Bible Reading1 Samuel 3:1-10 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli.
[41:43] And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.
[41:46] At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place.
The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!”
and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
And the LORD called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.”
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy.
[52:45] Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’”
[55:56] So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
[56:03] 1 Samuel 1:1-28 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.
He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
[42:19] Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD.
On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.
But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb.
And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.
So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.
And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose.
Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.
She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.
[43:04] And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.
Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.
[43:16] And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.”
But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.
Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.”
Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”
[43:27] And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.
And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the LORD.”
[43:33] The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow.
But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear before the LORD and dwell there forever.”
Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the LORD establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.
And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. And the child was young.
[43:44] Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.
And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD.
For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him.
Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.
[43:50] 1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-25 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.
[44:08] The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand,
and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.”
And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.”
[45:45] Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt.
[46:23] Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
[46:00] And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people.
No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad.
If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?”
But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death.
[46:43] Observation questions- In 1 Samuel 3, what details show both Samuel’s willingness and Eli’s role in helping him recognize that God was speaking? [55:32]
- In Hannah’s story, what stands out about where Samuel came from and how he ended up serving at the temple? [43:33]
- What specific sins are named about Eli’s sons, and how do those actions help explain why “the word of the LORD was rare” in those days? [46:28]
- What are some concrete examples of “keys” representing ownership, trust, access, and responsibility in the life of a church or family? [58:21]
Interpretation questions- If God chose to speak through a young boy in a time of corruption and silence, what does that suggest about how God works when a system has become stuck or unhealthy? [48:22]
- Eli did not deny Samuel’s experience or make him wait until he was older. What does Eli’s response reveal about spiritual maturity and humility? [52:41]
- Samuel needed Eli’s guidance, and Eli needed Samuel’s fresh hearing from God. What does that say about interdependence between generations in the life of faith? [58:12]
- Faith is not something to guard but something to hand off. How does that idea change the way a person thinks about influence, leadership, parenting, mentoring, or serving in the church? [37:51]
Application questions- What “keys” has God placed in this season of life—responsibility, influence, access, experience, or trust? Is there any place where those keys are being held too tightly? [01:05:33]
- Is there a younger or less experienced person nearby who may be ready for real responsibility, not just a token task? What would it look like to open a hand and trust that person with something meaningful? [59:45]
- If someone younger, newer, or unexpected brought a fresh perspective, would the first response be defensiveness or curiosity? What helps keep a heart open enough to ask, “Could the Lord be speaking here?” [53:17]
- Samuel said, “Here I am,” before he fully understood what was happening. Where might God be inviting a simple, available yes before everything feels clear or polished? [54:50]
- Hannah gave Samuel back to the Lord, and Eli helped Samuel grow into his calling. Who has helped shape faith in a meaningful way, and how might that same kind of trust now be offered to someone else? [37:01]
- Real authority is messier than keeping control. Where would it be uncomfortable but healthy to share decision-making, invite input, or make room for another person’s leadership? [59:52]
- Loving the community one neighbor at a time will take humility, boldness, and shared leadership across generations. What is one practical step that could help build that kind of intergenerational trust this week? [01:04:55]
