The Strand Study Bible

I SAMUEL

489

I SAMUEL

2. Children come directly from God (Psa 127:3 and Gen 33:5) Except for children who have been tampered with by careless parents who think only of themselves, every child under the age of accountability intuitively believes in the supernatural. Why? Because they just came from there (Jere 1:5). The reason children are so innocent, so trusting, and so full of supernatural wonder is because they just came from a supernatural God. It’s not until some adult begins to fool with the child’s mind or that child begins to grow up that he or she loses their amazement for God. Any child that is truly loved and allowed to grow naturally will have a natural inclination to look up and become enthralled with the supernatural. Remember: Its children who love to watch cartoons (Mighty Mouse, Popeye and Transformers), not necessarily adults. Its children who believe in Santa Clause, Peter Pan, and talking animals, not necessarily adults. Its children who are willing to get up early on Sunday and go to Sunday School, not necessarily adults. For the most part, it’s adults who have grown out of their wonder for the supernatural, not children. There are two truths connected with children under the age of accountability: According to Jesus Himself, much of Heaven is made up of mostly children. Which means, if Heaven is made up of mostly children under the age of accountability (and it is), then it must take child-like faith to get there (and it does – Mt 18:1-3). Again, if Heaven is made up of mostly children under the age of accountability (and it is), then most adults probably aren’t going there (and they’re not – Mt 7:13-14). Once again, if Heaven is made up of mostly children under the age of accountability (and it is - Deut 1:39), then their names must have been written in “ the Book of Life ” before they were born (and it was – Phil 4:3 ). NOTE - There are three things every Christian needs to do with children under the age of accountability that God does: 1. Pay attention to them (I Sam 3:1-9) 2. Pray for them (Mt 19:13) 3. Pay into them (Mt 18:10) - Learn to invest that which is “eternal” into children (Deut 6:6-7). Learn to invest values into them, not valuables (Prov 15:16-17 & 16:8 & 19:1, Eccl 4:6 and Psa 37:16). 3:13 God is just. He does not reap wrath where He has not sown knowledge ( for the iniquity which he knoweth ). Only to whom much is given is much required (Lk 12:48). Eli was well aware of his duties as a father and a priest and how he was to rear his children. His sin was in violating the light that he was given. This principle applies to every area of the believer’s life ( I Jn 5:16a , b ). It even applies to those who have never heard the Gospel. Our Gospel will not judge those who have never heard of Jesus. Only the light that’s been given them will judge them, and God alone knows what that light is ( Gen 14:20 and Rom 1:21 a ). 3:20 Dan and Beersheba denoted Israel’s uttermost boundaries. They were c. 150 miles apart from each other. 4:1 Samuel was approximately 36 years old at this time (I Sam 1:20). David, of course, would not be born for another 39 years ( I Samuel 15 Subject Head ). * Heaven is mindful of them (I Sam 3:1-9) * Heaven is full of them (Mt 19:13-14)