1 Samuel 3:11

1 Samuel 3:11 says, 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.  After Samuel realized that it was God speaking to him, he finally heard his message.  Once we recognize that God is talking to us today, we likewise need to be ready to receive His message.  God told Samuel that He was going to do a thing in Isreal which would have the people's ears tingling.  We need to see God at work in the world today, and His people need to make themselves readily available to do what God calls them to do, so that others can hear about it and tell others as well.  Verse twelve adds, 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.  God said He was one day going to make an end to Eli and his house.  This might not happen immediately, but it was going to happen.  God's judgment may not be immediate, but it is certain.  Verse thirteen continues, 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. God said He had already warned Eli about what would happen because of the iniquity of his sons as they served as priests especially and Eli's failure to restrain them, even though he knew what they were doing.  As Christians, if we see something going on in the church that is wrong, we have a responsibility to attempt to correct it.  Verse fourteen concludes, 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.  God said He had sworn to the house of Eli that their iniquity could not be forgiven by sacrifices and offerings.  In the legal system of God’s law, there were some sins that could not be atoned for according to Matthew Henry, but we know that under the blood of Christ, all sins are forgiven if we accept Him as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse fifteen states, And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.  Samuel went back to bed until morning, then opened the doors of the house of the LORD that morning, but was afraid to share what God had said to him with Eli.  If God has spoken to us, it is not enough for us to just go about life while being afraid to share the message He has given us.  Verse sixteen adds, Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.  Eli called Samuel, and Samuel responded by saying, "Here am I."  This should be our response, not when others may call us, but when God does, and then we should not be afraid to share what God has told us with anyone.  Verse seventeen continues, And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.  Eli asked Samuel what God had told him, and then told Samuel to not hide what God had said from him,and if he did then to have all the things that God had told him to happen to Samuel as well.  We cannot hide God's word from others because we are afraid it will make them feel bad.  Verse eighteen declares, 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.  Samuel told Eli everything that the LORD had said, and Eli said let it happen because it was what the LORD had said.  Though we have no chance of stopping what God says will happen because we disagree with it, we are much better off if we simply accept the fact that what God says is going to happen.  Verse nineteen adds, And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.  Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and His word did not fall to the ground.  In other words, whatever Samuel said would happen as a prophet came came to pass, and God's law will still come to pass today.  We just need to faithfully share His word.  Verse twenty continues, And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.  All of Israel recognized that Samuel was a prophet of God.  We as the church, God's people  today, should be able to recognize if a person is dec)aring God's truth or not.  Verse twenty-one concludes, And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.  We aren't told how much later this was, but God revealed Himself to Samuel again at Shiloh.  Though God is with us everyday as Christians  through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, He will come to us with a call to a particular task at times.  We need to recognize His Voice if He does.

1 Samuel 3:1

1 Samuel 3:1 says, 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.  Samuel ministered to the LORD by serving Eli, and during this time period, God's word was very precious, because there were very few prophets seeing a vision from God.  Of course, God’s word should always be precious, but especially during times when we are hearing it less and less, which seems to be the case today.  Verse two adds, 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;   During this time, Eli was growing old and having problems seeing.  Even if we are a Christian, that does not mean that we are exempt from physical ailments in life.  Verse three continuad, 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;  Before the lamp in the temple of the LORD where the ark of the covenant was went out, Samuel laid down to sleep.  Matthew Henry says this made it about midnight.  After serving Eli faithfully during the day, Samuel needed some rest.  We cannot effectively serve God if we do not get our needed rest as well.  Verse four states, That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. Then, God called to Samuel, and he answered, "Here am I." Verse five adds, 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.  Unfortunately, Samuel didn't recognize God's Voice, so he ran to Eli.  The first time we hear God calling to us, we also may not recognize His voice.  Eli told Samuel that he hadn't called him, which was true, and told him to go back to bed.  If God calls us today, we must first be able to recognize His voice.  Verse six adds, 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.  God called Samuel again, and he again went to Eli, telling him he knew he had called him.  Eli again told Samuel that he hadn't called him, and once again told him to go to bed.  They were probably both getting irritated and confused by then.  If God is speaking to us, no one else is going to be able to tell us what He wants.  Verse seven continues, Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.  Even though Samuel had been dedicated to God's service even before he was born, he did not have a personal relationship with God.  Until we come to know God by putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, it doesn't matter if we have been dedicated to God and are possibly even serving in the church, we will not know God's voice.  Verse eight declares, 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.  God called to Samuel a third time, and he failed once more recognize God's Voice, so again went to Eli saying he knew that Eli had called him.  This time, instead of denying it and sending Samuel away,Eli recognized that it was God calling Samuel.   Matthew Henry says that since Eli was the priest that he might have wondered why God hadn't spoken to him.  We need to realize that God speaks to us individually and be able to recognize His Voice.  God will call us more than once to come to Him by putting our faith in Jesus Christ, and if we do, then we will be able to recognize His voice.  Verse nine adds, 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.  Eli told Samuel once again to go and lie down, and if God called him again to say, "Speak, LORD,  for thy servant heareth."  This is what we all must do if we are to be a child of God.  Verse ten continues, And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.  God once again called Samuel, this time calling him by name twice.  If we are to become a follower of Christ, then God will have called us to Him by name. Accepting Jesus Christ is a personal decision that must be made by every individual personally.  Samuel responded as Eli had told him to do, except he left out the word LORD.  As yet, Samuel had not established a personal relationship with God.  When God first calls us, whither once or several times, until we acknowledge His Voice and accept His call to Him by putting our faith in Jesus Christ, He will not be our LORD.  God calls everyone to Him, but many never recognize His Voice and some refuse to come to Him by faith.  Just being called name is not enough.  We must recognize God's Voice and answer His call to a personal relationship with Him if we are to have an everlasting relationship with Him.

1 Samuel 2;27:

1 Samuel 2:27 says, And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?  Since Eli's rebuke of his sons was too gentle, God sent a prophet to him to remind him of who God is.  If we see things going on in the church today that are not in accordance with God's teachings, we need to remind the people, especially the leaders if they are going along with it, of who God is.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?  Eli was reminded that his ancestor in Egypt was chosen to be God's priest of all the people of Isreal, which would make Eli a descendent of Aaron.  As I have stated several times, we are not now a part of the ministry, or even a part of God's family by birth, but by answering God's call to salvation.  Still, before Jesus Christ came to redeem us, people of a certain family were chosen to be the priests.  Verse twenty-nine continues, Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?  The prophet then asked Eli why he kicked against God's law and his calling by putting his sons above God and them growing fat off sacrifices made to God. We cannot put anything, even family, ahead of God, and we certainly should never grow rich off things sacrificed to God.  Verse thirty declares, Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.  The prophet then said that even though God had set Aaron's family aside for the ministry of the priesthood, He now was going to honor those who honored Him and not those who were born into the priesthood but who lightly esteemed God.  Today, God still calls people into the ministry, though we as followers of Christ are all a part of the priesthood of believers.  Verse thirty-one adds, Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.  God warned Eli that there was coming a day when his family would no longer be the priests by fact of their birth.  This occurred forever with the coming of Jesus Christ to be our everlasting sacrifice and to give us direct access to God without going through any religious leader.  Verse thirty-two continues, And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.  The prophet continued to warn Eli that his family would be cut off from the priesthood because of the actions of his sons in dishonoring God by their actions.  Verse thirty-three continues, And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.  Eli was told that there was a man of his, but not his sons, from whom the priesthood would not be cut off.  God will never be without those to carry out His ministry as long as this world stands.  Verse thirty-fiour states, And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.  God through His prophet said a sign of the truth of what He was saying was that Hophni and Phinehas would both die young for their sins against God.  Verse thirty-five adds, And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.  God said He would raise up a faithful priest, and Matthew Henry says this was fulfilled first with Zadoc, of Eleazar's family, during the reign of Solomon, but was forever fulfilled by Jesus Christ.  Verse thirty-six continues, And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.  The prophet said everyone left in Eli's house would be reduced to begging for bread  

1 Samuel 2:22

1 Samuel 2:22 says, Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  Eli was very old by this time, but he heard about all the sinful things that his sons were doing.  Just because a person is a faithful follower of Christ does not mean that their children will be.  Verse twenty-three adds, And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.  Samuel asked his sons why they dis such evil things that he had heard about from the people.  If our children are involved in evil things,  we should confront them about it.   Verse twenty-four continues, Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD’s people to transgress.  Eli said that he hadn't heard a good report about his sons, but instead heard that they led the people of Israel to transgress.  Anytime someone is supposed to be a leader of the church today and they allow anything that is not of God to enter the teachings of the church, they may lead people to sin.  Verse twenty-five states, If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.  Eli told his sons that if a man sinned against another man that a judge could judge them, but he then asked who would judge them if they sinned against God.  There is still no one today who can judge us and make things right between God and us but Jesus Christ, and the only way to forgiveness is to put our faith in Him as our personal Savior and Lord.   Eli's sons would not listen to him, and often our children will not listen to us today.  Still, I believe that we have a responsibility to share the good news of salvation with them whenever we can,even if they don't respond.  Verse twenty-six adds, And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.  While Eli's own sons were perverting their role as priests, Samuel was growing in favor of both the LORD and men.  If our children fail to follow God, He will always have others who will, and we need to support them as they do so. 

1 Samuel 2:11

1 Samuel 2:11 says, And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.  When Elkanah returned home, he and Hannah left Samuel with Eli.  As she had promised, she gave Samuel to God for His service.  It could not have been an easy thing for her to do, but she fulfilled her vow, just as we must today as followers of Christ when we make a vow to God.  Verse twelve adds, Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.  Eli's sons served Baal and did not know God, even though Eli was a priest of God and a judge of His people.  We can be the most devout Christian today, but that does not mean that our children will be.  Verse thirteen states, And the priests’ custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;  Verse fourteen adds, And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.  After a sacrifice of a burnt offering, the priest was giving a portion for his use, and this practice was continued at Shiloh.  Verse fifteen says, Also before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.  Before the fat was burned, the servant of the priest would come and ask the one offering the sacrifice for some of the raw meat, so the priest wouldn't have sodden meat.  Verse sixteen adds, And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.  If any man refused, Eli's sons would threaten to come and take the raw meat by force.  They were not satisfied with God's provision, but wanted more.  There are still religious leaders today who are not satisfied with God's provisions, but demand more from those who are providing for them.  Verse seventeen continues, Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.  The sins of the sons of Eli were very great, because they caused people to abhor the offerings of God.  If we are not satisfied with God's provisions for us today as Christians, bur attempt to take the things dedicated to God as our own, then our sin is great.  Verse eighteen says, But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.  As Samuel was growing up, he faithfully ministered before the LORD.  Some children and young people today are more faithful in following God than others are.  We need to teach our children to be faithful to God.  Verse nineteen adds, Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Hannah, Samuel's mother, had made him a little coat that she brought with her year after year when she came with her husband to sacrifice.  Verse twenty adds, And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.  Eli blessed Elkanah and Hannah,  and said that God had loaned the the child Samuel, and that is all that God really does with our children today.  Elkanah and Hannah then returned home.  Verse twenty-one continues, And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.  After she gave Samuel to God's service, He blessed her with three more sons and two daughters, while Samuel continued to grow before the LORD. We may at times cut off blessings because we refuse to give back to God what He has blessed us with.  

1 Samuel 2:1

1 Samuel 2:1 says, And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.  Hannah began to pray, rejoicing in the fact that God had heard and answered her earlier prayer and had blessed her with a son, which stopped people from being able to put her down because she was barren.  Verse two adds, There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.  Hannah acknowledged the superiority of God over any other supposed god, and acknowledged He was a Rock like no other.  God is indeed the only God, and we need to build our life with Him as the Rock upon which we build. Verse three continues, Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. Hannah called on people to not act out of arrogance, because God is the source of all knowledge, and He weighs our actions.  Verse four states,  The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.  Hannah then said that God had the power to bring down mighty men, and He still does today and always will.  Verse five adds, They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.  Verse six continues, The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.  Hannah then declared that God had the power over life and death.  This included life after death, since she said God brought people down to the grave, and brought them up out of the grave.  Through our faith in Jesus Christ we have this victory over death.  Verse seven says, The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.  Hannah then gave God credit for our financial situation.  We like to think that God is always going to help us become rich, but she said that He makes some rich and some poor.   We might be a part of those that God keeps poor, and if so, that should be alright with us.  Verse eight adds, He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he hath set the world upon them.  Hannah next proclaimed that God lifted up the poor and set them among the princes on glory, because He is in charge of the world.  No matter our status in this life, we will one day be with Jesus Christ in heaven forever if we have accepted Him as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse nine continues, He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.  Hannah then said that no man would ever prevail over God, and this will never change.  Verse ten concludes, The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.  One day, when Jesus Christ returns, this will happen, and nothing can change that fact.

1 Samuel 1:19

1 Samuel 1:19 says, And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.  After worshipping, they returned home and Elkanah and Hannah were intimate once more.  After we attend a worship service today, even one in which we pour out our heart to God, we need to then return home and get on with life.  Verse twenty adds, Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.  After the necessary time passed, Hannah had a son.  God had heard her prayer and had answered it yes.  She named him Samuel, which meant "I have asked him of the LORD."  If someone has a child today, she and the father should acknowledge that the child is a gift from God, especially if they have been trying for a long time unsuccessfully to have a child.  Verse twenty-one continues, And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.  Elkanah and all his household again went to offer their yearly sacrifice and his vow to God.  Though we should worship God daily, and as followers of Christ we have already vowed to give everything to God, we still need to attend worship services regularly and may need at times to make a special vow to God.  Verse twenty-two states, But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.  Hannah did not go on this trip, saying she wasn't going until the child was weaned, and then she would go and present him to God, where he would abide forever. She wasna't backing out on her vow, but was simply doing what was practical in order to be able to fulfill it.  God had blessed her with a child as she had asked, and she was willing to give him back to God as she had promised.  We need to fulfill our promises to God, even if at times we cannot do so immediately,and even if it costs us a lot emotionally.  Verse twenty-three adds, And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.  Elkanah told her to do what she thought was best, but to remember her promise to God.  We need to do our best to support others if they have made a promise to God and not rush them in fulfilling that promise.  Verse twenty-four declares, And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.  After Samuel was weaned, Hannah took him and some other sacrifices to the house of God, even though he was still very young.  I believe it was probably hard for her to do this, but she was fulfilling her vow.  It may be hard  for us to fulfill our vows to God today, but that doesn't make it any less necessary.  Verse twenty-five continues, And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.  After sacrificing the bullock, Hannah brought Samuel to Eli.  Verse twenty-six says, And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.  Hannah reminded God of who she was, though that really wasn't necessary.  He knew, just as He knows who each of us is as Christians today.  Verse twenty-seven adds, For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:  She also acknowledged that God had answered her prayer by giving her a son.  We need to acknowledge today that children are always a gift from God, no matter the circumstances of their birth.  Verse twenty-eight continues, Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.  Hannah said that she had loaned Samuel to God for as long as he lived.  We cannot force our children to serve God today, but we can do our best to give them back to Him to serve Him as long as they live.  They are God's gift to us, and we should acknowledge that we need to treat them as our gift back to Him.  Though he was young, we are told Samuel worshipped God there.  We need to teach our children from a young age to worship God.