May 6, 2024 – 1 Samuel 3:1-21

May 6, 2024 – 1 Samuel 3:1-21

 

3 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. 2  At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own 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. 4  Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!”  5  and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6  And the LORD called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.”  7  Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8  And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the

boy.  9  Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10  And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”  11  Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.  12  On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house,

from beginning to end.  13  And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them.  14  Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s 39 house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” 15  Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.  16  But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.”  17  And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not

hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.”  18  So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.” 19  And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.  20  And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD.  21  And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

 

In this text, we see God speak directly to Samuel.  Samuel does not yet recognize the call as God and thinks his earthly father, Eli, is calling him.  The third time this occurred Eli realized God was speaking to Samuel.  He told Samuel to go back to sleep and when his name was called to respond by saying, “Speak for your servant hears.”  God revealed to Samuel that Eli’s household would indeed be punished.  The next morning as Eli pressed for the truth, Samuel did not spare the truth.  Oddly enough, Eli recognized that God would do as God saw fit.  Samuel lived to be a respected prophet and man of God.  How do we discern God’s call?  How can we position our hearts to respond when God calls us?  How do we say and truly mean, “Here I am Lord?" 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

We hear people talk about hearing from You, yet our world many times laughs at those of us who hear Your voice and are willing to say so.  I know You speak to each of us in a different way.  One of the wonderful tings about You is that You know the best way to get our attention.  The best way to speak with us is to speak as a Father would.  A father knows how to get our attention.  A father knows those things that grab ahold of us and get our imagination to soar.  A Father can speak with comfort one minute and discipline the next, but let us know that with every word spoken, we are still very loved.  Help us to hear Your voice, listen to Your instructions and obey You.  Help us…not, help me to be the woman You asked me to be.  A woman who loves Jesus and is willing to boldly share Your wonderful love with the world.

 

In Jesus’ name.

Amen!