Training day

I have recently started school again to finish my Bachelor’s Degree.  After that I plan to continue on to Seminary.  My homework for this week was to explain the narrative of 1 Samuel 3.  I have to say I thought the assignment would be on the easier side, since I was familiar with scripture passage.  However, it was a timely word and I love when God brings a fresh excitement to a familiar passage.  

Samuel, a young boy was dedicated to the LORD by his mother, Hannah.  She brought him to live Eli, the priest.  Samuel was called by the LORD to be a great prophet for Israel.

¹Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision (1 Samuel 3:1, ESV). 

It was a time when the word of the LORD was rare, and God would choose to speak to Samuel while still a boy.  However, Samuel didn’t know it was the LORD and thought it was Eli calling him. The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to Samuel (1 Samuel 3:7). 

⁸ And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. ⁹ Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place (1 Samuel 3:8-9, ESV).

Throughout the Old Testament, God had the prophets deliver hard messages.  And God would waste no time.  He chose to prepare Samuel well. 

¹⁰ And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” ¹¹ Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. ¹² On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. ¹³ And I declare to him that 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. ¹⁴ Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever” (1 Samuel 3:10-14, ESV). 

Even as a youth, God was not easy on him, not one bit.  In the morning, Eli asked Samuel to tell him what God said.  Samuel was already afraid, and if that were not enough, Eli would really put the fear of God in him.  Saying tell me or it shall be done to you and more (1 Samuel 3:17).   So, Samuel told Eli everything. 

The literary content includes a little ironic contrast here.  Eli, the priest, would raise someone else’s child whom God called to be a great prophet, while his own sons did not follow God (1 Samuel 2:12).   Also, a priest would make atonement for the sins of others; and now he could not make atonement for his own household, because of the known iniquity of his son’s blasphemous actions, and he did not restrain them.

As a youth leader, scriptures like this bring joy to my heart.  God would develop Samuel while he was a boy to fulfill the calling placed on his life.  Although, he wasn’t able to recognize the voice of God at first, he was placed in Eli’s care to train him up and help him discern.  It was a timely word!  For the past two years, I have been praying for revival to come within our youth.  Praying that this generation would begin to show signs, in fulfilment of the prophetic words from the Prophet Joel. 

After the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, Peter reiterates in his sermon;

¹⁶ But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ¹⁷ “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; ¹⁸ even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy (Acts 2:16-18, ESV).

So join with me in prayer for our youth.

Father God, your word says, that You will pour out your Spirit on all flesh.  And we pray for Your Spirit to outpour upon our youth, our sons and daughters in this generation.  May You equip us to help them discern Your voice and recognize Your visions.  We pray this generation would be empowered by Your Spirit, and rise up to be the mighty young men and women You are calling them to be.  In Jesus Name, Amen.