Hear I Am Series

Verse 7 might seem strange, but not when you compare it to verse 21 in this passage which we have yet to read. Samuel is simply a young boy and does not yet have the special relationship with God that he would enjoy in the future. God would certainly reveal himself to Samuel in the future and use him in mighty ways as a prophet and the last judge of Israel, but this passage is at the beginning.

I have no idea what Samuel was thinking or muttering the third time he was walking to Eli’s bed after hearing his name called. Perhaps Samuel thought Eli was losing his mind or it was a test to see if he would come or maybe a dirty trick. In any case, in verse 8 God calls Samuel again. He comes to Eli. It is now apparent to Eli that something is going on because he is not calling Samuel and Samuel is not one for fanciful things (I am making that assumption).

Eli instructs Samuel in a liturgical and proper way to speak to God. He tells him to say, “'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening” (verse 9). This response is based on three thoughts. First, it acknowledges that it is God who is speaking and calling out to him. Second, the response rightly confesses that Samuel is the servant of the Lord. Third, it confesses the attitude that Samuel has to listen to what God has to say. None of these are a given… when God calls out… Samuel must acknowledge that it is God, humble himself, and be willing to listen.

As we look at this passage, I think we have to acknowledge that there are many voices out there in the world that want to talk to us. I am speaking metaphorically in that TV, movies, and music are a voice in our lives which tell us what to do, what to buy, how we should look, etc. Music is quite sinister in that we can adopt a world view while we sing along and don’t even realize it. Those voices are certainly there. There are also voices from teachers and coaches and friends and even the parents of friends. Voices exist in the world apart from God’s. 1 John 4:1 says, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Satan peddles a lot of garbage and false ideals in our world. We need to be careful. For Samuel, the High Priest confirms that God is speaking to him and so he trusts the message.

NARRATIVE & BACKGROUND FROM 1 SAMUEL 3:11-14

“And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of 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 made themselves contemptible, 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.'’

God’s message to Samuel is one that is not happy. Eli has led Israel well, but his biological sons are contemptible and sinful men who are maligning God by their sinful actions as priests. Eli neither stopped them nor confronted them and so the judgment of God will come upon Eli and his two sons. In the end, Eli and his sons are leading the people away from God rather than towards God.