1 Samuel 3

1 Samuel 3

Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission 1 Samuel Chart from Charles Swindoll TIMELINE OF THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL, KINGS & CHRONICLES 1107 1011 971 931 853 722 586 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 1 Kings 2 Kings 31 1-4 5-10 11-20 21-24 1-11 12-22 1-17 18-25 1Chr 10 1 Chr 11-19 1 Chr 20-29 2 Chronicles 1-9 2 Chronicles 10-20 2 Chronicles 21-36 Legend: B.C. dates at top of timeline are approximate. Note that 931BC marks the division of the Kingdom into Southern Tribes (Judah and Benjamin) and Ten Northern Tribes. To avoid confusion be aware that after the division of the Kingdom in 931BC, the Southern Kingdom is most often designated in Scripture as "Judah" and the Northern Kingdom as "Israel." Finally, note that 1 Chronicles 1-9 is not identified on the timeline because these chapters are records of genealogy. The Ryrie Study Bible Map on Left ESV Global Study Bible, on right Jensen's Survey of the OT The Man Samuel in 1 Samuel 1-8 1 Samuel 3:1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent. Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before El: 1Sa 3:15 2:11,18 And word from the LORD was rare in those days: 1Sa 3:21 Ps 74:9 Isa 13:12 Am 8:11,12 1 Samuel 3 Resources - multiple sermons and commentaries Related Passages: 2 Chronicles 15:3 “For many days Israel was without the true God and without a teaching priest and without law. Amos 8:11 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the LORD. "20/20 VISION" GOD'S PRECIOUS WORD RARE Now the boy (na'ar) Samuel was ministering (sharath;Lxx = leitourgeo) to the LORD before Eli - Samuel has previously been described as ministering to the LORD, even as a young boy (1Sa 2:11,18) and once again he is given this wonderful description "ministering to the LORD" (THOUGHT - Would it true of each of us dear reader that we could be described as continually ministering to the LORD! Let it be so LORD. Amen!). Although the source is extra-Biblical, the Jewish historian Josephus described Samuel writing that even as a young child at age 12 y.o., was "placed in the temple, and “ministered to the Lord before Eli.” Of course, we cannot know the exact age of Samuel because the Bible does not state his age. Short Summary of Samuel - It was while ministering to the LORD in the Temple that he received his first prophetic call (1Sa 3:1-18). Samuel next appears briefly in 1Sa 4:1 probably some twenty years later, but then not again Samuel until chapter 7 (1Sa 7:3-4), suddenly appearing among the people and warning them regarding the idols in their hearts (THAT'S WHERE I IDOLS LIVE SPIRITUALLY AND EXERT THEIR NEFARIOUS INFLUENCE) (1Sa 7:3, 4). Then followed Samuel’s military achievement in 1Sa 7:5-12, his last "military achievement" being this hacking of King Agag (1Sa 15:33). Samuel was a sharath (Lxx = leitourgeo = describes the performance of religious duties), a title that speaks of subservience (willingness to obey others unquestioningly) and of submission to authority. Joshua was called the "sharath" of Moses and spent 40 years under Moses' leadership learning how to obey as a servant, before he could lead as a general. The pattern is first a servant, and then a servant-leader. While Joshua was called a sharath of Moses, Samuel is three times referred to as a sharath to the LORD! David