked whence came the word.
From Eli! No; it was the Lord.
Thus early called to serve his God,
In paths of righteousness he trod;
Prophetic visions fired his breast,
And all the chosen tribes were blessed”
(The Pulpit Commentary: 1 Samuel. 2004 (H. D. M. Spence-Jones, Ed.) (78). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.).
(Format note: Some base commentary from Tsumura, D. (2007). The First Book of Samuel. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (171–184). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.)
