1 Samuel 3

Foreshadowing Greatness
1. Hannah vowed to give Samuel to the Lord (1:11)
2. He worshipped the Lord at the temple (1:28)
3. He ministered before the Lord (2:11)
4. He ministered before the Lord (2:18)
5. He grew up in the presence of the Lord (2:21)
6. He continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and men (2:26)
7. He ministered before the Lord (3:1)

Why was the word of the Lord rare? Why were there not many visions?
1. Has something to do with this books chronological predecessor (Judges 21:25)
2. Only 2 prophets were mentioned in the whole period of Judges (4:4, 6:8)
3. There often seems to be a calm before a storm. Very little before something big
4. If people have no appetite for it, He’ll stop sending it (Amos 8:11)
5. Remember, rare and not many are not absolute terms

The Transition to Samuel
1. Things are bad: The priests are evil, the Word rare, the lamp about to go out
2. This would have been just before sunrise
3. In this context, God speaks to Samuel
4. Samuel ‘did not yet know the Lord’ (in terms of an audible voice)
5. Put yourself in Eli’s shoes (God is speaking to a child instead of you)
6. Put yourself in Samuel’s shoes (God is speaking a judgment against your teacher)

The Leadership of Samuel
1. The Lord was with him
2. His prophesies (being from God) were perfectly accurate
3. He was recognized as a true prophet
4. So God spoke to the people of Israel through Samuel
5. He was the last judge