(1)a. v.1 3:1 Now the boy Samuel continued serving the LORD under Eli’s supervision.
How can God raise Samuel as the new leader if he was under the teaching of Eli? Would he just repeat the same evil behavior as Eli's 2 sons?
b. v.1b Word from the LORD was rare in those days; revelatory visions were infrequent.
Would God stop to reveal to Israel because of the failure of their priests?
v.3 and the lamp of God had not yet been extinguished. Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD as well; the ark of God was also there. 3:4 The LORD called to Samuel...
It seems unnecessary that the author added that "the ark of God was also there." Perhaps he tried to hint that although the priests were evil, God has mercy and found Himself a new servant, Samuel. He taught Samuel directly and bypassed Eli as his mentor. God is merciful to continue to reveal Himself to Israel even when his servants failed Him. I thank God who is merciful for me even when I sinned and He did not abandon me. He saved us from lots of temptations yesterday. Our house could have been burnt down yesterday when we forgot to turn off the stove and went out for over 5 hours. I think it is a miracle that the little pot has not burned up and looks untouched by the fire.
(2) v.7, 8, and 10-11 God chose to speak to Samuel, not Eli or his 2 sons, even when he was at a young age and did not yet know the LORD and even the message was about Eli.
The sin of Eli's family was serious.
3:11 The LORD said to Samuel, “Look! I am about to do something in Israel; when anyone hears about it, both of his ears will tingle.
3:13 You should tell him that I am about to judge his house forever because of the sin that he knew about. For his sons were cursing God, and he did not rebuke them.
The sin of Eli was that he did not rebuke his son. Did he not do that in 2:22-25? Compared Eli's conversations to his son and his conversation to Samuel.
To his sons, "2:24 This ought not to be, my sons! For the report that I hear circulating among the LORD’s people is not good."
v.25b "But if a man sins against the LORD, who then will intercede for him?”
To Samuel, "Don’t conceal it from me. God will judge you severely if you conceal from me anything that he said to you!” v.17b
Obviously, Eli was too mild to his sons and that was not a very effective "rebuke." Therefore, God judged him for not rebuking.
Do we commit the sin of ineffective rebuking? Do not overlook them because God sees that as serious sins. God did not even want to talk to Eli because of that. Are we serious enough to face our own sins?
Perhaps, we all need to be more serious when we are confronted by the Holy Spirit about our own sins, too.
(3) v.19-20 People recognized Samuel's leadership as a prophet because God was with him and spoke through him.
3:19 Samuel continued to grow, and the LORD was with him. None of his prophecies fell to the ground unfulfilled.3:20 All Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba realized that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.
A leader is not someone that is elected by the people, but is recognized by the people as God chose him and spoke through him.
Audrey
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