1 Samuel 3:1-15...............3:1 Then the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. 2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, 3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, 4
that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, "Here I am!" 5 So he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." And he said, "I did not call; lie down again." And he went and lay down. 6 And the LORD called yet again, "Samuel!" So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." And he answered, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." 7(Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.) 8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. Then he arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you did call me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, 'Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "
Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears." 11 Then the LORD said to Samuel: "Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. 14 And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever."
15 So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. NKJV
What is a code of honor?
John 5:44........ 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? NKJV
A yielding must come to rise above ambition, to rise above man's pride of "I can do it myself" or "I can do it better".
Samuel was a small child who saw his family rarely but lived at the place the ark was set. He was dedicated to the Lord. As a child, he learned to hear the voice of the LORD! He began his walk of hearing and obeying in the place other's had abandoned. Eli became old and blind and his sons became vile!
Samuel, the son of Hannah, who had no children, was given to the Lord to become what God planned for from the beginning of time. Truly, he was a son, who became one who ministered as a youth, listening to God's voice, and laying down in the Presence of God, became one built on valuing God's voice and His presence to a people and a time when there was no revelation of the Word of God. It was that the place of God's presence that was totally ignored by the "priests". Much was due to the truth that Eli's house did little to keep the light of God alive. Eli's sons who were priests by birth were those given over to much sin, and wickedness before God and man. They did what they wanted in sight of all who came to the high priest Eli. The sons served in the capacity toward God as those of ignorant men.
There was no order to that which was given by God to do in presenting sacrifice for the altar. These men chose to change that which they "wanted" in to regards of not boiling the meat but taking it raw and roasting it. Either way, the meat was going to be taken by force, not to serve the God of Israel but to serve their own bellies. ( roasted might taste better but the boiled was the rule)
Romans 16:18................. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. NIV
So, a word to tingle the ear was coming to the house of Eli and his sons. Being given a place to guard the presence of God, Eli and his sons certainly did not perform that which was at the time in highest regard to a code of honor for revering God and His presence not to mention His plan for the altar worship to HIM!
Samuel grew, and as he did, he became what the priest was to be and do for the glory of the Lord in that place.
1 Samuel 3:19-21...............19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. NIV
Samuel was being established as the prophet and none of the words he spoke would fall to the ground. No, what he spoke when he spoke was fulfilled. All that Samuel was given to speak to others came to pass!
What a place to be with the Lord and then when we apply our hearts to hearing and understanding, He causes what we speak to others which come to pass always. Like Samuel, we too, can be those cultivated into the things of God. We are to be ever believing the truth of what God speaks and be expectant. God wants involvement with us like He did with Samuel.
John 5:20-23.............20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. NKJV
Jesus certainly modeled the office of the Prophet and we see from scripture in John 5 that greater works would those see when they honor the Prophet Jesus, Son of God, and those who do not honor will not see those things. His mission field took Him to people all day, every day and when He needed, He went up to be refreshed by the Father in prayer and communion. (carrying the presence of God)
Back to Samuel, we know from the beginning chapters that Israel was going into war with the Philistines. It was something the princes of Israel chose to do without consulting the prophet. But because of his youth, Samuel was not considered the council for the court of princes in Israel. They then wondered why they lost the war and the ark was taken. They failed miserably to see that honor was given to someone who was listening to the voice of God and was now carrying His presence!
Certainly the word Samuel gave to the priest Eli held much truth and weight from Father. The ark was taken by the Philistines. Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas died because of their being close to the ark at time the war started.
Psalm 78:60-64.....60 So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh,
The tent He had placed among men,
61 And delivered His strength into captivity,
And His glory into the enemy's hand.
62 He also gave His people over to the sword,
And was furious with His inheritance.
63 The fire consumed their young men,
And their maidens were not given in marriage.
64 Their priests fell by the sword,
And their widows made no lamentation. NKJV
No honor was given to the house of Eli. Judgment came to his house and Eli died.
Samuel's office took him to many people and many leaders. He heard from those who had a voice and those who had none. He was called to anoint Israel a king. And we see that Saul was the chosen one.
1 Samuel 9:1-27...............9:1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people. 3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, "Please, take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys." 4 So he passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there. Then he passed through............., but they did not find them.
5 When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, let us return, lest my father cease caring about the donkeys and become worried about us." 6 And he said to him, "Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go." 7 Then Saul said to his servant, "But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread in our vessels is all gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?" 8 And the servant answered Saul again and said, "Look, I have here at hand one fourth of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way." 9(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he spoke thus: "Come, let us go to the seer"; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.) 10 Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said; come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 As they went up the hill to the city, they met some young women going out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?" 12 And they answered them and said, "Yes, there he is, just ahead of you. Hurry now; for today he came to this city, because there is a sacrifice of the people today on the high place. 13 As soon as you come into the city, you will surely find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up, for about this time you will find him." 14 So they went up to the city. As they were coming into the city, there was Samuel, coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.
15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, 16 "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to me." 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, "There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people." 18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, "Please tell me, where is the seer's house?" 19 And Samuel answered Saul and said, "I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20 But as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they have been found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father's house?" 21 And Saul answered and said, "Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?" 22 Now Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and had them sit in the place of honor among those who were invited; there were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, 'Set it apart.' " 24 So the cook took up the thigh with its upper part and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, "Here it is, what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat; for until this time it has been kept for you ....... So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 When they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the top of the house. 26 They arose early; and it was about the dawning of the day that Samuel called to Saul on the top of the house, saying, "Get up, that I may send you on your way." And Saul arose, and both of them went outside, he and Samuel.
27 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us." And he went on. "But you stand here awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God."
1 Samuel 10:1-27...............10:1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: "Is it not because the LORD has anointed you commander over His inheritance? 2 When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, 'The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. And now your father has ceased caring about the donkeys and is worrying about you, saying, "What shall I do about my son?" ' 3 "Then you shall go on forward from there and come to the terebinth tree of Tabor. There three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. 4 And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hands. 5 After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying. 6 Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 7 And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you. 8 You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do."
9 So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. 10 When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, "What is this that has come upon the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?" 12 Then a man from there answered and said, "But who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb: "Is Saul also among the prophets?" 13 And when he had finished prophesying, he went to the high place. .......................................17 Then Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah, 18 and said to the children of Israel, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all kingdoms and from those who oppressed you.' 19 "But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, 'No, set a king over us!' Now therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans." 20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. 21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was chosen. And Saul the son of Kish was chosen. But when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, "Has the man come here yet?" And the LORD answered, "There he is, hidden among the equipment." 23 So they ran and brought him from there; and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?" So all the people shouted and said, "Long live the king!"
25 Then Samuel explained to the people the behavior of royalty, and wrote it in a book and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some rebels said, "How can this man save us?" So they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace. NKJV
From the above verse 25, Samuel writes the contract .........it is the record upon whom the king, and his power would not be abused in anyway. Just like in the beginning of this great country by followers of Jesus, rules were put down in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution! This record Samuel watched over more likely contained the landmarks between all properties that might come into subject and how the new king would need to know every detail and make rulings on that which to govern the new land with rule of a king!
The rules constituted what they were to follow as to having a king over them for the first time. We are told that every man went to his house pleased. But some presented their dislike for the king now placed in office over the land. We are told they brought him no presents. BUT SAMUEL HELD HIS PEACE!
A Code of Honor! Now the Prophet Samuel held what he knew to be true to the Lord and spoke what the Lord wanted him to say. Samuel honored God.
1 Peter 2:13-17............13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-- 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. NKJV
We are as individuals to submit to those laws of the land. We should take an active part in seeing what laws or rules the government wants to put into place to rule. So if there are already some that which seem wrong, then we certainly need to be those who continue to pray for our country and to pray for the man or woman in the office of president of this country. We are to honor those who have the office they stand in and we are to love the brotherhood. The word given above is to fear God, honor the king. Well, we have no king but we do have a president! We do have to obey that which God has commanded us to do!
As citizens of this country, we are to be those who vote. If we do nothing about it at voting time, then we choose not to speak about that thing being voted on in the state or nation.
Below we find the new King has some obvious problems of following the commands of the Lord!
1 Samuel 15:13-35..............13 Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD." 14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?" 15 And Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed." 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Be quiet! And I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak on."
17 So Samuel said, "When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel? 18 Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.' 19 "Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?" 20 And Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." 22 Then Samuel said:
"Has the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,As in obeying the voice of the LORD?Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,And to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king."
24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD." 26 But Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel." 27 And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28 So Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent." 30 Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD your God." 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.
32 Then Samuel said, "Bring Agag king of the Amalekites here to me." So Agag came to him cautiously. And Agag said, "Surely the bitterness of death is past." 33 But Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." And Samuel hacked Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel. NKJV
The king had stopped obeying God's commands because he feared the people and obeyed their voice instead! See again verse 24.
And then, yes, it happened. Saul as King does his own thing in his own sight. And Samuel speaks:
18 Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.' 19 "Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?"
Yes, there presents a big problem when we do not obey the command of the Lord. "Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?"
Yes, that is a problem.
After telling Saul all was to have transpired, he tells Saul that he will not return with him. for you had rejected the word of the LORD. As Samuel turns (verse 27) Saul seized the edge of his robe and tore it. 28 So Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent." 30 Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD your God." 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.
King Agag, the king of Amalekites was killed by Samuel himself. 34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel. NKJV
Samuel went no more to see Saul!
What God has given us to do is so important! Just like we see in the life of Jesus the Prophet, and in the life of the youth Samuel, we do not discount the importance of the small things, the first beginnings we have in God. When we continue to grow and be established, it is even more of a value to treasure that command He gives to us. He has given to us to carry His presence, to do His will, and see plan done in His name and to His glory.
God tells us that His kindness and His covenant of peace will never be taken away. It is God who wants us to have a blessed assurance, a truth that positions us!.......................Isaiah 54:10.......10 For the mountains shall depart And the hills be removed,
But My kindness shall not depart from you,
Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,"
Says the LORD, who has mercy on you. NKJV
Numbers 25:12-13..............12 Therefore say, 'Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; 13 and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.' " NKJV
As kings and priests for the Lord we are to be set in his peace and zealous for His ways and plans all the days of our lives. May we live with a code of honor of Him who is to be honored forevermore!
Father, thank YOU for the word given to us in John 5:36 of the works Jesus was given to finish bore witness of YOU the Father that sent Him. It is You who testified of Jesus to come and it came through those prophets of old who held a love for You and all that You spoke to them. As we stand around this word, we trust that word. Jesus received Your honor the Father. He received that which You sent Jesus to do. Jesus is our example today Father that honor from YOU is vital. Honor from man is that which just flatters but when You honor, it is because the man or woman of God carries Your love and presence to the world.
Like all the prophets before us, we speak the words of God and we wait on You to hear You speak to us and declare to others the words given to us in the "secret place". We pray for that love walk toward family members, associates, and our neighbors. We pray to not be those who try to flatter others or bring pride and ambition for these are man-made things. That kind of rebellion speaks like Saul did in that he did things his way and he got into trouble. No, it is our desire to be well balanced. We desire to be vigilant at all times for we recognize the enemy who roams around like a lion roaring, seeking who he may seize upon and devour. In the name of Jesus we withstand him; firm in faith. Today we thank YOU that YOU have empowered us through our union with You. We draw on that strength from You [that strength which Your boundless might provides]. Your strength causes us to be steadfast and trustworthy,
Our walk is dominated by our love for You today. Father, we bless and pray for those who persecute us--who are cruel in their attitude toward us. We bless and do not curse. Therefore our love abounds yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. We approve things that are excellent. We are sincere without offense till the day of Christ. We are filled with the fruits of righteousness in Jesus' name. Amen.
