God's Judgement on Eli's House

By Mary Vee
I Samuel 4

A Soldier from the Tribe of Benjamin"s Journal

The Israelites armed ourselves to battle the Philistines again. We camped near Ebenezer and to the west, not far from the sea. The Philistines camped in Aphek. 


Since we were on higher ground we could see their army. Their strong army.


The Philistines showed no fear for the battle. They did not run around as if afraid. Instead they followed typical army procedures by putting themselves in battle array. I must admit, I didn't know how we could defeat them. 


The signal sounded to battle. Our men fought as best they could against the mighty Philistines. I did not sense God's presence with our army. We made mistakes, stepped left when we should have stepped right. At the end of the day, the Philistines soundly defeated us. We lost four thousand men in the field.


Those who survived returned to the camp to report our loses to the Israelite elders. The elders shook their heads. "I don't understand," said one. "Why has the Lord defeated us before the Philistines, the people he told us to conquer?"


Another one said, "We need to brig the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh here. Maybe then the very presence of the covenant of the Lord will save us from the hand of our enemies." 


The others agreed. They sent a group of men to Shiloh to bring the ark. When they returned, Hophni and Phinehas, sons of the high priest, Eli  also escorted the ark. Seeing the ark approach our camp made all the men cheer. We shouted, we cheered loud and strong, for with the ark of the covenant of the Lord present we would surely win.


The Philistines stood together and looked our way. Yes. Now they would be afraid, as they should. They ran around their camp bumping into each other until someone called them together, probably their captain. He raised his arm and then pointed to our army. He probably gave them the "come on we can do it" speech. Hah. It won't work this time! This time you will be our servants.


The battle resumed a little later. Once again, we couldn't fight as we had been trained. In my heart, I could not feel God's presence with our army. The Philistines fought with strength and great power killings thirty thousand foot soldiers. They pressed forward into the camp and captured the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 


My heart pounded into my head. I could hardly speak. The wicked Philistines captured the ark of the covenant of the Lord and killed Hophni and Phinehas. The elders sent me back to tell Eli, the high priest to report the sad news..


I found Eli sitting on a seat watching for a report. He couldn't see well since he was ninety eight years old. As I walked near him he eyes were wide and his hands trembled. "Tell me," his voice trembled. "Tell me why the city cries out with sorrow." 


I bowed before him. "I came from the battlefield, fleeing the battle line as many others."


He reached his hand out and placed it on my head. "Tell me what has happened."


I sighed. "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and many of our men have been killed including your two sons Hophni and Phinehas...and the ark of God has been captured."


When I said the ark had been captured, Eli went wide and fell backwards off the seat and broke his neck. He died right away.
***********************************


1.  Who did the Israelites go to battle against
2.  Why were they afraid of the Philistines?
3. After the first defeat what did the Israelites do?
4. Who came with the ark to the battlefield?
5. What did the Israelite soldiers do when they saw the ark?
6. What did the Philistines do when they heard shouting?
7. What happened at the second battle?
8. What did Eli do when he heard the news about the ark of the covenant?


In the last story, God spoke to young Samuel. In the message He said He would punish the house of Eli. Why did God punish them? 

God Speaks to a Boy Named Samuel

By Mary Vee
I Samuel 3

Samuel's Journal

Last night I heard someone call my name. It was weird because Eli had never called me after I went to bed. 


I hugged my favorite toy, ran to his bed and asked him what he needed. He said he didn't call me and told me to go back to bed. Now that was really weird


I went back to bed but I heard my name called two more times in that night. Each time I ran to Eli's bed to ask what he needed; I'm glad he didn't get angry for me waking him. The third time, Eli said, "If the Lord calls you, say 'Speak Lord for Your servant hears.'"


I walked slower back to my bed. This time I looked in the other rooms in the Temple except the ones I wasn't allowed to go in, like the Holy of Holies. I didn't see anyone. Eli said he thought the Lord had called to me. I'm just a kid. Why would God speak to me?


I went back to my room and climbed under the blankets and hugged my toy. I didn't think I would be able to go to sleep but I must have because my eyes popped open when the voice spoke to me again. "Samuel! Samuel!"


The Lord is calling me. I need to say the words Eli told me to say. I cleared my throat and sat up. "Speak to me Lord, I am you servant and I'm listening."


I looked around the room and didn't see anything, yet I could hear the Voice. "Samuel, I am going to do something in Israel which will make the ears of everyone who hears tingle. On that day I will do everything to the house of Eli that I said I would do from the beginning to the end.


"I told Eli I would judge his house forever because he knew his sons Hopni and Phinehas did evil yet he didn't make them stop. He allowed his sons to continue their work in My Temple even though they dishonored me with their sins.


"I gave Eli a chance and have waited for him to remove his sons from their Temple duties or stop them in some other way. The time has come for Me to wait no longer. I will punish His house and will not accept any sacrifice from them."


The message scared me. I didn't want to tell Eli. I lay down in my bed but couldn't go back to sleep. When the sun first rose I got up to do my morning chores. I opened the doors of the house of the Lord then did my other chores.


Eli came into the room where I worked. "Samuel, my son, I've been looking for you. Tell me, what did the Lord say to you?"


I looked at him then at the ground. I didn't want to tell him what I heard.


Eli stepped closer and set his hand on my shoulder. "Now, there, my son. Don't worry. Please don't hide any of the words from me."


I looked up at his wrinkled face. I didn't want to hurt him, but I wanted to obey. I told him every work the Lord spoke to me then looked at the ground again and sighed. 


Eli reached out his hand and lifted my chin until I could see his eyes. "It is the Lord's will. Let Him do what seems good to Him."


Eli walked away with slow sad-like steps. 


I've thought about Eli's answer that day for a long time. Even though he didn't do something right, he understood when God said he needed to be punished, and he honored God with his answer. I wonder, though, why Eli didn't punish his sons even after he heard God's message.


**************************
1. Who called Samuel?
2. What did Eli, the priest, tell Samuel to do?
3. What message did God give to Samuel?
4. Why did God make that decision?
5. What did Eli ask Samuel the next morning?
6. What did you learn from this story?

Samuel's Dream

By Mary Vee
I Samuel 3

From Eli's Journal

The hour was late. I had stayed up to finish a few chores before going to bed, but perhaps I stayed up too late. I thought I would fall asleep while I walked to my room!


My eyes haven't been quite what they use to be when I first served the Lord in the Temple.On my way to my bed I stubbed my toe.Oh, it hurt so much. I held my breath to keep from crying out because I didn't want to wake the others. Needless to say, I went straight to bed.


Little Samuel went to sleep hours ago. Poor kid. He not only did his work but also the work of my disobedient sons. Samuel has never complained, even though he has the right. I prayed a special blessing for the little guy when I checked on him. Sure enough I found him fast asleep. 


I think I fell asleep after my head touched the bed. I'm not certain. But this I know: Samuel woke me. He shook my arm and said something like, "Here I am, you called me." 


How can I call to him if I'm sleeping? 


What a silly kid. I blinked then rubbed my eyes. Maybe I imagined him there, or maybe I was dreaming. The more I blinked the more I saw of the little guy. I yawned then blinked twice more. "Little Samuel, I didn't call you. Go back to bed."


He tipped his head and looked at me like I was crazy. Sometimes I think I am. But not this time. Samuel went back to bed and I went back to sleep. 


I think only one breath of time passed, although it may have been more when the little guy pulled on my arm again. "Here I am, you called me." 


That was the moment I realized I would not be able to sleep much before morning. I took a deep breath and shook my head. "My dear son, Samuel. I did not call you. Please go back to bed."


He scratched his head and yawned. "Yes, Eli." 


Off to bed he went, and off to sleep I hoped to stay--until the sun popped into my window. I think I heard myself snore once before the little guy yanked on my sleeve. "Here I am, you called me."


He stood looking at me, waiting for a response. He smiled like always, ready, willing to do whatever I asked. The lad truly has been a gift from God. 


Yes, exactly. He is a gift from God! That's the answer. God is the one calling him, not me!


"Samuel, I'm going to tell you to go back to bed, but this time, if you hear your name, say, 'Speak Lord, for Your servant hears.'"


His eyes seemed so large and his smile practically went wider than his face. He nodded then ran out of my room.


I closed my eyes and wondered if I would be able to sleep the rest of the night. Sleep Samuel.


*****************************
1. Who is Eli?
2. Who is Eli's helper?
3.  What did Samuel dream the first time?
4. What did Eli tell Samuel to do?
5. What did Samuel dream the second time?
6. What did Eli tell Samuel to do?
7. What did Samuel dream the third time?
8. What did Eli tell Samuel to do?
9. Do you think Eli will be able to sleep until the sun rises? (hint: come back next time to read the story)