Simple Man

“Simple Man” 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20)

1. Samuel was just that a simple man

? He was a worker in the Temple as an apprentice to Eli, the high priest.

? Samuel got there because his mother, Hannah, had prayed and prayed to the Lord that she might have a son.

? When Samuel was born, Hannah made a vow that her boy would enter the Lord’s service. And so, when Samuel reached the proper age his mother brought him down to the sanctuary of the Lord at Shiloh and enrolled him in the service of the high priest.

2. Samuel didn’t stay a Simple man

• Samuel became one of the most revered leaders of ancient Israel.

• He was the last of the judges, those God-inspired figures who ruled the nation as both spiritual and political leaders.

• Samuel was a maker of kings. He personally anointed Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David.

• We don’t have to stay Simple

3. Eli was a simple man who made by many mistakes During this time period

? The Scripture tells us, “The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread” (v. 1). That’s the author’s way of letting us know things aren’t going all that well among Israel’s religious leadership. It’s a time of serious decline.

? The high priest, Eli, is a big reason for that decline. He’s out of touch. He seemingly just a Simple Priest He’s just going through the motions. You can see it in chapter 1, when Hannah is in the tent of meeting, praying that God might give her a son. She’s praying silently,

? Eli’s sitting nearby. He notices this and assumes the worst. “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine!”

? Eli is so far gone that he no longer recognizes true prayer when he sees it.

4. Hannah is a Simple Woman

• This simple woman does or says not so simple things Hannah confronts the priest Eli “No, my Lord,” she answers, “I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.”

• After hearing Hannah’s defense, Eli doesn’t exactly apologize. But at least he says, “Go in peace. And may the Lord answer your prayer.”

5. Samuel, hears what he thinks is a Simple voice

• He hears a voice calling in the night and naturally assumes it must be Eli.

• Samuel goes and wakes up Eli saying, “Here I am, you called me.”“It wasn’t me,” says Eli. “Go back to sleep.”

• The third time Samuel wakes Eli , Eli realizes there’s more going on than a young boy’s vivid dreams. Eli says, “Pay attention, now. The next time this happens, here’s what you do: Sit up straight and say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”

• Turns out, Eli hasn’t forgotten completely what it’s like to receive a word from the Lord.

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6. The voice that Samuel hears is not a Simple voice it’s God

• The next time the Lord speaks, Samuel is ready and responds, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

• This time, the Lord says more than just Samuel’s name. God delivers a message of woe for Eli and his sons. “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.”

• This not so Simple voice talks to all of us when we fail and when we don’t. Eli asks him what he has heard, Samuel’s afraid to share it.

• Eli persists. “Don’t be afraid,” he says. “Just tell me.” Eli already knows what the message is. He knows, deep down, how thoroughly he failed to live as God’s representative.

7. This Simple story today can teach us some valuable lessons

• Eli took the duties of a priest very light don’t take our duties as a Christian lightly

• Eli is a deeply flawed man, but he’s also profoundly wise. He knew he failed God. But His last act of faithfulness was toward Samuel, realizing it was God speaking to him. .

• Eli has a lot of failures and many regrets but his heart is in the right place.

• We know we’re far from perfect. But we haven’t given up yet. We still have the gift of God in us

8. Finally, God calls the Simple Folk

• Samuel was a simple man yet God called

• Hannah was a simple woman who did the most simplest thing she believes, she trusts, she prays, she is faithful

• Eli was a simple Priest a failure, but he would refuse to allow his failures to refuse others. He would help Samuel to become one the greatest priests ever