YOUTH STS LESSON 196 THE CALL OF SAMUEL
TEXT: 1 Samuel 3:1-21.
MEMORY VERSE: “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” (1 Samuel 3:8).
The call and commission of Samuel marked the beginning of new era in Israel . He was came to be a priest and prophet Samuel 7:8-10; 3:20). He came when the worship of God and the priesthood had been polluted by the house of Eli. He was not influenced by the lifestyle of the sons of Eli. Rather, he lived a righteous and prayerful life. He served the Lord from his young age till he died (1 Samuel 2:11,18,21,26; 3:1; 25:1). The life of Samuel is a challenge to us today. The Lord is calling all youths to salvation and service. It is only those who live a righteous life that can be useful and profitable in the ministry. The service of the Lord is a spiritual one. Hence, only those who are spiritual can be useful.
Question 1: Mention youths who were called into the service of the Lord in the Bible.
“But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak” (Jeremiah 1:7). The Scripture is filled with examples of young people who were called by God into His service. Some of them were Jeremiah, David, Joseph, Esther, Daniel, Timothy, Philip’s daughters, etc. The command of our Lord Jesus Christ to all saved youths is: “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37,38).
- THE CALL OF SAMUEL (1 Samuel 3:1-10; 2:11,18,21; Romans 8:28,29; Jeremiah 1:4-10)
“And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before there was no open vision” (verse 1). Samuel got involved in the Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; service of the Lord when he was young. His response to his mother’s consecration on his behalf is a challenge to Christian youths. He was consecrated, committed and courageous in carrying out his ministry. His life was a blessing to his immediate family and the nation as a whole. Samuel’s call came at a time when there was great moral and spiritual darkness in Israel. It was a time when the word of the Lord was scarce and open vision was not common. When the truth is missing in a church, the hearts and lives of young people will be filled with evil and darkness. Also, they will lack ability to live righteous lives. This was the state before the call of Samuel. Eli’s children were grossly involved in corrupting the service of God and God revealed to him the state of moral corruption and warning for Eli who rejected to perform his duty as a father. We are called to preach the gospel of good news to sinners. Samuel was not discouraged by Israel’s deteriorated spiritual state. We should not be afraid or discouraged by the sinful condition in our schools and neighbourhoods as we get involved in the work of the Lord.
Question 2: How can sinning youths be reached with the gospel of Christ?
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him” (Matthew 4:19,20). The call and commission to preach the gospel is for every saved youth. We are saved to serve. We must pray, read and meditate on the word of God always. This will help us to know how to apply the word appropriately to different sinners. “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; That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I” (1 Samuel 3:3,4). In the night, the Lord called Samuel but he did not immediately discern the voice of God. The Lord called him three times and he ran to Eli without any complaint. He was prompt and ready to serve. After the third time, Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. He then instructed Samuel to say: “Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth” (verse 9).
Question 3: What lessons can we learn from Samuel when God called him?
“And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth” (verse 10). Young Samuel is a role model to the youths today. His conduct, character and conversation show that he knew the Lord. He was humble and ready to do what his master Eli bid him to do. He never complained of his sleep being interrupted. He obeyed the instruction of Eli and the Lord revealed His message to him. We need the grace of God to be like Samuel. However, to hear from God, we must be saved and have personal relationship with Him. The Lord reveals Himself by His Spirit and through the Scriptures to His people (John 10:14,27). Examples of those who heard from God include Peter (Acts 10:19), Philip (Acts 8:29), Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:2).
- THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN (1 Samuel 3:11-14,18; 2:27-36; 2 Kings 21:10-12; Jeremiah 19:3; Isaiah 39:8; 2 Kings 5:26,27; Act 5:1-11)
“And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle” (verse 11). The Scripture says: “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Proverbs 29:1). Through a man of God sent to him, the Lord warned Eli of the consequences of allowing his sons to defile the priesthood (1 Samuel 2:27-36). Now, the Lord further used the young Samuel to inform Eli of the same thing but he did not hearken to Him. God does not change and is no respecter of man. It is man that must change by repenting of his sins. Therefore, the Lord vowed to judge the house of Eli and this eventually came to pass.
Question 4: What was the cause of this severe judgment on Eli and his sons?
“For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not” (verse 13). One of the reasons for the severe judgment was that the sons of Eli made themselves vile or unclean before the Lord. Also, Eli knew about their sins but did not restrain or discipline them. Here we learn that there is need for discipline or rebuke among the people or family of God for any sinful act.
Question 5: What is God’s expectation from the people He warns?
“And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good” (1 Samuel 3:18). When God warns, He expects His children to repent and return quickly to Him. However, Eli did not see the eternal implication of this judgment. Therefore, he said: “let him do what seemeth him good”. This is a nonchalant attitude to serious issues. This attitude was also exhibited by King Hezekiah Although he was a good, righteous and prayerful king, he was spiritually insensitive at some point. He heard a message from the Lord through prophet Isaiah and his response brought judgment to Israel in later years (2 Kings 20:12-19; 24:10-16).
When Ahab and Manasseh, sinful kings, heard the warnings from God, they quickly repented and humbled themselves before Him. Their judgments were postponed till later years (1 Kings 21:25-29; 2 Chronicles 33:9-13). David did the same and received forgiveness from the Lord (2 Samuel 24:10-14,17,25). When we receive warning from God, our response should be positive and prompt obedience. Where there is need to repent and restitute, we should do it with all humility. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
- THE COURAGE FOR SERVICE (1 Samuel 3:15-20; Joshua 1:1,7,9; Acts 4:31; 6:8; 7:2; 14:1-3)
Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. This was because the pronouncement from the Lord was weighty. Eli pleaded with Samuel not to hide anything from him. “And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him…” (verse 18). To deliver such message needs divine courage, boldness and fearlessness. Today, we need this kind of courage to preach the gospel in our schools and neighbourhoods.
Question 6: How can a Christian youth possess courage for God’s service?
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Deuteronomy 31:6). The challenge to serve the Lord in these last days is great. It will take youths who have courage, conviction and commitment to move forward in obedience to Him. There is God-given courage, strength, boldness and fearlessness for every child of God to live and serve Him. To possess this kind of courage, we must pray, study and meditate on the word of God. In addition, Christian youths can receive courage and boldness from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego enjoyed God-given Courage while in Babylon because they had great and unshakable Faith in God. “And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground” (verse 19). Knowing the Lord experientially as a young person has great advantages.
Here, Samuel had a balanced growth spiritually and physically. The evidence was the presence of the Lord with him. The Lord did not let any of His word fail. The life of Samuel should challenge contemporary youths. As a sinner, take the right decision now to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Therefore, get right with God and everything will fall into its right place. “And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD” (verse 21). In the days of Samuel, the Lord revealed Himself to him. Today, God reveal Himself through the written word, His spirit, dreams, revelation etc. “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him” (Matthew 11:27). Therefore, Jesus is the answer to all your questions in this life and hereafter.
