Children of the Bible
Lesson 6
Samuel—a Child of Destiny
Lesson Text
I Samuel 3:1-14
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;
3 And 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.
11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the
ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his
house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he
knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall
not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
Focus Verse
I Samuel 3:18
And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD:
let him do what seemeth him good.
Focus Thought
Obedience to the voice of the Lord and a willingness to declare the whole truth assures
the favor of God and greatness in the service of the Lord.
Culture Connection
The Importance of Obeying God
by Richard M. Davis
In her article titled “Obeying: God's Way Is Always Best,” Shana Schutte shared
the following: “Desperate longings can tempt us to do desperate, disobedient things.
Desire not submitted to Christ can make us to lose our sensibility, justify our behavior,
and make excuses.
“When I was a teacher, one of my co-workers posted a quote on his classroom
wall: ‘The moment you settle for less than what you want is the moment you get more
than you bargained for.’
“This is how it is with disobeying God. Once we settle for not going His way, we
get less than we imagined and more than we ever wanted” (www.focusonthefamily.com,
accessed April 6, 2011).
There simply is no substitute for obedience to God. To obey God is to discover a
life of peace and joy within His will, but to disobey Him is to experience a life of hurts,
disappointments, and sorrows without consolation. Consolation is the real difference
because everybody in life suffers hurts, disappointments, and sorrows. However, when
we are obediently following God, we discover He is able to comfort us, strengthen us,
and give meaning even to life’s disappointments.
Samuel became a great prophet because he had a mother who consecrated him to
the work of God and, most of all, because he had a heart turned toward God. He was
sensitive to the voice of the Lord and obedient to His words. Those attributes will also lay
the foundation for believers today to experience the fullness of a life lived in Jesus Christ
and His purpose on earth.
Lesson Outline
I.
A LOVING MOTHER
A.
Barren—Loved by Her Husband, but Ridiculed by Her Enemies
B.
Determined in Her Heart
C.
Misunderstood by the Priest
D.
A Child Promised
E.
A Child Born and Dedicated
II.
A GOOD CHILD IN AN EVIL ENVIRONMENT
A.
Eli’s Evil Sons
B.
Samuel’s Ministry as a Child
III.
SAMUEL IN APPRENTICESHIP
A.
Samuel Ministered
B.
The Lord Called Samuel by Name
C.
Samuel Conferred with His Mentor
D.
Samuel Responded Positively
IV.
THE LORD’S REVELATION
A.
The Lord’s Plan for Eli’s House
B.
Samuel’s Trepidation
C.
Samuel’s Value of the Word of the Lord
D.
Samuel’s Life a Testimony
Contemplating the Topic
It is possible there has never been an era like the present in which truth is so
undervalued and so often distorted for personal gain or advantage. In Mass Media,
George Rodman tells how big business and even governments hire public relations firms
to assist them with developing their message and getting it across to the public in a
sellable manner. One public relations tool listed in Rodman’s book is called “The Big
Lie,” which he says occurs when a prominent person states an outright lie and sticks to it
in spite of the evidence that refutes it, hoping the public will eventually become
“confused by the issue.”
The absence of truth alters the way individuals and society function. For example,
when Ronald Reagan’s daughter, Patti, violated school rules by smoking, Reagan wrote
her a letter addressing the importance of telling the truth and warning her not to
“establish a pattern” of accepting dishonesty as “a way of life.” Reagan wisely added that
“compromising with truth no matter how trivial does something to us” (Kiron K. Skinner,
et. al., eds., Reagan: A Life in Letters).
Just as the absence of truth alters the way businesses do business and
governments govern and individuals conduct their lives, it also alters the way ministers
minister and preachers preach and churches operate and Christians live. Reagan was
right. Compromising the truth, no matter how trivial, changes us, but not for the better.
Today’s lesson focuses our attention on an Old Testament character who early in
his life established a pattern of living honestly and valuing the truth. Perhaps God chose
him as the catalyst for revival at Shiloh mainly because of this characteristic.
We too can be the means of bringing revival if we speak the truth, live the truth,
and love the truth. (See II Thessalonians 2:7-10.)
Searching the Scriptures
I. A LOVING MOTHER
No study of Samuel would be complete without first devoting some attention to
his mother, Hannah, whose selfless devotion to God unquestionably influenced the
destiny of her son.
A. Barren—Loved by Her Husband, but Ridiculed by Her Enemies
To be childless was extremely devastating to a woman in Hannah’s day. The
culture of their day placed great emphasis on child-bearing because God’s promise of a
future Savior depended on it. (See Genesis 3:15.) According to The New Unger’s Bible
Dictionary, “The reproach attached to barrenness, especially among the Hebrews, was
doubtless due to the constant expectation of the Messiah and the hope cherished by every
woman that she might be the mother of the promised Seed.”
Although Hannah’s desire for children had not materialized, her husband,
Elkanah, did not chide her for being barren. Elkanah loved his family and led them in
worship despite the despicable situation at Shiloh. He did not allow the hypocrisy of
others to interfere with his duties as the spiritual head of his family. When a man truly
loves God, he will love his wife also, and lead her by his own example in a God-ward
direction.
Like Elkanah, a Christian husband should do his best to ensure the spiritual wellbeing of his family, even when situations are less than ideal. Patiently and lovingly he
should lead his family in devotion and faithfulness. Though feeling like a failure because
of her barrenness and the derision of Peninnah and others, Hannah remained faithful. The
loving leadership of her husband helped to keep her strong and focused on her desires.
B. Determined in Her Heart
Though spiritually demoralized by her barrenness and emotionally battered by her
adversary’s cruelty, Hannah sought refuge from her pain in prayer. Her example speaks
volumes to those wrestling with anger, loneliness, depression, or bitterness. Those who
hurt us often seek to justify the way they treat us and, like Peninnah, seldom ask for
forgiveness. Hannah’s example leads us to the only true source of healing for such
moments—meeting God in a secret place of prayer. Hannah did not seek revenge; she
sought God, and God rewarded her. In the end Hannah, not Peninnah, won this conflict.
C. Misunderstood by the Priest
Just when Hannah felt things could not possibly get any worse, the priest Eli
misjudged her devotion as drunkenness. Few wounds go deeper than being
misunderstood by those whom we respect. Perhaps the wound went deeper when Hannah,
who had to have noticed the blatant sins of Eli’s sons, wondered why Eli had not
upbraided them for committing far worse sins. How quick we are to point out the flaws
we perceive in others, and yet, how blind we are to our own. (See Matthew 7:3-5.)
Perhaps Paul thought of Eli’s example when he wrote that a bishop who cannot
rule his own household and children well, cannot properly guide the affairs of God’s
house. (See I Timothy 3:1-5.) Such inconsistency should never lurk in a church’s
authority structure. Paul was not implying a minister should tyrannize his family; he
simply meant a minister should wisely control his household affairs, including his
children. If a minister’s household is full of disorder, it is apparent he has failed to
provide adequate leadership and does not inspire respect, both of which are essential in
leading a church. Maintaining order in the family of God is crucial. (See I Corinthians
11:34; 14:40; 16:1; Colossians 2:5; Titus 1:5.) There should not be one rule for the
church family and another for the minister’s family. Eli was wrong to judge Hannah
rigidly and yet not judge his own house.
D. A Child Promised
As Hannah prayed, she promised that if God gave her a son she would dedicate
him to a lifetime of service in God’s house. Through Eli, God confirmed to Hannah that
He would answer her prayer, and true to her word, Hannah kept her commitment.
Perhaps it was under the tutelage of such a mother that Samuel developed his truthful
spirit.
In Hand of Providence, Mary Beth Brown states the most influential person in the life of
Ronald Reagan was his mother, Nelle Reagan. She “had an unshakable faith in God’s
goodness” and “planted that faith very deeply in [him].” Reagan learned “the value of
prayer” from his mother. She “seldom missed Sunday services.” Even in difficult times,
Reagan’s mother “tithed to her church” and “taught her boys to do so, too” (Mary Beth
Brown, Hand of Providence).
Barnes’ Notes suggests that people teach by example and often “by the neglect of
that which they regard as of no value.” For example, “A man who does not pray is
teaching his children not to pray,” and a man “who neglects the public worship of God is
teaching his children to neglect it,” and a man “who does not read the Bible is teaching
his children not to read it” (Barnes’ Notes, Biblesoft, Ephesians 6:4). Hannah’s influence
shaped the character of her son, for she taught Samuel by example to value honesty and
truthfulness and to honor God’s Word.
E. A Child Born and Dedicated
The child Samuel was more than the product of a biological phenomenon. He
became a great prophet in Israel largely because of his mother’s prayers and consecration
to God. From Hannah’s example we should understand the “ripple effect” of a parent’s
devotion to God.
The future of any child is shaped largely by the influence of his parents. Children
are not born to be preachers or drunkards. The parents either purposefully nurture or
unwittingly neglect to guide the destiny of their children. As their children mature,
parents should deliberately encourage them in a God-ward direction. This parenting
quality is evident in Hannah’s providing a larger coat for Samuel every year. She helped
her son find his way into God’s plan for his life by presenting him before the Lord and
dedicating his life to God’s service. However, she did not abandon him, but returned at
intervals to encourage him in his service to God.
Transparency 1 states that children raised by parents who emphasize their own spiritual
growth make a positive impression on their children.
In Revolutionary Parenting, George Barna contends that children who are raised
by parents who emphasize their own spiritual growth make a positive “impression” on
the young minds of their children. Those children note that “the example set by their
parents” continues to affect their lives as adults. Barna also notes, “One of the essential
child-rearing behaviors identified by the parents of spiritual champions” is the “modeling
of the principles” taught by the parents. In simple terms, parents must practice what they
preach. Barna also states, “The greatest influence a church may have in affecting children
is by impacting their parents.”
II. A GOOD CHILD IN AN EVIL ENVIRONMENT
Shiloh was full of moral decay, apathy, and neglect. What an atmosphere for a
young, impressionable child! Imagine how Hannah felt about leaving her God-given son
in the spiritually lethargic and morally corrupt environment.
A. Eli’s Evil Sons
The writer of I Samuel regarded Eli’s sons as “Sons of Belial” who “knew not the
Lord” (I Samuel 2:12). How did a priest’s children become so devilish? Evidently,
growing up in a home where they were seldom if ever disciplined alienated them further
and further from the Spirit of God.
Eli’s slack hand at home not only affected his sons, but it affected the entire
religious community at Shiloh. As Adam Clarke’s Commentary suggests, “These men
were the principal cause of all the ungodliness of Israel.” Eli himself said to his sons, “Ye
make the Lord’s people to transgress” (I Samuel 2:24).
How could Eli be so quick to condemn what he assumed to be sin in Hannah and
yet allow his own children to sin openly with only mild rebukes? Eli’s slackness served
only to embolden his sons. If Eli’s own children could not respect his spiritual leadership,
how could anyone else? Amazingly, the evil influence of these sons of Belial had no
effect on young Samuel. He was truly a good child in an evil environment.
B. Samuel’s Ministry as a Child
Transparency 2 informs that in spite of the surrounding influences of Eli’s evil sons,
Samuel grew physically, morally, and spiritually.
Despite the surrounding influences and overall adverse environment, Samuel
developed physically, morally, and spiritually. (See I Samuel 2:21, 26; 3:19.) Numerous
factors provide the necessary stimulus for spiritual growth. For instance, God gifted the
church with the five-fold ministry for “the perfecting of the saints.” (See Ephesians 4:1115.) Peter wrote that believers should desire God’s Word that they may “grow” (See I
Peter 2:1-2).
But another factor that often provides the necessary stimulus for spiritual growth
is adversity. Despite our misgivings, adversity is often our friend, not our foe. Samuel
grew to be a great prophet in an adverse environment.
Adversity reveals the strength of one’s character and what is in one’s heart.
Proverbs 24:10 says, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” After
Abraham climbed the most difficult mountain in his life to sacrifice his son Isaac, God
said, “Now I know that thou fearest God.” The adverse moment revealed what was truly
in Abraham’s heart. Samuel was submerged in an adverse environment, but it revealed
his passion for serving God. Instead of looking for a place to quit, Samuel looked for a
place to serve.
III. SAMUEL IN APPRENTICESHIP
An apprentice, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is a learner, a beginner, or a
novice. It is obvious that at such a young age Samuel did not arrive at Shiloh with any
previous training or knowledge about the call of God or the work it involved. We can see
his naiveté in the way he responded to God’s call, mistaking the voice of God for that of
Eli. In spite of Eli’s shortcomings, he was instrumental in helping Samuel to develop
some of the skills necessary to lead Israel out of spiritual mire.
A. Samuel Ministered
It is amazing that at such a young and impressionable age Samuel did not
succumb to the deplorable spiritual conditions about him. How did he rise above it? Did
God place spiritual blinders on Samuel so he did not notice the apathy of Eli or the moral
corruption of Eli’s sons? Perhaps Samuel made a practice of focusing on the positive
rather than the negative.
The famed Antarctic explorer, Ernest Shackleton, knew pessimism was deadlier than
fatigue or frostbite. He did not allow his crewman to “magnify the faults and shrink the
virtues of others around them,” because negativism would destroy the morale of the crew
(Kim Heacox, Shackleton: The Antarctic Challenge, National Geographic, 1999, 22).
Samuel must have trained his eyes on the good that existed at Shiloh instead of
the bad. Rather than pointing out the faults of others, Samuel seems to have asked
himself, “What can I learn from this so I don’t make the same mistakes?” Samuel wisely
chose to turn his negative environment into a learning environment rather than an excuse
to justify misbehavior.
B. The Lord Called Samuel by Name
Although Samuel may not have appeared to be qualified for his future destiny,
God saw character and integrity in the child that was not yet evident to others. The
Wycliffe Bible Commentary suggests, “Samuel slept somewhere near the ark,” deep in the
interior of the temple complex, close to the heart of God and far from the world.
Compare this with Eli’s sons who favored the position by the door of the temple
where sensual opportunities lurked at the outside edge of the temple compound—close to
the world. While some position themselves where the church borders the world, others
position themselves where the church borders the heart of God. Intimacy with God is
seldom experienced on the fringes!
C. Samuel Conferred with His Mentor
Samuel was young and inexperienced, but passionate. When destiny knocked, he
did not know how to answer; but his desire to learn drove him to the bedside of his aging
mentor. Not yet discerning God’s voice, Samuel supposed Eli had called him. This being
repeated a second and third time, Eli finally realized God was speaking to Samuel and
instructed him to go and lie down and when the Lord spoke again, he was to say, “Speak,
Lord; for thy servant heareth” (I Samuel 3:9).
The manner in which Samuel addressed the Lord suggests he was listening
attentively, desiring to understand and obey God’s voice. Samuel’s wisdom as a young
man is evident in his humility. He willingly admitted he did not know everything and
turned to his elders for guidance. In contrast, ego and pride have wrecked many a
minister.
D. Samuel Responded Positively
Samuel’s life illustrates how that even though a person’s life, surroundings,
environment, and peer group may be less than ideal, he can move beyond such things and
experience the leading of God’s Spirit. Ideal circumstances seldom produce great
achievers. In spite of adversity, Samuel grew in character, integrity, and spiritual stature;
His obedience became the key to the fulfillment of the destiny God had in mind for his
life. (See I Samuel 15:22.)
IV. THE LORD’S REVELATION
The Lord revealed His plan for Shiloh to Samuel, a plan which, unfortunately for
Eli, contained judgment. No matter how good a leader Eli may have been in the past, he
had grown indifferent to the fact that he and his children were more of a liability to God’s
people than an asset. Lest anyone should be exalted by their self-importance, God teaches
us through Eli’s example that no one is irreplaceable. And when we cease to put God’s
kingdom first, God can and will bring about the necessary changes—even when we
refuse to do so.
A. The Lord’s Plan for Eli’s House
The conduct of Eli and his sons made it difficult for others to serve God. God’s
people reached a point where they abhorred bringing their offerings to the Lord. (See I
Samuel 2:17.)
It is important to note that God had made His will known to Eli before revealing it
to Samuel. (See I Samuel 3:11-14.) God told Eli of His displeasure concerning the
iniquity of his house, yet Eli did not receive it in a spirit of repentant obedience (I Samuel
3:14).
Iniquity injures the covenant relationship between the Lord and His people, but
acknowledgement and confession of sin bring mercy and forgiveness. (See Psalm 32:5.)
However, if God deals with an individual about his sin and he refuses to acknowledge or
confess it, he crosses a line.
Transparency 3 quotes a portion of I Samuel 3:14.
Once Eli rejected God’s Word, he crossed the line of no return, for God said to
Samuel, “And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s
house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever” (I Samuel 3:14). Perhaps
Eli, like Saul, thought ritualistic service compensated for his disobedience. (See I Samuel
15:22.) But nothing brings God’s favor and blessing like sincere repentance and total
obedience. (See Deuteronomy 11:26-28.) Eli wanted to retain his position but did not
want to obey. God’s plan would forever end the reign of Eli as priest.
B. Samuel’s Trepidation
Eli, knowing that God had spoken to Samuel, asked the lad what the Lord said.
Perhaps Samuel cringed, as he “feared to shew Eli the vision” (I Samuel 3:15).
Confronting a person, especially an elder, with the truth is seldom easy. Samuel was
young, but he proved to God and His people that he valued truth over the favor and praise
of men.
Those who must confront people with the truth face the temptation of indulging
peoples’ sentiments rather than esteeming the truth. Almost everyone wants to be liked,
but a true leader must not allow human sentiments to block the way to victory. Despite
his trepidation Samuel told Eli the truth. He overcame error by embracing the truth.
C. Samuel’s Value of the Word of the Lord
Despite the uncomfortable position he was in, there is no question where
Samuel’s loyalty lay. Samuel put God and His Word before anyone’s feelings—even his
own. It would have been easy for Samuel to water down the message, but he valued the
Word of the Lord more than his elder’s sentiments.
When Ernest Shackleton’s crew had to abandon their icebound ship during their Antarctic
expedition of 1914 and find a route to safety, Shackleton allowed his men two pounds of
personal gear. He knew of men who had frozen to death under similar conditions simply
because they would not let go of sentimental items. Queen Alexandra had given
Shackleton a highly prized, personally inscribed Bible that outweighed the two-pound
limit. So he tore out the page containing the queen’s inscription along with the 23rd
Psalm and a page from the Book of Job. Similarly, we must place greater value on God’s
Word than on personal sentiment (Kim Heacox, Shackleton: The Antarctic Challenge,
National Geographic, 1999, 91).
It seems Eli, unlike Samuel, valued personal sentiment over God’s Word, and that
weakness came home to haunt him. When we allow our personal plans, ambitions, or the
sentiments of others to interfere with God’s will, we are neither obeying God nor
honoring His Word.
D. Samuel’s Life a Testimony
Samuel’s integrity and purity stood out like a diamond against the blackness of
Eli and his sons. “All Israel . . . knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the
Lord” (I Samuel 3:20). The real and genuine stands out when contrasted with the
counterfeit and phony. Samuel’s pure and sincere devotion to God, His people, and his
duty to speak the truth, earned him the respect and confidence of the people, which
became the key to revival at Shiloh.
Internalizing the Message
The life of Eli illustrates how a man who values position and personal sentiment
over humble obedience to God’s Word can lead a religious culture astray. Poor, selfserving leadership can devastate God’s people. The life of Samuel, on the other hand,
depicts how important the confidence and respect of the people are to a leader’s ability to
lead and see God’s people experience God’s favor. The difference between Eli and
Samuel comes down to the fact that one would not embrace the truth whereas the other
would. Compromising the truth, no matter how trivial it may seem, changes us for the
worse. Embracing and obeying the truth is the key to good leadership and revival.
Reflections
• Discuss the impact a mother and father have upon their children.
• Discuss the contrast between Elkanah’s influence upon Samuel and Eli’s influence upon
his sons.
• Discuss the various implications of the statement, “The child Samuel grew before the
Lord” (I Samuel 2:21).
• Discuss the importance of Samuel’s spending his formative years under the godly
influence of his parents before he was thrust into a godless and iniquitous environment.
• Discuss this statement: “Ideal circumstances seldom produce great achievers.”