The chapter begins with a sad statement that the word of The LORD was rare at that time. It had been words of condemnation and judgment so far because of the wickedness of Eli and his sons. However, it was good to know that despite the relative silence of God, Samuel ministered to The LORD before Eli (v1).
How vital it is for God’s people to serve Him in the midst of an evil generation and a wicked environment. What’s more, it is possible. Jesus said that we are in the world, but we are not to be of the world.
We have that familiar phrase once more – “And it came to pass….”. In God’s perfect timing, Eli was lying down, he had difficulty seeing. Before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle. God called Samuel who was also lying down. I guess the day’s work was done, but Samuel answered the call, “Here I am” (v2-4). According to Exodus 27 the lamps were never to be allowed to go out, so, maybe he had to get up early to make sure that they didn’t go out. Samuel was attentive and listening even though he may have been sleeping. It is suggested that Samuel was around twelve years old, therefore, it could have been a few years of being in the tabernacle, but he had not heard God’s voice before. Hence, he thought it was Eli’s voice.
Several times in the Bible men answered God’s call in the same words. It indicates a readiness for instructions. Perhaps the best known was Abraham when God called him to go and offer his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1).
Samuel ran to Eli (v5). I don’t know about you, but I’m not the best at getting up in the night, and I’m hardly in a position to run, but Samuel was young, and he ran to Eli, thinking it was Eli who had called him (v5-9). Samuel said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Eli told him that he had not called him and to go and lie down again. This happened a second time, with the same result. We are told that at this time, Samuel did not yet know The LORD, nor was the Word of The LORD revealed to him. Even though Samuel was resident in the tabernacle, he was not a believer.
All of us who were born into a Christian home are not automatically Christians, any more than being born in a garage would make one into a car. We all must come individually through repentance and faith in The Lord Jesus Christ.
The call came the third time and Samuel again ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” It sounds like Samuel was becoming exasperated, you did call me. Three times in one night, what a night! At last, the penny dropped for Eli. He realised that The LORD was calling Samuel, therefore he said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’”
Eli’s words are significant and show insight. He doesn’t say that The LORD will call, but if He does, he should say, ‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening’.
How important that we listen when God speaks. He sometimes uses others to speak His words to us, and He most often uses His Word. We rarely hear God’s audible voice, but don’t rule it out. I know of a man who was ready to hang himself in his prison cell, but a voice came to him, telling him to read a book, which happened to be a New Testament. When he did, his life was changed, he lives today and is serving The Lord. The Getty’s wrote that wonderful Christian song, “Speak O Lord as we come to You, to receive the truth of your Holy Word.” It is rich in truth, and we sing it often, particularly when we read the Scriptures and ask God to speak to us through His Word.
The message came once more as before, Samuel was prepared this time. God called, “Samuel, Samuel” (v10).God often called people in this way by using their name twice. It is said that when God uses our name twice, something vitally important is to follow. Humanly speaking when our parents use our full name, and if they say it twice, we have usually done something wrong. However, this was not the case with God’s call.
It seems, quite clear, that the voice was audible and not a vision or a dream. It says that ‘The LORD came and stood’, one of the pre-incarnation appearances of The Lord, although Samuel apparently did not see the person, but he certainly heard His voice. He answered as Eli had instructed him, Speak, for Your servant hears.” If our translation is correct, it seems that he omitted the word “LORD”. We go back a few verses and read that Samuel did not yet know The LORD, therefore, he did not know who it was who was calling him. The message he received was vitally important and quite scary. This was an awesome introduction to God who his mother had committed him to. He had been doing godly things in the tabernacle, but now, he speaks with The LORD personally (v11-14). “Then the LORD said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. “In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. And therefore, I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.””
It is amazing that The LORD gives this word to a young man, probably a young teenager. Never underestimate the fact that God can use the most unlikely people to give the most serious of messages, even a child. He told Samuel that He was going to do something in Israel, not just personally or even locally but something which would affect the nation, so much so, that it would make everyone’s ears tingle. Something which would make them sit up with a start, make headline news. Tingling ears usually means serious consequences. In this case, judgment. It was judgment upon the house of Eli. God confirmed that Eli had already been warned by the unknown man of God, and now, confirmation would come through young Samuel who he was tutoring. Some have suggested that the warning given by the unknown man was the opportunity to repent, but now it was too late, that time was over and young Samuel was to pronounce God’s judgment.
What an introduction for Samuel to The LORD! Sometimes we receive words of loving encouragement, but this was serious stuff. God was to remind Eli that he had been told about the wickedness of his sons but had done nothing about it. He had not disciplined them nor restrained them, so their chance had gone. What a position to be in – Samuel to give this message, Eli and his sons to receive judgment for their sins. Eli was not only their father, but their ‘employer’ and was, therefore, doubly responsible for their behaviour.
As parents, we must be careful to discipline our children, and not over-indulge them. ‘No’ is often as correct an answer as ‘Yes’, and our “No’ should mean ‘No’.
It is a disastrous place to arrive at, a place where there is no sacrifice for sin any longer. In Romans 1 we read that God gave people up to their sins. It is unthinkable that we should ever be in a place where God gives up on us. Even then, where there is true repentance, we can be forgiven and restored, but if we refuse to repent and trust in The Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and reject the work of The Lord Jesus as our sacrifice, there is no other way to God (see Hebrews 10:26).
Samuel went back to bed and lay until morning. One wonders if he went to sleep at all. That message would trouble him, in fact, he was afraid to tell Eli (v15-18). However, he did his duty by opening the doors of The LORD’s house. I wonder whether Eli slept, maybe he was thinking as to what message The LORD was going to give to Samuel. He could wait no longer, he called Samuel and asked what The LORD had said to him. To be fair to Eli, he wanted the truth, ‘do not hide it from me’. Maybe he realised that Samuel could be afraid to tell him. Samuel, bravely, told him everything, and Eli knew that it was from The LORD, and he was willing to receive it, even from this young boy.
Eli was ready, even though it could be bad news for him and his family, even seeming to threaten Samuel if he didn’t tell him all.
What a start for Samuel’s ministry and in verses 19,20 we read that Samuel grew and, the most important fact was that The LORD was with him. What could be more important than that? He now knew The LORD and The LORD was with him. That was evident because the LORD did not let any of his words fail. All Samuel said was God’s truth and his reputation was known throughout all Israel, and his status as a prophet was established. He is seen as the last judge and the first prophet in Israel.
The LORD appeared again and revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh (v21) and He gave Samuel His words. That’s how God usually reveals Himself – through His Word.
