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GOD SPEAKS TO SAMUEL ABOUT ELI’S HOUSE

I Samuel 3:11-4:1a

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline section:

 

i.                    God Prophesies of Judgment upon Eli’s House (I Sam. 3:11-14)

ii.                  Samuel Prolongs Telling Eli about the Vision (I Sam. 3:15)

iii.                Eli Presses Samuel about the Vision (I Sam. 3:16-18)

iv.                Samuel Prospers as a Prophet (I Sam. 3:19-4:1a)

 

2.      What does the phrase, “at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle” mean?     (I Sam. 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.

 

A.    Tingle: 

1.      Strong (6750):  with the idea of vibration…to rattle together         :- quiver

2.      BDB:  to tingle, to quiver (with fear)

 

B.      There are things that enter the ears of man and make a very strong impression upon them.  This would be one of those things.

 

C.     The message of the judgment brought upon Eli’s house would resound over and over in their minds of Israel and surrounding nations.

 

3.      What is the meaning of the words:  “…when I begin, I will also make an end”? (I Sam. 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.

 

A.    “I will go through with the performance from first to last” (Barnes, e-sword).

 

B.      “I will not delay the execution of my purpose: when I begin, nothing shall deter me from bringing all my judgments to a conclusion” (Clarke, e-sword).

 

C.     LESSON:  There is point of no return with God.  God warns man.  He gives him time to repent and make corrections.  When man refuses, God’s judgment is initiated.  At that point in time, there is no going back.  God will see it through.

 

4.      Why was the Lord going to judge Eli’s house? (I Sam. 3:13)

 

For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

 

A.    The feeble attempts made by Eli to correct his sons were not enough.  His sons persisted in their evil ways and Eli refused to restraint them.

 

B.      When God places a person in a position of power, He expects that person to use the full authority of his office to take care of problems that arise.  If the individual refuses, God will bring judgment upon His leader.

5.      Define:  judge (I Sam. 3:13)

 

A.    Strong (8199):  to judge, that is, to pronounce sentence, by implication to vindicate or punish

 

B.      BDB:  to judge, to execute judgment, in this case condemning and punishing

 

6.      Define:  vile (I Sam. 3:13)

 

A.    Strong (7043):  bring into contempt, curse despise

 

B.      BDB:  to be slight, trifling, of little account, to be insignificant, to be despicable

 

C.     Barnes: “They have cursed themselves…” (e-sword).

 

7.      What would not be purged from the house of Eli with neither sacrifice nor offering? (I Sam. 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 forever.

 

A.    The iniquity of Eli’s house

 

B.      Sacrifices were supposed to be offered in order for man to be forgiven of his sins and reconciled to God (Lev. 4:20, 26, 31, 35).  God said these would no longer suffice for the sins of Eli’s house.

 

C.     There is a time for repentance.  Man must take advantage of this time before it passes.  Once it is gone, it is gone forever.  The words:  “It is too late,” are sad words indeed.

 

8.      What was one of the works of ministry that Samuel performed? (I Sam. 3:15).

 

And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord…

 

A.    He opened the doors of the house of the Lord.

 

B.      There has been some conjecture about the word “doors.”  Some believe that doors were constructed at the entrance of the outer court once the tabernacle became stationary in Shiloh.  Others think that more permanent doors were placed at the entrance into the holy place instead of just the curtains.

 

9.      “And Samuel  ________________________  to show Eli the vision” (I Sam. 3:15).

 

…And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.

 

A.    Feared

 

10.  Why do you think Samuel feared to tell Eli the vision?

 

A.    It is never pleasant to give bad news to another.  Barnes refers to this as part of “the prophet’s cross.”

 

B.      Often the messenger is the one who is retaliated against when a rebuke from God is forthcoming.

 

C.     The man of God has to overcome his fears (See Jer. 1:7; Isa. 51:7).

 

Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose hear is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.

 

11.  When Eli called Samuel, how did he refer to him? (I Sam. 3:16)

 

Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son…

 

A.    He referred to him as “my son.”

 

B.      Eli had received Samuel when he was a small boy. 

1.      Eli cared for the boy.

2.      The boy was faithful to Eli and to his ministry.

3.      The relationship grew close like a father and a son.

 

C.     See Philippians 2:22

 

But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with a father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

 

12.  How did Samuel respond to Eli’s call? (I Sam. 3:16)

 

…And he answered, Here am I.

 

A.    He answered immediately.

He answered respectfully.

He answered obediently.

 

B.      Eli truly understood his place as a child before Eli and as a servant before the high priest.

 

13.  What did Eli tell Samuel NOT to do? (I Sam. 3:17)

 

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 anything from me of all the things that he said unto thee.

 

A.    Eli told Samuel not to keep back anything that the Lord revealed unto him.

 

B.      LESSON:  This should be the attitude of every faithful child of God. 

1.      Keeping something back does not change the reality.

2.      Keeping something back does not cause the consequences to be any less severe.

3.      Keeping something back only lets the sinner persist in his evil and feel good about it.

 

14.  T – F    Samuel kept back some of the vision from Eli. (I Sam. 3:18)

 

And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him.

 

A.    False.

 

B.      LESSON:  This should be the intent of every man of God.  (See Acts 20:27)

For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

 

15.  How did Eli respond to Samuel’s words (I Sam. 3:18)

 

…And he said, It is the Lord:  let him do what seemeth him good.

 

A.    Eli resigned himself to the Lord’s will.

 

B.      Eli appears to have been weak in some areas of leadership, especially leading his children.  However, he had a heart that honored God.

 

C.     LESSON:  The attitude that Eli displays is the only one that will enable a man to be well-pleasing to God.  Some refer to it as “godly submission.”  Others label it as “devout submission.”  Jesus was one who willingly submitted Himself to the will of God (Luke 22:42).

 

16.  Who was with Samuel as he grew? (I Sam. 3:19)

 

And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him…

 

A.    God was with Samuel.

 

B.      God will bless and protect his faithful servants.  He always stays by their side (Gen. 39:2; I Sam. 18:14).

 

17.  None of Samuel’s _________________ to the ground. (I Sam. 3:19).  What does this mean?

 

…and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

 

A.    Words

 

B.      Samuel now enters into the prophetic part of his ministry.

 

C.     The test of a true prophet is whether his words come to pass or not.

1.      Deuteronomy 18:22

 

When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously:  thou shalt not be afraid of him.

 

2.      See I Samuel 9:6

 

And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass:  now let us go thither; peradventure he can show us our way that we should go.

 

18.  T- F      All Israel knew that Samuel was established to be a priest in Israel. (I Sam. 3:20).

 

And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.

 

A.    True

19.  How is the extent of the knowledge about Samuel described? (I Sam. 3:20)

 

A.     From Dan, an extremely northern city, to Beer-sheba, and extremely southern city

 

20.  Define:  established

 

A.    Definitions:

1.      Strong (539):  to build or support, to render firm, to be permanent

2.      BDB:  established, make firm, verified

 

B.      LESSON:  When elders are selected for a congregation, it is important to “establish” them.  There needs to be a day when the church is informed that these men are put into the eldership.  Their authority needs to be established in the eyes of the members.

 

21.  Who appeared to Samuel in Shiloh? (I Sam. 3:21)

 

And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh…

 

A.    The Lord

 

B.      The words “appeared again” seem to indicate that there was some visible appearance to Samuel at his call (See I Sam. 3:10).

 

22.  What does the text mean when it says:  “and the Lord revealed himself to Samuel”? (I Sam. 3:21)

 

And the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

 

A.    Having put Samuel into the prophetic office, God used him to speak forth His word.

 

B.      Samuel came to know God in the sense of speaking to him as a prophet.  (See I Sam. 3:7)

 

C.     The word of the Lord was no longer “precious,” that is, rare, in those days.  God began to speak to the people through the prophets regularly.  Eventually, Samuel would establish the schools of the prophets who would work among the people of Israel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE PHILISTINES CAPTURE THE ARK OF GOD

I Samuel 4:1b-11

Victor M. Eskew

 

Homework

 

1.      Outline

 

i.                    I Samuel 4:1b-2

ii.                  I Samuel 4:3-4

iii.                I Samuel 4:5

iv.                I Samuel 4:5-9

v.                  I Samuel 4:10-11

 

2.      Who are the Philistines? (I Sam. 4:1)

 

 

3.      Where did the two opposing forces pitch their camps? (I Sam. 4:1)

 

A.    Israel: 

 

B.      The Philistines:

 

 

4.      Define:  array (I Sam. 4:2)

 

 

5.      How many men of Israel were slain in the first confrontation with the Philistines? (I Sam. 4:2)

 

 

6.      To whom did the elders of Israel attribute this defeat? (I Sam. 4:3)

 

 

 

7.      What did the elders decide to bring to the field of battle to assist them? (I Sam. 4:3)

 

 

8.      T – F    The elders of Israel believed the ark could save them from their enemies. (I Sam. 4:3)

 

 

9.      In what city was the ark located? (I Sam. 4:4)

 

 

10.  The ark is described as “the ark of the covenant.”  What is meant by the word “covenant”?        (I Sam. 4:4)

 

 

11.  What did the ark dwell between? (I Sam. 4:4)

 

 

12.  Who accompanied the ark to the field of battle? (I Sam. 4:4).

 

13.  How did Israel respond when the ark came into their camp? (I Sam. 4:5).

 

 

14.  T – F    The Philistines heard the shouts coming from the camp of Israel. (I Sam. 4:6).

 

 

15.  What was the reaction of the Philistines when they learned the ark was come into the Israelites’ camp? (I Sam. 4:7)

 

A.    Emotional reaction?

 

B.      Verbal reaction?

 

 

16.  Define:  woe (I Sam. 4:7)

 

 

17.  What did the Philistines know about the power of the God of Israel? (I Sam. 4:8)

 

 

 

18.  T – F    The Philistines fled the field of battle when they learned Israel had the ark. (I Sam. 4:9)

 

 

19.  “Be strong, and ___________ yourselves like men…quit yourselves like men, and ____________”    (I Sam. 4:9)

 

 

20.  Define:  quit (I Sam. 4:9)

 

 

21.  What motivated the Philistines to fight? (I Sam. 4:9)

 

 

 

22.  T – F    The ark of God saved Israel from the Philistines.  (I Sam. 4:10)

 

 

 

23.  How is the slaughter of Israel described? (I Sam. 4:10)

 

 

 

24.  How many footmen were killed? (I Sam. 4:10)

 

 

25.  What were two other things that happened in this battle between Israel and the Philistines?       (I Sam. 4:11)