1 Samuel 3:20-21 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.… that is to say, from Plymouth to Aberdeen — all the people in the towns and villages of Israel knew that there was come a new thing on the earth, that God was now speaking by the mouth of a little child. One of the first lessons which comes from the study of this story is, that bad men and bad things are doomed. Nothing can keep alive that which God has condemned. I look upon Hophni and Phinehas as representatives of that which was bad. "All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord," and at the same time, that Hophni and Phinehas were to be removed from the face of the earth. We are surrounded by evil; bad men and bad things are all around us. But I want those of us who believe in God to cheer ourselves with the thought that nothing will live forever but that which is good. No wrong thing can live forever. Slavery was a giant. It is a giant yet in Africa; but its brother, American slavery, came down never to rise. Tyranny is a doomed thing. "Samuel is established to be a prophet of the Lord;" and I do not care who Hophni and Phinehas are if you will only do your duty. Be brave, and God will see you through. 2. The second lesson I want to teach today is this: Mothers, get your children ready, "that Samuel may be established to be a prophet of the Lord." Oh! what honour came to Hannah through Samuel. We should encourage our children to have right ideas, and encourage them to propagate their ideas. Never was there a time when there was so much room for individual goodness. 3. I should say, further, that early consecration is the pathway to honour and greatness. What a great man Samuel became. (T. Champness.) Parallel Verses KJV: And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.WEB: All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of Yahweh. |
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