Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

II. Some ApplicationsA. Prodigies and Prodigals1. the intersection of the lives of Eli, Samuel and their sons is a study in prodigies and prodigals2. Samuel was a child prodigy, someone born for greatness and groomed for power by peoplewho recognized that potential and polished it3. Elkanah and Hannah made Samuel into the great leader that he became because they were bothso deeply pious and focused upon their sona. Samuel was one in a million, but every parent thinks his child has the same chance to besomething special, and it is up to us to bring greatness out of themb. spiritual greatness is unlikely to be nurtured by hired help, secular schooling or thebroadcast babysitter, however4. nurturing spiritual greatness is the job of Mom and Dada. “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart fromit” (Proverbs 22:6).b. Mom (Second Timothy 1:3-7, Titus 2:1, 3-5)c. Dad (Colossians 3:19-21)5. sadly, both Eli and Samuel raised not prodigies, but prodigals, and it brought both men downfrom power and staturea. Eli refused to restrain his sons and Samuel just could not convince his to walk in his ways;children must be disciplined to feel protected and directedb. when our children disappoint us, we should take our cue from God, the ultimate parent ofprodigal children (Luke 15:11-24)c. “Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction willdie” (Proverbs 15:10).B. Feeling Rejected1. poor Samuel rightly felt rejected when Israel called for a king to replace him, but Godobviously knew he was the one who was really being rejected2. if you have ever felt rejected–by a person you hoped to date, an employer you hoped wouldhire you or anyone else–use that to imagine how God must feel when we reject him (Matthew 23:37-39)3. the thing we learn from Samuel in this is that he did not quit or sulk, but he made himselfrelevant in God’s work anyway by cooperating with the plan and staying true to his convictions even asothers did not4. chances are that if you are striving to the do the right thing, somebody is going to reject you–whether you are trying to teach them, help them or (especially) correct thema. Paul was not only rejected by the Corinthians and others he had helped, but he himselfrejected John Mark’s assistance (Acts 13:13, 15:36-41)b. but John Mark does not give up and even Paul reclaims him (Second Timothy 4:9-11)5. don’t quit because you’re judged not ready or are rejected altogether (First Timothy 4:12)C. Strict Obedience1. Samuel exemplifies strict obedience to God’s word2. where Saul was willing to listen to his greedy heart and the pleas of his people to keep thecaptured livestock, or was too squeamish to execute an idolatrous king, Samuel was more than willing tocall them on it and hack Agag to pieces as a bonus3. the great characters of faith in the Old and New Testaments have that in common; every one ofthem was rewarded for obeying God and only temporarily stymied when they failed to obey4. we are unpopular when we proclaim the Bible to be the inerrant, unchangeable word of Godand when we plead with our neighbors to follow it faithfully without the imposition of human wisdom orpragmatism, but strict obedience to God’s word is evidence of love, not legalism (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)a. learning to obey God is why we are here and if we decided that it’s okay not to obey him,we’ll never be ready to get closer to him in Heavenb. the gospel is to be obeyed, the doctrine is to obeyed, the apostolic customs are to beimitated (Romans 2:5-11)ConclusionSamuel is an excellent example of a faithful, obedient man.206