Day 117 – Samuel’s Call

Readings

  • 1 Samuel 2:12-21
  • 1 Samuel 3
  • Psalm 99:6-7

Prayer

Pray… that your Christian life will be more than just ceremony – that it will be based on a love of Jesus.

Day 117 – Samuel’s Call

the wickedness of Eli’s sons & Samuel’s call from God

 

  • What did you make of the blunt summary of Eli’s sons in today’s first verse?!
  • Do you remember the rules for the priests getting a specific portion of the tithes given by the people? Leviticus gave specific rules about how this was to be done. We read about it about a month or so ago. What is described in 1 Samuel 2:13-14 that doesn’t seem to be following God’s law? Are you shocked that we’re reading about wrong actions of two priests, the people who were set aside to do God’s work?
  • Eli’s sons did many religious ceremonies but did not know God or follow God. How do you think that made others feel? How would you have felt if you knew about their lives whilst they were taking and dealing with your sin offerings?
  • How do the actions of Eli’s son contrast to the actions we’ve seen of Hannah so far?
  • What did Hannah bring Samuel each year? What happened to Hannah later in life? Hannah hadn’t had any children for a very long time and gave her first born son to God’s work. For that dedication to God she was given many more blessings afterwards.
  • The story in Samuel 3 is the beginning of Samuel’s role as a prophet. A prophet was someone who brought God’s message to the people around them. In this passage, Eli shows wisdom in helping Samuel understand what is happening.
  • Who kept talking to Samuel, between verses 2 and 10? Who did Samuel think was talking? How did Samuel learn who was really talking to him?
  • Samuel’s first job was to faithfully tell Eli what God had said to him. Why was this a difficult thing to do? Did Samuel do it well?
  • How do you think Eli might have reacted to the difficult news Samuel shared with him? You’ll have to wait to find out! We’ll read tomorrow about how Eli reacts to this message and what happens to him.
  • When God called Samuel, he used his name twice. God did the same with Abraham, Jacob and Moses at the start of their ministry too. What did Samuel do to be compared with Moses and Aaron in Psalm 99? How can you do these things in your life (look at verse 7)?

 

On Saturday and today we have focused in on the life of the young Samuel. Eli and his sons have their part to play, and we’ll find out what happens to them tomorrow, but Samuel is the focal point. God called him early in his life, and we can see how he seems to be proving himself a good listener and a obedient servant to God, all under the careful watch of Eli.

 

Over the next couple of days, our camera is going to pull out slowly as the picture moves from the lives of these specific men, looking instead to the situation in the country as a whole, and we’ll see how the actions of Eli, his sons and Samuel have on the nation as a whole.

 

Today’s passages remind me that our leaders and teachers are not infallible. Eli showed wisdom today as he advised the young Samuel, but he’s flawed, as we found out yesterday and as we’ll find out tomorrow too.

 

Around us we have many teachers – at school, at home and at church, to name just three. We should be thankful for those who guide and teach us, especially when they try and do so faithfully. But they – like you – are also sinful human beings with many failings and weaknesses. I should know! I help to guide and teach you, but when I say the confession every week, my heart is heavy as I look back on the the poor choices I’ve made, and the wrong thoughts, words and deeds that I recall throughout my life.

 

Be thankful for your teachers, and learn from them. Support them and encourage them back! But don’t be surprised when they mess up, say the wrong thing, teach poorly or act hypocritically. We’re all fallen sinners, saved by grace.

 

Instead – look to Jesus. He is the greatest teacher, the ultimate example and, even more importantly – our saviour and king.


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