The Samuel Generation

This lesson started with a homework assignment on listening to God – the young Samuel who had to go back three times to hear God because he didn’t yet recognize His voice. When I read that short passage on that particular day, it jumped out at me. Today, after an intense prayer session for this generation of young adults, I read the scripture of the day from Hannah’s prayer, and it all started flowing together.

The Shift

Hannah was barren. Not only that, she was the victim of provocation from her rival, and continual disappointment that could not be overcome by the love of her husband and the double portions of meat that were given as a compensation for her lack of children. Hannah lived during the time period in between the Judges that led the nation of Israel, and the monarchy, which would begin with King Saul. The child Hannah would eventually have would be the man to usher in this transformation. At the time of Samuel’s birth, the priest Eli was present at the temple, and resided there when Hannah came to pray, as she did every year.

Hannah responded to her circumstances with a pleading prayer, that was filled with raw emotion, desperation, and faith. “Making a vow, she pleaded, ‘Lord of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.’” 1Samuel 1:11

Hannah’s prayers were so fervent, the priest, Eli, thought she was drunk!

“I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven’t had any wine or beer; I’ve been pouring out my heart before the Lord. Don’t think of me as a wicked woman; I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.” 1Samuel 1:16

 How many of us have felt that strong emotion as we prayed for something so desperately? Especially when it comes to our children and families. If you are familiar with the story you know that God answered Hannah’s prayer, and she fulfilled her vow.

“’I prayed for this boy, and since the Lord gave me what I asked him for, I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.’ Then he worshiped the Lord there.” 1Samuel 1:27

Can we pray this for our children as well? While we were not likely called to physically give our children over to someone else to dedicate them to the Lord, have we spiritually given them to God? Do we trust God the way Hannah trusted Him?

As the nation of Israel had been, so was Eli’s family. They were rebellious and evil, all while supposedly serving the Lord in the temple. Eli did not hold his sons accountable, but God would.  The Lord notified Eli of the coming judgment on his family, which would affect the entire line of descendants. Here is just a portion of that judgment:

“You have honored your sons more than me, by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of my people Israel……Then I will raise up a faithful priest for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him, and he will walk before my anointed one for all time.”

The Lord stepped in and shifted the structure that had been corrupted by wicked leaders and priests. From a season of Judges, he called one more, with a heart of obedient faithfulness. A son who had been given to the Lord by a faithful mother who fervently prayed and faithfully worshiped her God. Eli’s last job was to raise this boy in the temple and train him up to take his place.

This simple verse to introduce the story stopped me in my reading, because in this particular time and place, it all of a sudden takes on a whole new meaning. This is us.

“The boy Samuel served the Lord in Eli’s presence. In those days the word of the Lord was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread.” 1Samuel 3:1

Here and now, in THESE days prophetic visions WERE rare, but they are rising up. I used to think it was just that I was becoming more aware of them, but no – I see people who did not previously have prophetic experiences, having them now. Are we in a transition such as Israel was experiencing during this story?

The Call of Samuel

Proximity – “One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his usual place. Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was located.” I Samuel 3:2

Samuel was residing not only in the temple, but he was near the ark of God. He was as close to the representation of God’s presence as he could be, and Eli was fulfilling his duty to raise up the boy faithfully. However, Samuel had not yet known the Lord in a personal way.

Obedience – “Then the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, ‘Here I am.’ He ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’ ‘I didn’t call,’ Eli replied. ‘Go back and lie down.’ So he went and lay down.” 1 Samuel 3:4-5

Three times Samuel heard God’s voice, mistaking it for Eli. His quick obedience to Eli shows a willing heart and a teachable spirit. He just did not know God yet! And it took Eli a few times for him to realize what was happening.

Oh, how this relates to our generation as well. Even those with a lifetime serving the Lord can be slow to realize when God is speaking. Thankfully God is patient. He led little Samuel through Eli’s experience, but this was the moment when God’s call to Samuel became personal.

“Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, because the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. Once again, for the third time, the Lord called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’” 1 Samuel 3:7-8

After this third disturbance, Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy. “He told Samuel, ‘Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came, stood there, and called as before, ‘Samuel, Samuel!’ Samuel responded, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’” 1Samuel 3:9-10

The First Step

It was God who reached out to Samuel. God made the first call ….. and the second….and the third! Eli was also caught off guard. It reminds me of a scene in a movie where the dying old-timer makes one last good decision to redeem recent failures before passing the torch to the young hero in the story. In the final chapter of Eli’s story, he gave the right advice. And Samuel obeyed.

The first message Samuel received was a hard one. Very hard. God was giving Samuel the prophesy of the destruction of Eli’s family for their iniquities, which were many. He was fearful when the time came, but Eli encouraged him to follow through. It was a hard truth, but his obedience set the foundation for a life of faithfulness through the trials and tribulations of being a judge, prophet, and priest to God’s people.

Chapter 3 ends like this, “Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and he fulfilled everything Samuel prophesied. All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a confirmed prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, because there he revealed himself to Samuel by his word. And Samuel’s words came to all Israel.” 1 Samuel 3:19-20

Back to the Beginning: Hannah

It’s interesting we don’t talk more about Hannah. Her story is amazing! Maybe it’s because somewhere in the story we read about her dropping off a small boy at the temple and that makes us uncomfortable. Hannah’s prayer to God is mighty! It’s like the prayer Mary prayed after the angel Gabriel visited. Her devotion to the Lord, and her trust in Him are staggering. I wanted to pick out a portion of her prayer to end with, but I think I’ll just include it all. God worked through this one woman (and her faithful husband) to bring a child into the world that would represent a change in how He dealt with his people. And Samuel would consistently lead the people with wisdom and integrity before the Lord.

Where are we in this story? As God’s people who have allowed corruption to come into our churches, who have focused so much on the world that we have not noticed that we passed down a religion rather than a relationship, that many of these children did not really know our Lord. We can repent and remove the debris from the past and dedicate our children to God fully. And watch him speak to them and change the course. We pray with Hannah…