20140320 Thursday, March 20 2014
1 Samuel 03: The Calling Of Samuel

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"The LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the Word of the LORD"

The LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God) had of course intended Samuel to be the subject of his conception, birth and dedication to the service of the LORD. Samuel was not the first to know however; his mother Hannah and the High Priest Eli were both given to know before him (see 1 Samuel 1: Hannah's Dedication Of Samuel and 1 Samuel 2: The Prophecy Of The House Of Eli).

The time came however when the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel directly - while he was yet a child. Ironically, when Samuel didn't realize Who was talking to him ("Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him"), it was Eli who told him that it was the LORD. As it happened, the LORD was revealing to Samuel that he would replace the weak High Priest who failed to correct his two corrupt sons - the reason that the LORD had stopped speaking to Eli i.e. "the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision."

"3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

3:2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 3:3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was [i.e. the Tabernacle; see Israel In History and Prophecy: The Tabernacle], and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 3:4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

3:5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me.

And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

3:6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel.

And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me.

And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

3:8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me.

And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

3:9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place." (1 Samuel 3:1-9 KJV)

Samuel then got the message, with full understanding. He hesitated to tell Eli that the revelation was about Eli's doom. When Eli pressed the boy to tell him, Samuel did so. From that time on, "Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him." While the LORD had become silent to Eli and his corrupt sons, "the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD" and so "all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD."

"3:10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel.

Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

3:11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. 3:14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

3:15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.

3:16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.

3:17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.

3:18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him.

And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

3:19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 3:20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. 3:21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD." (1 Samuel 3:10-21 KJV)

Fact Finder: What was the LORD's purpose for His prophets in Israel?
See Israel In History and Prophecy: The Prophets