I
want to preach today about the story of the “Call” of Samuel. His father was
Elkannah; his mother, Hannah. At a very young age his parents “lent him to the
Lord” to serve God in the temple (1:28).
1 Samuel 3:1-11 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. 2 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; 3 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;
4 That the LORD called Samuel:
and he answered, Here am I. 5 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. 6 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. 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was
the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 8 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. 9 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. 10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
From
this passage we learn important truths concerning God’s Call.
1.
God’s Call Comes
To Those Exposed To The Word Of God (v 1). “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.”
Romans 10:13-17 “Whosoever shall
call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall
they hear without a preacher? … 17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
In John 6:44 Jesus said, “No man can come
to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:…”
2.
God’s Call Should
Come Very Early In Life (v 2-3).
·
In these verses
we see the contrast of age. Isn’t it wonderful that God can make His will
known to a child?
Proverbs 8:17 “Those that seek me early shall find
me.”
Luke 18:16-17 “Jesus called them unto him, and
said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such
is the kingdom of God. 17 Verily I
say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child
shall in no wise enter therein.”
3.
God’s Call Is NOT A Result of Ceremonial Experience (v 7). “Now Samuel did
not yet know the Lord.”
·
Samuel believed
in God, but had no personal relationship with Him. The existence
of God was known to him and he worshipped the Lord, according to the tradition
of faith (1:28), but he was not saved.
·
It makes a tremendous
difference in our life when God’s Voice has been heard and His will is revealed.
This is true Salvation!
4.
God’s Call Comes
At A Time Of His Choosing (v 3). “Ere the lamp of God went out.”
· Samuel’s call came in the hour just before
dawn.
· God called Paul on the road to
Damascus at noon day.
· God called the Ethiopian Eunuch from
a chariot.
· God called the Philippian Jailer at
midnight.
· When did God call YOU?
5. God’s Call May NOT
Come In The Way We Think (v 4-5). “The
LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 5 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.”
·
Those being
called need our help to understand.
·
Samuel's
obedience to the call reveals a submissive spirit.
1 Peter 5:5-6 “Be subject one to another, and be
clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the
humble. 6 Humble yourselves
therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”
6. God’s Call Requires A Response (v 10). “Speak, Lord,
for Thy servant heareth.”
·
Eli could not
answer for Samuel.
·
When God calls, you
must respond to Him yourself.
·
Every lost soul
must turn to God or be lost forever.
·
It is the same
in the matter of consecration and service. No man can do this for us. We must yield
ourselves to God (Rom 10:13).
7. God’s Call Comes With His Divine Blessing (v 19). “The Lord was
with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.”
John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth
on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life”
John 6:37 He “that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
John 10: 27-29 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And
I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any
man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater
than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand”
