IT’S ALL HAPPENING
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Opening Prayer
As I come to your Word today, Lord God, continue to teach me and help me be single-minded in pleasing you.
Read 1 SAMUEL 3:1–4:1a
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
The Lord Calls Samuel
3 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.
6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 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.
10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God,[a] and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”
15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”
Samuel answered, “Here I am.”
17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”
19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
4 And Samuel’s word came to all Israel.
The Philistines Capture the Ark
Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 3:13 An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text sons made themselves contemptible
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Take time to reflect on God’s promises to reveal himself to you in his Word, a ‘lamp for my feet’ (Psalm 119:105). Look for what God will reveal of himself.The voice of God speaking to Samuel is such a loving, gentle story. Ears will tingle though. Something that will shock Israel is happen- ing (v. 11). And it’s God’s doing! Eli’s corrupt family is on its way out! The young Samuel will be the new voice of God for Israel.
Under Eli, there has been a famine of God’s words and visions (v. 1). Israel’s loyalty to the Lord has waned. The old priest Eli is almost blind and unable to control his sons (vv. 2, 13). Through Samuel, he hears again of God’s judgment (v. 18). Now, it is toSamuel that God speaks. He has never before encountered God in such a personal way (v .7). God confirms his calling as a prophet, the one who will reveal God’s ways to Israel (vv. 19–21). God’s presence is with him (v. 19).
Like Israel, we need God’s words in our lives to ensure a personal relationship with him to keep us strong and faithful. We have Jesus as God’s final revelation and the Bible as God’s written Word. How wonderful that we are not alone. The Lord still speaks to us.
Apply
Staying grounded in God’s Word helps us to know God and live a godly life in a complicated ‘today.’ How might you plunge deeper into God’s Word—a Bible study group, conference, or a Bible college subject, perhaps?
Closing prayer
Thank you, Father, for the freedom that is mine to study your Word and for the many resources available to me that help me know you better. Help me invest in them in ways that enable me to draw closer to you.
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