Wednesday, July 10, 2019

The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground

1 Samuel 3:1-21
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 
And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”
So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”
The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.
In the early hours, when he is on duty near the Ark of the Covenant, inside God's Tent, Samuel hears God speak to him for the first time. It is a message of judgment for Eli.
From this time on, Samuel is God's messenger, and the whole nation knows it, from Dan in the far north to Beersheba on the edge of the southern desert.
So close is GOd that he can be described in human terms as 'standing there'. Clearly, though, Samuel did not literally see him.
Why?
There were rare of God's word at that time, for there is no one respect God and beloved by the Lord. So God chose Samuel as his prophet.
God is our Lord, so we should say for your servant is listening.
The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering. It is God's judgment of Eli's house.
Eli said the right word, He is the Lord, let him do what is good in his eyes. Eli submits to God word.
How?
When God is with us, we can stand firm and work with joy and peace. None of God's words fall to the ground.


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