Men of Valor
Reflective Reading: I Samuel 3
Where are the men? There seems to be a scarcity of men of valor today. In light of this I would like to share a powerful truth about biblical manhood.
In 1 Samuel 3 we read: Now the young man Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.
No Vision
God’s word was rare in those days because of the lack of vision. The word vision here means a prophetic vision or revelation. This is the same word that Solomon uses when he writes, Where there is no vision, the people perish. When the Word of God is no longer present before the people, a cultural breakdown often occurs along with the disappearance of biblical manhood.
What does the lack of vision have to do with becoming a man? In 1 Samuel 3 Eli is a dead-weight prophet in more ways than one. He neither hears nor speaks the Word of the Lord. He fails to teach God’s Word to his sons and neglects to carry out discipline for their disobedience. His sons grow up to be wicked men. The last word Eli hears from God is: Why do you scorn…and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering? Eli’s downfall comes when he refuses to speak the Word of God. His silence leads to his family’s eventual destruction, as well as the dismal ending to his own life.
With manhood comes the responsibility of speaking the Word of God. Men become men when they take the responsibility of speaking truth to others. They study the Word, practice it, and take responsibility to share it. If you think about it, it was the silence of Adam that got us into this mess.
The Practice of Faith
Men of faith are not afraid to speak up or act when they see something that is contrary to the Word. In 2 Peter 1 the Apostle writes that we are to add to our faith, virtue. The word virtue carries the idea of manly valor in relation to the “lifting” of sin. Manly valor comes as a result of the practice of faith in relation to our conquest over sin. It takes risk, or faith, to develop manliness. Furthermore, the word add means to add at one’s own expense; there is personal sacrifice involved in the process of becoming a man.
This idea of manly valor is played out for us in 1 Samuel 3, where we find the boy Samuel being raised by the comfortable and complacent priest, Eli. How did Samuel become the powerful man that we read about, having only Eli and his sons as mentors?
A Call to Serve
Let’s look closely at his life. Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him. I believe the transition from boyhood to manhood is intricately linked to knowing God personally and his Word intimately. Though men long to live heroic lives, their understanding of heroism is distorted without God at the center.
Most men imagine a heroic entrance, riding a white horse like Gandalf in “The Lord of the Rings.” But true heroism begins with a response to God’s call: Speak LORD, for your servant hears. Living a heroic life begins by serving, which is always costly and never convenient. Having a servant’s heart is what separates boys from men!
A Call to Serve and Obey Man
If you are wondering what this looks like practically, 1 Samuel 3 provides a perfect backdrop to demonstrate the development of a man of valor. As you read through the chapter an unusual pattern surfaces. The word called appears ten times. This is significant because the calling is the catalyst that moves a man’s heart into action.
Up to this point Samuel has only had to respond to the voice of Eli. Now it is time for Samuel to respond to the voice of God. This is the defining moment for all men. But we will never hear the voice of God until we first respond to the voices of authority over us. In his book, “Raising a Modern Day Knight,” Robert Lewis writes that the foundational values for biblical manhood are demonstrated by three qualities: a will to obey, a work to do, and a woman to love. Humble obedience to authority is the prerequisite for becoming a man. Without it, boys will be boys.
Samuel’s years of humble servitude and obedience prepares him for this defining moment. As he had practiced so many times in the past, this night he will listen, obey, and serve Eli without complaining, even though it is not convenient. Through this demonstration of humble obedience, Samuel is about to join the ranks of the great men of valor. But there is one final test that he must pass.
A Call to Serve and Obey God
Confused, Samuel thinks the voice calling him comes from Eli. Inexperienced in recognizing the call of God, he continues to rely on Eli for his security and confidence.
The same is true for men today. Lacking confidence in Christ they remain in bondage to the unethical control of others. Lacking courage, they find it difficult to discern the voice of God. Hearing and responding to God’s voice requires a practice of faith. Walking by faith affords men many opportunities for conquest and heroism. But the most important practice of faith is the confession of sin and a humble heart. If we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us—and neither will we hear Him. Sin unconfessed is a roadblock to God’s call. This is why Eli could not hear God’s voice.
Slaying the Giants of Fear by the Practice of Faith
Once Samuel hears and recognizes the Word of the Lord, he must now face his fears—the next crucial step in the development of biblical manhood. You can be sure that the enemy’s tactic is to intimidate.
As soon as he hears the Word of the Lord, the text reads that Samuel feared to show Eli the vision. Fear is one of the main obstacles to manhood because it hinders the exercise of faith. But when Samuel musters the courage to tell Eli everything, Samuel becomes a man. In fact, Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. This suggests that Samuel’s words did not go unheeded by others—another sign of biblical manhood.
As I bring these thoughts on men of valor to a close, I am reminded of Tom. Tom was a fearful Christian man who kept to himself and lived a life that avoided conflict at all cost. He read his Bible, taught Sunday School, and was a loyal and faithful employee at work. But his fear haunted him—until one night when he heard a woman cry out for help. His first inclination was to walk quickly in the opposite direction. But after several steps, Tom for the first time faced his fear and ran to the aid of the woman. Seeing that she was being assaulted, Tom quickly knocked the man to the ground. After chasing him, Tom returned to help the young lady. “It’s alright,” Tom said. “You are safe.” She didn’t respond but Tom could hear her crying. “It’s alright; you’re safe,” Tom said reassuringly. And then Tom heard something that would change his life forever. In tears with a shaking voice from the other side of the bushes he heard these words: “Daddy…is that you?”
Mark Hamby is the founder and president of Lamplighter Ministries where he serves with a dedicated staff to make Lamplighter Publishing, Theatre, Guild, Seminars, and Fastened Like Nails Podcast a reality. It is his mission to make ready a people prepared for the Lord by building Christ-like character . . . one story at a time.
You can read or listen to the most recent Lamplighter production at www.lamplighter.net.
