Picking up where we left the story last week. Once again you can see the danger of God's people,
GETTING WHAT THEY WANTED BUT NOT WANTING WHAT THEY GOT.
I think we should look at this text in the context of 1Samuel 12:22-25:
"God, simply because of who He is, is not going to walk off and leave His people. God took delight in making you into His very own people." (Samuel is speaking a bout God's faithfulness).
(Then Samuel speaks)
23-25 "And neither will I walk off and leave you. That would be a sin against God! I'm staying right here at my post PRAYING FOR YOU and TEACHING YOU THE GOOD AND RIGHT WAY TO LIVE. But I beg of you, fear God and worship him honestly and heartily. You've seen how greatly he has worked among you! Be warned: If you live badly, both you and your king will be thrown out."
I prefer the way The Message Translation presents this portion of the story of Samuel. I don't know how anyone could not appreciate the autobiography of the prophet Samuel as depicted in the Word of God. From his miraculous birth as a result of his mother Hannah's misunderstood intercession to his faithfulness in regard to his commitment and respect for the Word of God. I have a book in my library somewhere by Don Mallough named, "If I Were God." As I was writing this the thought crossed my mind, If I were God, I would loved to have more men like Samuel, whom I knew as men would not allow one Word God had spoken to them, like an arrow in flight, fall to the ground.
The Holy Spirit thought it necessary to remind us of the initial night when God spoke to young Samuel. Can you imagine a child coming to you in the night and awakening you to ask you if you called him. Even the backslidden Eli, knew the importance of responding to the Voice of God. What do you think it was that gave Samuel such a keen understanding of the importance of responding to, God's voice? I heard that voice as a child but did not know the importance of responding to it until later, I actually heard His voice again and again through out my life and did not respond until I was 19 years old. All I can say is, I wasted a lot of time doing nothing, which had eternity in it.
The priest Eli is a sad example of the greatest apostasy is a forgotten destiny.
ELI WAS HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS SONS EXCESSES
Have you ever really read the story of Eli's sons, they are referred to as vile and their father is included as an accomplice to their sin against God. Their sins would be what some would call inconsistencies today, watering down of the lifestyle by preaching a cheaper brand of grace than the New Testament would call for, such as HOLINESS WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE GOD. The son's sins with women at the entrance of the house of God were overlooked but God saw them and judgment began at the house of the Lord.
Can you imagine the perplexity of Hannah having given her son to the Lord and knowing the depravity of what was going on in the House of the Lord. We know she was an intercessor because of God answering her prayer concerning her bareness. Do you think she really gave Samuel up after she weaned him from her at such an early age? She gave him to the Lord but that being said, do you really give something up when you give it to the Lord? She made him a new coat every year, because his growth demanded it. Think about how much prayer went into every stitch and each cut pattern? We all need praying mothers and I can say proudly that I had two, Golda and Juanita, my mother and mother in law.
It is amazing to me that God always has someone or others waiting in the wings, preparing them to serve the next generation.
SAMUEL WAS LIKE A DIAMOND ON BLACK CLOTH.
As we noticed last week, God remembered Hannah, I love the way F.B. Meyer said it, OF COURSE HE DID. Hannah sang about it and her song surely became an inspiration to other childless mother's, even the Virgin Mary.
Samuel was a gift son, a gifted son, a son who became a gift to his nation and his gifting took him where only his character could sustain him and it did.
We will once again visit Samuel again next week, SAMUEL A MAN OF CHARACTER.
I BELIEVE IN YOU,
PASTOR CLEDDIE
GETTING WHAT THEY WANTED BUT NOT WANTING WHAT THEY GOT.
I think we should look at this text in the context of 1Samuel 12:22-25:
"God, simply because of who He is, is not going to walk off and leave His people. God took delight in making you into His very own people." (Samuel is speaking a bout God's faithfulness).
(Then Samuel speaks)
23-25 "And neither will I walk off and leave you. That would be a sin against God! I'm staying right here at my post PRAYING FOR YOU and TEACHING YOU THE GOOD AND RIGHT WAY TO LIVE. But I beg of you, fear God and worship him honestly and heartily. You've seen how greatly he has worked among you! Be warned: If you live badly, both you and your king will be thrown out."
I prefer the way The Message Translation presents this portion of the story of Samuel. I don't know how anyone could not appreciate the autobiography of the prophet Samuel as depicted in the Word of God. From his miraculous birth as a result of his mother Hannah's misunderstood intercession to his faithfulness in regard to his commitment and respect for the Word of God. I have a book in my library somewhere by Don Mallough named, "If I Were God." As I was writing this the thought crossed my mind, If I were God, I would loved to have more men like Samuel, whom I knew as men would not allow one Word God had spoken to them, like an arrow in flight, fall to the ground.
The Holy Spirit thought it necessary to remind us of the initial night when God spoke to young Samuel. Can you imagine a child coming to you in the night and awakening you to ask you if you called him. Even the backslidden Eli, knew the importance of responding to the Voice of God. What do you think it was that gave Samuel such a keen understanding of the importance of responding to, God's voice? I heard that voice as a child but did not know the importance of responding to it until later, I actually heard His voice again and again through out my life and did not respond until I was 19 years old. All I can say is, I wasted a lot of time doing nothing, which had eternity in it.
The priest Eli is a sad example of the greatest apostasy is a forgotten destiny.
ELI WAS HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS SONS EXCESSES
Have you ever really read the story of Eli's sons, they are referred to as vile and their father is included as an accomplice to their sin against God. Their sins would be what some would call inconsistencies today, watering down of the lifestyle by preaching a cheaper brand of grace than the New Testament would call for, such as HOLINESS WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE GOD. The son's sins with women at the entrance of the house of God were overlooked but God saw them and judgment began at the house of the Lord.
Can you imagine the perplexity of Hannah having given her son to the Lord and knowing the depravity of what was going on in the House of the Lord. We know she was an intercessor because of God answering her prayer concerning her bareness. Do you think she really gave Samuel up after she weaned him from her at such an early age? She gave him to the Lord but that being said, do you really give something up when you give it to the Lord? She made him a new coat every year, because his growth demanded it. Think about how much prayer went into every stitch and each cut pattern? We all need praying mothers and I can say proudly that I had two, Golda and Juanita, my mother and mother in law.
It is amazing to me that God always has someone or others waiting in the wings, preparing them to serve the next generation.
SAMUEL WAS LIKE A DIAMOND ON BLACK CLOTH.
As we noticed last week, God remembered Hannah, I love the way F.B. Meyer said it, OF COURSE HE DID. Hannah sang about it and her song surely became an inspiration to other childless mother's, even the Virgin Mary.
Samuel was a gift son, a gifted son, a son who became a gift to his nation and his gifting took him where only his character could sustain him and it did.
We will once again visit Samuel again next week, SAMUEL A MAN OF CHARACTER.
I BELIEVE IN YOU,
PASTOR CLEDDIE