Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
8/13 Reading Portions: 1 Samuel 3; Romans 3; Jeremiah 41; Psalm 17
“Go, lie down, and if He calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’” 1 Samuel 3:9
CALL
Hannah, being barren, prayed to YHVH God for a child (1 Sam 1:12-18). The LORD answered her prayer so she named the child Samuel; or Shmu’el in Hebrew, which means “God, He hears” —since God heard Hannah’s prayer (1 Sam 1:20). When little Samuel was weaned, Hannah lent the child to the LORD (1 Sam 1:28) and allowed the child to live with Eli the priest.
Eli believed in the LORD but his sons were worthless men who knew not YHVH God (1 Sam 2:12-17). Eli attempted to rebuke his grown sons for their wickedness and fornication; however, they would not listen (1 Sam 2:22-25). Bible teachers and commentators may say what they will of Eli, suggesting his faith was weak and fathering skills even weaker; nevertheless, he did for Samuel the greatest service a minister of God can do— he directed young Samuel to respond obediently to the LORD.
Eli did not dismiss the awakening of Samuel to the voice of God. Neither did Eli attempt to interpret the calling of God for Samuel; nor did Eli attempt to intercede on Samuel’s behalf because he was too young, or unlearned, or some other such man-made, man-imposed criteria. Eli counseled Samuel to respond obediently to God’s call. When the voice of God came to Samuel, it was distant, in another room. God’s voice, to Samuel, sounded much like Eli’s voice, because Samuel did not yet know YHVH (1 Sam 3:7). When Samuel responded in faith, just as Eli directed him, YHVH’s voice was near. It was personal. It was powerful. It is likewise with us who are in Christ. The Lord Jesus speaks to us through the Scriptures and we should prayerfully respond each time we open it, saying, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.”Oh, and what wonders await those who obediently respond! Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When Samuel heard God’s voice resound,
He thought it was the priest;
For God’s great Word is most profound
When spoken to the least.
