And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
The Lord was with the child Samuel as he grew in the temple, so that every word spoken through him proved true and effective and none failed, and from Dan to Beersheba all Israel recognized him as established to be a prophet who received further revelations at Shiloh. At a time when the word of the Lord was precious and there was no open vision, God passed by the aged Eli, whose eyes were dim and whose house had shut out the Holy Spirit by sin, to call the child three times in the night before the lamp of God went out, until Eli perceived it was the Lord and taught him to answer. Samuel proved his fidelity as Jehovah's messenger by faithfully making known to Eli and to the whole nation the painful warning of judgment upon Eli's house for neglected duty, though priests and people disregarded it. His growth shows the possibilities before every child whose parents give him to the Lord and train him for service, teaching that children who follow God's Word and youth who consecrate themselves in purity and reverence can be accepted and used as channels of light. To let none of His words fall to the ground means allowing none of God's words and promises to fail or be neglected, but sounding the warning that sin is sin and righteousness is righteousness with courage to say No, reprove sin and purify family and church, while trusting that God is faithful to keep those who trust Him for their present and eternal good.
Samuel Established as Prophet
The verse describes the child Samuel in the temple at a time when the word of the LORD was precious and there was no open vision, whom the LORD was with and made a prophet of the Most High. God passed by the aged high priest Eli to commune with a child because the sins of Eli and his sons had shut out the Holy Spirit so that God could not communicate with them, while Samuel remained true to Heaven in the midst of evil. In the night, before the lamp of God went out in the temple where the ark of God was and while Eli lay down with eyes dim so he could not see, the LORD called Samuel three times and three times Samuel hastened to Eli saying Here am I, until Eli knew the call was God's voice, to his own bitter yet deserved rebuke. Eli showed no envy or jealousy but told him to answer Speak, LORD, for thy servant heareth, and when the voice came again Samuel was so awed that the great God should speak to him that he answered Speak, for thy servant heareth, not remembering Eli's exact words.
Samuel grew as prophet and judge with the LORD's presence and favor with him, so that none of the LORD's words spoken through him failed but were fulfilled and proved true and effective. His words proved true as an example of truthfulness, showing that when God's Word is followed His salvation is present and the Holy Spirit speaks. From Dan to Beersheba, from one end of the land to the other, all Israel recognized him as established to be a prophet of the LORD, and settled in that office he received further revelations of God's will in the tabernacle at Shiloh.
After the LORD first appeared to Hannah's son, Samuel proved his fidelity as Jehovah's messenger by faithfully delivering God's painful and trying warning that Eli's sons would be judged for their wickedness and Eli's house would not be blessed because Eli neglected his duty. He made known to the whole nation the warnings and reproofs against the house of Eli, hoping to counteract in some measure the evil influence of past neglect, yet the people disregarded them as the priests had. The surrounding nations, knowing the iniquities openly practiced in Israel, grew bolder and more determined in idolatry and crime and felt no guilt for their own sins as they would have if Israel had kept its integrity.
Example for Children and Parents
Samuel grew as prophet and judge in Israel with the Lord with him in presence and favor, so that none of the words spoken through him failed but were fulfilled. His condition came from his mother Hannah dedicating him to the Lord. It presents the possibilities placed before every child whose parents cooperate with God in doing their appointed work. That cooperation means giving their children to the Lord, keeping before them that they belong to Him as lambs of Christ's flock watched over by the True Shepherd, and training them for His service.
Samuel is set forth as an example of truthfulness for children, showing that his words proved true because the Lord's presence was with him as he grew. Children should be taught to follow God's Word. Then God's salvation will be with them and the Holy Spirit will speak through them.
As a child he was accepted by God and used as a channel of light. His consecrated life of purity and reverence made him valuable in God's sight. His example teaches that young people who consecrate themselves to God can likewise be accepted and used in His work.
Let No Word Fail
Not one of the words which God has spoken is to be allowed to fall to the ground, to fail, to be neglected, or to be left without effect. This embraces His words concerning eternal salvation, which are made effective and must not be neglected or left without effect, and His promises. His promises are sure and never fail, for He is faithful in every age. Those who trust Him are kept in loving care for their present, future, and eternal good, for He plans each course in love and gives His blessings in His own way rather than in the way expected.
The verse means that sin is sin and righteousness is righteousness, and the trumpet note of warning must be sounded. It requires adding to faith courage and power to say No at the right time and in the right place, to reprove sin and execute justice against the sinner. God must be able to depend upon His servants to keep Israel pure and to sacredly preserve His honor, with wide-awake men at every post of duty to keep the worship of God from becoming corrupted in a fearfully wicked age, and with no one absorbed in selfish ease.
God's honor must be sacredly preserved by meeting and checking existing evils and by purifying the family and the church of God. This calls for reproving wrong, warning, and exercising parental or pastoral authority with mild measures first and with the sternest measures if needed. Men are just as accountable for evils they might have checked in others as if they were guilty themselves, and one defect of wanting firmness to reprove sin and execute justice can destroy usefulness and bring rejection in the day of God.
The Lord was with the child Samuel as he grew in the temple, so that every word spoken through him proved true and effective and none failed, and from Dan to Beersheba all Israel recognized him as established to be a prophet who received further revelations at Shiloh. At a time when the word of the Lord was precious and there was no open vision, God passed by the aged Eli, whose eyes were dim and whose house had shut out the Holy Spirit by sin, to call the child three times in the night before the lamp of God went out, until Eli perceived it was the Lord and taught him to answer. Samuel proved his fidelity as Jehovah's messenger by faithfully making known to Eli and to the whole nation the painful warning of judgment upon Eli's house for neglected duty, though priests and people disregarded it. His growth shows the possibilities before every child whose parents give him to the Lord and train him for service, teaching that children who follow God's Word and youth who consecrate themselves in purity and reverence can be accepted and used as channels of light. To let none of His words fall to the ground means allowing none of God's words and promises to fail or be neglected, but sounding the warning that sin is sin and righteousness is righteousness with courage to say No, reprove sin and purify family and church, while trusting that God is faithful to keep those who trust Him for their present and eternal good.
Samuel Established as Prophet
The verse describes the child Samuel in the temple at a time when the word of the LORD was precious and there was no open vision, whom the LORD was with and made a prophet of the Most High. God passed by the aged high priest Eli to commune with a child because the sins of Eli and his sons had shut out the Holy Spirit so that God could not communicate with them, while Samuel remained true to Heaven in the midst of evil. In the night, before the lamp of God went out in the temple where the ark of God was and while Eli lay down with eyes dim so he could not see, the LORD called Samuel three times and three times Samuel hastened to Eli saying Here am I, until Eli knew the call was God's voice, to his own bitter yet deserved rebuke. Eli showed no envy or jealousy but told him to answer Speak, LORD, for thy servant heareth, and when the voice came again Samuel was so awed that the great God should speak to him that he answered Speak, for thy servant heareth, not remembering Eli's exact words.
Samuel grew as prophet and judge with the LORD's presence and favor with him, so that none of the LORD's words spoken through him failed but were fulfilled and proved true and effective. His words proved true as an example of truthfulness, showing that when God's Word is followed His salvation is present and the Holy Spirit speaks. From Dan to Beersheba, from one end of the land to the other, all Israel recognized him as established to be a prophet of the LORD, and settled in that office he received further revelations of God's will in the tabernacle at Shiloh.
After the LORD first appeared to Hannah's son, Samuel proved his fidelity as Jehovah's messenger by faithfully delivering God's painful and trying warning that Eli's sons would be judged for their wickedness and Eli's house would not be blessed because Eli neglected his duty. He made known to the whole nation the warnings and reproofs against the house of Eli, hoping to counteract in some measure the evil influence of past neglect, yet the people disregarded them as the priests had. The surrounding nations, knowing the iniquities openly practiced in Israel, grew bolder and more determined in idolatry and crime and felt no guilt for their own sins as they would have if Israel had kept its integrity.
Example for Children and Parents
Samuel grew as prophet and judge in Israel with the Lord with him in presence and favor, so that none of the words spoken through him failed but were fulfilled. His condition came from his mother Hannah dedicating him to the Lord. It presents the possibilities placed before every child whose parents cooperate with God in doing their appointed work. That cooperation means giving their children to the Lord, keeping before them that they belong to Him as lambs of Christ's flock watched over by the True Shepherd, and training them for His service.
Samuel is set forth as an example of truthfulness for children, showing that his words proved true because the Lord's presence was with him as he grew. Children should be taught to follow God's Word. Then God's salvation will be with them and the Holy Spirit will speak through them.
As a child he was accepted by God and used as a channel of light. His consecrated life of purity and reverence made him valuable in God's sight. His example teaches that young people who consecrate themselves to God can likewise be accepted and used in His work.
Let No Word Fail
Not one of the words which God has spoken is to be allowed to fall to the ground, to fail, to be neglected, or to be left without effect. This embraces His words concerning eternal salvation, which are made effective and must not be neglected or left without effect, and His promises. His promises are sure and never fail, for He is faithful in every age. Those who trust Him are kept in loving care for their present, future, and eternal good, for He plans each course in love and gives His blessings in His own way rather than in the way expected.
The verse means that sin is sin and righteousness is righteousness, and the trumpet note of warning must be sounded. It requires adding to faith courage and power to say No at the right time and in the right place, to reprove sin and execute justice against the sinner. God must be able to depend upon His servants to keep Israel pure and to sacredly preserve His honor, with wide-awake men at every post of duty to keep the worship of God from becoming corrupted in a fearfully wicked age, and with no one absorbed in selfish ease.
God's honor must be sacredly preserved by meeting and checking existing evils and by purifying the family and the church of God. This calls for reproving wrong, warning, and exercising parental or pastoral authority with mild measures first and with the sternest measures if needed. Men are just as accountable for evils they might have checked in others as if they were guilty themselves, and one defect of wanting firmness to reprove sin and execute justice can destroy usefulness and bring rejection in the day of God.