The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 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. Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 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. 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.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 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. 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. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 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. At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’ ” Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “Here I am.” “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.” 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.” The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
1 Samuel 3:1-21 NIV
It’s crazy how Samuel didn’t know the Lord because he hadn’t even heard the Word of the Lord, but he was in full ministry into the Lord.
But it also shows how God’s reach is never too short of His Target.
It makes me wonder if Eli purposefully didn’t tell the boy about God so God couldn’t use Him as the one God was going to raise up in Eli’s stead.
Like “I know you are looking to replace me, but I won’t train my replacement…” type of mentality; yes he had the boy working in the house of the Lord, but I see it more as chores and not assignment or teaching him what he would use to become better than his predecessor.
Thankfully when he knew God was speaking to the boy he gave him simple instruction on how to interact with the Lord.
Because Samuel humbled himself and submitted himself as a servant of the Most High, though he knew Him not, God still called him His servant and friend.
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets
Amos 3:7 KJV
We also find in this chapter (Sam 3) that blasphemy runs deeper than lying on or to the Holy Ghost. Here it looks like we can count misusing your appointed position in the Lord as blasphemy against God. He said the sons of Eli sinned and blasphemed God and Eli didn’t restrain or stop them. They used their positions to steal and cheat the people out of what was theirs. And they did whatever the felt like with out being checked (talked to not stopped or sat down from their positions).
Eli could have repented and asked for forgiveness, when Samuel told him what the Lord said, but instead he accepted his fate. We have two examples where leaders repented and God didn’t carry out the fitting punishments. One was David, and one was Ahab. Ahab allowed the judgement to fall to his children, and David allowed his children to get out of hand as well but because of the vow God made He remembered David and blessed Solomon. Keep in mind Ahab was wicked and David had a heart for God.
Samuel had such a tight relationship with God that God didn’t let one thing Samuel said fall to the ground and die.
That comes from discipline and dedication. We should seek to get to where Samuel was in his walk with you Lord.
Can our Heavenly Father truly just speak to us and we listen and act upon His Word? Samuel was scared to tell Eli what God told him, but He was more scared of the consequences for not telling him what God said.
Are we able to tell fear to step aside while we do what God told us?
Will we step out on faith no matter who is looking and telling us “you brave for that one” or “that’s crazy are you sure the Lord said that, that doesn’t sound like God. He wouldn’t tell you to do it that way”?
It may be crazy to them because they don’t know His voice like you do, or they don’t have the faith to do it like you do.
We learned from Peter’s example that even if we had the faith to walk on the water, listening to the wrong voice will cause us to sink (he listened to doubt and fear). When he refocused on the Lord he was able to call out to the one standing before him and say save me! But he knew Jesus’ voice because he spent time with Him. He sat and listened to Him teach.
We need to get quiet enough before the Lord that we can hear and listen to what He has to say to us today.
Do you want this type of relationship with your Daddy? Yes you were called but are you willing to do what the chosen do?
The passage said the Lord came to him and called his name.
God made it personal!
We get too caught up in our own flesh and all the many voices around us that we can’t recognize the specialness of the moment.
When He called you, He didn’t yell from across the way. That’s why you almost missed it. He came to where you were and spoke to you in the same room.
Can you identify His voice or do you need help?
Who is teaching us how to recognize when the Lord personally called us by name?
The Bible is a good source for hearing and learning the voice of God, that way you will know if someone is found soundly in the Word or if they are just talking out the side of their necks.
Follow me only as I follow Christ, how I introduce you to someone I’ve never encountered for myself, I can’t teach you His ways if I don’t really follow them.
Our Father, forgive us for all the times we fell short and showed someone a tainted example of who You are.
Refurbish our souls that we are a better representative of Your love and persona.
Speak to us and use us like never before. Ready us to be able to carry out such an assignment that we don’t fail You before the people; but we bring glory and honor to your name.
Shape our relationship with You to Your pleasing and sharpen our spiritual tools.
Give us kingdom relationships and devine connections. Let our lives shine in Your purpose.
In Jesus’ name ❣️ Amen
Secret Place of the Most High 