READ: 1 Sam. 3:12-21: … For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, … shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever. … Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him …
Eli wants to know exactly what the LORD has said. He seems to be concerned that it is related to the message of the man of God (2:31ff). But young Samuel struggles with this because what the LORD said about Eli is terrible to hear (vs.11).
Eli and his house will be struck by God’s punishment. Eli did not discipline his sons who brought God’s curse upon themselves, failing even to rebuke them sternly (vs.13). The LORD swears with an oath to Himself that this evil cannot be covered and atoned for with sacrifices. Bringing offerings without true repentance will not help Eli, as certain as the LORD is God.
The beginning of Samuel’s prophetic service is thus very heavy; perhaps it is comparable to Moses’ task of speaking to Pharaoh. After Eli insists, Samuel tells everything. God’s Word must be proclaimed undiminished and unadulterated, even if it deeply affects the hearer. Eli listens calmly and accepts it as God’s word, but he does not come to repentance.
Samuel is further equipped to become a faithful prophet of the LORD. In verse 20, we read that this is a blessing for Samuel and the church. He becomes great and is recognized by the people because the LORD is with him and does not let His words go unfulfilled. People from all over the country come to Samuel for advice, and he gets to bring them the Word of the LORD.
The LORD ensures that His Word comes true, so Samuel’s prophetic word proves to be reliable. With this, Israel gets the evidence that Samuel is a true prophet of the LORD. Samuel’s word comes from Shiloh, where the tabernacle is, as the Word of God for all Israel (4:1).
Do God’s warnings also apply to believers?
Singing: Ps. 74:12,13