Samuel Learns To Listen To God

 God had sent a prophet to warn Eli about what his sons were doing, but he had not acted effectively to stop them, so he sent a second warning through Samuel, who was probably less than ten years old at the time.  God had given specific directions in Deuteronomy 18 detailing how they were to identify prophets and execute false ones, so few were claiming to have special visions.  As a result, when someone received a special revelation from God it was taken very seriously, I Samuel 3:1 tells us.  “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.”

 

Samuel was just a child, and there was a lot he didn’t know, but he was sincere about serving the Lord.  When he was first called, he didn’t distinguish between God’s voice and Eli’s, as we see in I Samuel 3:2-8.  “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; And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.  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.  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.  Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.  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.”

 

Finally, Eli realized it was God speaking to Samuel and told him to listen to what he said, in I Samuel 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.”   Unfortunately, many find it easy to brush children off and never realize that God may be speaking to them. 

 

When Samuel listened, God had a very important Message for Eli, as I Samuel 3:10-14 describes.  “And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.  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.   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.  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.  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.” 

 

It was essentially the same message the prophet had shared with Eli earlier.  Samuel was concerned that it would make Eli mad, but Eli insisted on hearing it, as I Samuel 3:15-18 describes.  “And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.  Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.  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.  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.”

 

Eli still made no effort to stop his sons, perhaps convinced they wouldn’t listen anyway, but he did accept it as God’s will and did not get angry at Samuel.  Having learned to relate to God himself, Samuel’s relationship grew rapidly, and people began to realize God had called him, as I Samuel 3:18-21 tells us.  “And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.  And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.  And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.”

 

God had stopped appearing to Eli because of his sin, but he began appearing to Samuel, although under the Law, a person could not serve as priest until he was thirty years old.  It would be more than twenty years before Samuel was old enough.   Unfortunately, many people never learn to listen for God’s still small voice.