1 Samuel 3:1-10: The Call of Samuel
The Background
In 1 Samuel 2, we read about the corruption of the priests, Hophni and Phinehas, and the judgment of God upon the house of Eli. Despite this, the ministry of Eli continued, but his spiritual leadership was ineffective. Amidst this spiritual darkness, God was about to raise up a new leader, a prophet who would speak His words and guide Israel.
The Call of Samuel (1 Samuel 3:1-10)
The Boy Samuel
In those days, the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. (1 Samuel 3:1)
The verse above sets the tone for the passage. The word of the Lord was rare, indicating a spiritual drought in Israel. But God was about to break His silence, and Samuel would be the instrument of that revelation.
The Call
The boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. The Lord was with him. (1 Samuel 3:1b)
Samuel, though just a boy, was already ministering to the Lord under the guidance of Eli. However, little did Eli know that Samuel would soon surpass him in spiritual authority.
The First Call
One day Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim (he was nearly blind), was lying down in his usual place. 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. (1 Samuel 3:2-3)
The scene is set in the temple, where Eli, old and nearly blind, lies down in his usual place. The lamp of God, which was a symbol of God's presence, was still lit, indicating that God was still with His people. Samuel, still a boy, lies down in the temple, near the ark of God, which represented the presence of God.
The Voice of God
Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." He ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down. (1 Samuel 3:4-5)
Samuel, thinking Eli had called him, runs to Eli, only to be told that Eli did not call. This scene would repeat itself two more times, with Samuel running to Eli, thinking he was being called, only to be sent back.
The Second and Third Calls
Again the Lord called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But Eli answered, "I did not call, my son. Go back and lie down." Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, as the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. (1 Samuel 3:6-8)
Only after the third call does Eli realize that it is the Lord calling Samuel, not him. Eli, despite his spiritual ineptness, recognizes the voice of God and advises Samuel to listen and respond to the Lord's call.
The Response
So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:9-10)
Samuel, now aware of the Lord's presence, responds to the call, saying, "Speak, for your servant is listening." This response marks the beginning of Samuel's prophetic ministry, as he yields to the voice of God.
