Samuel's boyhood contrasted with the corruption of Eli's sons. God is planting a seed of hope in the midst of decline. How did this environment prepare Samuel for his future role as a prophet to kings?

2. HANNAH’S SONG OF PRAISE – 2: 1-10
Theme – The Lord is in control. You can’t
predict outcomes based on factors of strength
or wealth or position. God can change things so
that the least likely becomes the most blessed.
Examples you have seen of this?
God seems to delight in breaking the “rules” of
society when it comes to “winners” and
“losers”!

3. SAMUEL’S ENVIRONMENT – FAITHFUL IN THE
MIDST OF HYPOCRISY
Chaotic and contradictory!
• Eli – not a bad man but allowing his sons to run amuck would
cost him everything
• Hophni and Phineas – “they had no regard for the Lord” (v. 12)
• “But Samuel was ministering before the Lord – a boy wearing a
linen ephod” (v. 18) “… the boy Samuel grew up in the presence
of the Lord” (v. 21) “And the boy Samuel continued to grow in
stature and in favor with the Lord and with people” (v. 26)
What effect did this environment have on Samuel? How did it
prepare him to deal with kings and others in his prophetic
ministry?

4. HONOR VERSUS DISHONOR
A “culture of honor”
• The Lord is respected
• The people are properly served
• A legacy of spiritual leadership is fostered
• A witness to God and His Kingdom is maintained
A “culture of dishonor”
• The Lord is disrespected
• Spiritual leaders put themselves above the people they serve
• The legacy of spiritual leadership breaks down
• People turn away from the Lord and witness to the Kingdom is lost

5. SEEDS OF HOPE
Again and again in the Bible, the message is that God is always
planting seeds of hope in the midst of decline. Samuel is a
great example. Where else do you see this in God’s Word?
God is always working “all things together for good”, even if
behind the scenes.
I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to
what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly
house, and they will minister before my anointed one always.
(v. 35)

6. THE LOVE OF THE LORD / THE FEAR OF THE
LORD
Being secure in God’s love should not give us license to sin:
“ It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just
make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do
whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather,
use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how
freedom grows.” (Galatians 5: 13, 14 – msg)
The fear of the Lord is the centerpiece of wise living:
* Handout sheet - Scriptures on the “Fear of the Lord”