1 Samuel 3:4-14
4 that the Lord called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.”
5 Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.
6 And the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son, go back and lie down.”
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord yet been revealed to him.
8 So the Lord called Samuel again for the third time. And he 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.
9 And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Then the Lord came and stood, and called as at the other times: “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Behold, I am going to do a thing in Israel, and both ears of everyone who hears about it will ring.
12 On that day I will carry out against Eli everything that I have spoken in regard to his house, from beginning to end.
13 For I have told him that I am going to judge his house forever for the wrongdoing that he knew, because his sons were bringing a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them.
14 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the wrongdoing of Eli’s house shall never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.”
The Calling of Samuel
The first three call
At that time, the young Samuel was serving in the house of the Lord, as an apprentice under Eli the priest. It was then that Samuel received a call from the Lord. (1) At first, he thought it was Eli calling him, so he went to Eli. This misunderstanding repeats three times. Samuel, who had not yet experientially known the Lord, was unable to distinguish between the voice of the Lord and that of a human. (2) Even Eli, who had become spiritually dull, eventually realized that it was the Lord calling Samuel after this happened three times. He instructed Samuel to respond by saying, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” (3) It must have been disappointing for Eli that the Lord chose to speak to the young Samuel instead of to him. However, instead of becoming jealous or hindering the boy’s spiritual growth, Eli gave proper instruction as a leader. Those of the older generation can learn a great deal from Eli’s attitude. When young people begin to emerge in the work of the Lord, it is the natural duty of the older generation to encourage and assist in their growth.
The fourth call
(1) The Lord called Samuel for the fourth time, calling his name twice, “Samuel! Samuel!” In the Bible, a name being called twice signifies the importance of the message being conveyed (ref. Ex. 3:4, Luke 10:41, Acts 9:4). (2) Samuel responded as Eli had instructed him. “Speak, for your servant is listening.” With this small response, a great man of faith, Samuel, began his walk as a servant of the Lord. We should never take lightly the significance of a small first step. (3) The message of the Lord was extremely severe. The phrase, “Both ears of everyone who hears about it will ring,” means that the news would be so shocking and fearful, it would cause a ringing in their ears. (4) Because of the sins of his sons and Eli’s neglect as a parent, Eli’s house will surely be judged, and their wrongdoing could never be atoned. The Lord is patient (2 Pet. 3:9), but we must not take His patience for granted. When the time comes, God will surely judge all sins.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, with a small first step, I too will begin my life as Your servant. Please speak, for Your servant is listening. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.