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Word of the Lord to Samuel 1

Word of the Lord to Samuel

I Samuel 3:7,10 'Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other

times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

Here the word of the Lord came to his servant Samuel. The Lord called Samuel and chooses Samuel for a purpose. When we read in I Samuel 4:18 , we can see that Priest Eli judges Israel over a period of forty years. He was

doing the ministry of the Lord in a sacred manner but his children failed to live a holy life. The sins of his children made the Lord to replace Samuel in the place

of Priest Eli. In the passage, we can see the Lord called Samuel twice which signifies the urgency of the situation. In the scripture, when we read verses Genesis

22:11 (Abraham), Exodus 3:4 (Moses), Matthew 27:46 (Eli), Luke 22:31 (Simon), Acts 9:4 (Saul) we can come across the instances where the names are called twice on

emergency situation. Similarly, the Lord called Samuel urgently without any ado to furnish the details of his plan. In chapter I Samuel 3:10, we can read Samuel

listened to the words of the Lord whereas in I Samuel 7:9-10 we can see the Lord listens to Samuel's prayers and granted his request. Even in our lives, we should

become like Samuel, a prayer warrior. Let us meditate how the word of the Lord led Samuel and guided him in his life.

God's glory in the nation

I Samuel 4:22 'And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.'

Here we can read the glorious ark of the covenant w has been captured. We see the land of Israel were blessed when they had the ark of the covenant. The Lord honours

and glorifies the nation in which his children live. Even in our lives, our entire nation and our families wil be glorified through our lives. But there are certain

things we need do in order to obtain these glorious blessings. It is important that we need to behave and walk in the way of the Lord we will witness the glory of the

Lord. In the above passage, the people lost the ark of covenant becuase of their misconduct. We read in I Samuel 3:11 '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.' The Lord desired everyone to lead a holy life and expects his children to fulfill

the responsibilities faithfully. We need to live a life glorifying God and not displeasing God. We have to evaluate ourselves to see if our behaviours are upsetting the

Lord God. If our own family is dysfuctional, it will not only after its members but also the entire society. As recorded in Genesis 18:32 'Peradventure ten shall be

found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.' The Lord saved the entire nation for Abraham's sake as he was faithful and righteous. Today, we need

to pray for God to help us understand how we are displeasing the Lord and how we can save ourselves from destructions.

Reverence to God in the family

I Samuel 3:12 '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.'

Previously, the Lord spoke about the glory of the Lord in the nation. Now he speaks about the family of Eli by shortening his focus from nation. The Lord highlights

the wrong doings of Eli's children. We read in I Samuel 3:13 '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.' We see Eli, being the head of the family he faultered in taking appropriate actions on his children's vices.

Although Eli was fully aware of his children's fault, he failed to restrain them. Since Eli failed, it not only affected him but the entire nation. In I Samuel 3:14 '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.' The injustices of the household

of Eli paved the way for the downfall. We can read in 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.' Even after hearing from Samuel about the injustices of his children, Eli did not take any actions. He did not pray or felt guilty about the sins

of his children but left it to God. This is not the ideal thing to do. Even in our lives, parents hold a major responsibility for the lives of the children. Whether the

child is small or grown, parents must monitor and warn them when they go beyond limits. We the children of the Lord, should render due reverence to the Lord as a

family. We need to have a burden concerning our families and we need to keep our families in prayer.

Fellowship with God in personal life

I Samuel 3:10 'And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.'

Since Samuel had a close relationship with the Lord, the Lord disclosed his plans. The Lord did not speak to Eli who was an experienced Priest but he chose and spoke

to Samuel who had a fellowship with the Lord. Interestingly, it was Eli who guided Samuel how to speak with the Lord but sadly he could not speak to the Lord. We see

the Lord spoke to Samuel directly but he spoke to Eli through a man of God as we read in I Samuel 2:27 'And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him,

Thus saith the LORD.. ' The fellowship of Eli with the Lord was missing which prevented him talk to the Lord. Even in our lives, it is very important that each and everyone

of us must have a personal fellowship with the Lord. We need to get the counsel of the Lord to take every step in our lives. When we read from I Samuel 3:19-21, the

Lord was with Samuel and exalted him in the nation. When we have robust fellowship with the Lord, we will be exalted. Therefore, let us all pray that we should give

due honour and reverence to the Lord God. Amen.

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Word of the Lord to Samuel 1