1 Samuel 3:1-10: The Call of Samuel
3:1 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.
The Background
During the time of Eli, the priest, the word of the Lord was rare, and visions were not frequent. This indicates a period of spiritual dryness, where the people of Israel were not experiencing God's direct communication as they had in the past. This sets the stage for the call of Samuel, who would become a key figure in Israel's history.
The Call of Samuel
3:2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 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 located.
At this time, Eli was old and his eyesight was failing. The lamp of God, which was a symbol of God's presence, was still lit, indicating that God was still present among His people. Samuel, a young boy, was lying down in the temple, near the ark of God, which represented God's throne on earth.
4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." 5 He ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.
In this passage, we see the call of Samuel. The Lord called Samuel, and Samuel responded by running to Eli, thinking that Eli had called him. However, Eli told Samuel that he did not call him, and instructed him to go back to sleep.
6 Again the Lord called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; the voice must be the Lord's. Go back and lie down."
The Lord called Samuel again, and Samuel ran to Eli once more, thinking that Eli had called him. Eli, realizing that the voice was not his own, told Samuel that the voice must be the Lord's.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the Lord called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy.
Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and he had not received any revelation from God. However, Eli, who had gone through a series of events, finally realized that the Lord was calling Samuel.
9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'"
Eli, with his experience and spiritual insight, instructed Samuel to go back and lie down. If the Lord called him again, Samuel was to respond by saying, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."
10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
In this final verse, the Lord came and stood before Samuel, calling him once more. Samuel, obeying Eli's instructions, responded by saying, "Speak, for your servant is listening." This marked the beginning of Samuel's prophetic ministry, as he was now ready to hear and obey the voice of God.
