Repentance, Reliance, Remembrance

The 3 Rs are:

-Individual and corporate

-Not formulaic

-An active response to God

God’s reminders from the Journey of the Ark:

-Confirm the Lord’s authority when you encounter troubles

-Don’t try to manipulate God’s authority

-Recognize the infinite scope of God’s authority

-Any worship other than to God is an insult to His authority

-Despising the Lord’s authority leads to judgement

-God’s authority extends to the sophisticated and the simple

-Remember the Lord’s authority when tempted to sin

-The Lord’s authority can produce incredible blessings and joy

Summary of 1 Samuel 3- The Lord establishes a prophet [Samuel] who speaks and acts on His behalf in the dark days of Israel. 

Big Idea: The Lord establishes ambassadors who speak and act on His behalf in our dark world. 

Ambassadors:

1. Listen (to God) [How does God speak to us? The Bible, the Holy Spirit, Other Christians, Creation, etc.]

2. Grow (in the Lord)

3. Go (sharing the good news of Jesus)

Big Idea: The Lord establishes a faithful servant for his people [Samuel]

1. The Lord establishes the faithful [Samuel, Hannah/Elkanah]

2. The Lord judges the wicked [Eli, Hophni/Phinneas]

A personal experience of God reveals to us God’s redemptive work for the whole world and calls us into being part of it. 

Verses 2:1-2: What the Lord has done

Verses 2:3-8: What the Lord is doing 

Verses 2:9-10: What the Lord will do