1 Samuel 3 ~ And the Lord called again

1 Samuel 3 ~ Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place; 3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down within the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4

Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”

Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the Lord came and stood forth, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for thy servant hears.” 11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel, at which the two ears of every one that hears it will tingle. 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 And I tell him that I am about to punish his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering for ever.”

15 Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16 But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” 17 And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.”

19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. 21 And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

How you take the Word from the Lord.

A believer Believes.
A confusion is asked about.
God will not reexplain if He knows HE is understood because this is HIS Plan and His Plan only involves His understanding.
God isn't going to be talked out of His Plan.
Unless you are Hezekiah and you petition HIM in a life time of believing Him and putting Him first.

And you have to wonder about Eli. Eli had a life time of putting God first. Believing God. Abraham wrested God for the lives of the innocent. Why didn't Eli weep, ask God as Abraham did - why were his beloved children - shrugged over?

Abraham believed God would deliver Issac and did not argue as he did for saving 10 people. Perhaps Eli believed God would do that for compliance. Hezekiah would later shrug over his children being in times of war when he was at peace.

I vastly prefer a more honest approach to God our Father.

2 Kings 20
In those days Hezeki′ah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order; for you shall die, you shall not recover.’”

2 Then Hezeki′ah turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in thy sight.” And Hezeki′ah wept bitterly. 4

And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Turn back, and say to Hezeki′ah the prince of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you; on the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord."

God did not richly bless Eli. For a very important matter, when God is the prodigal Son's Father...

Malachi 4:6
"He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction."

Luke 1:17
And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Mark 1:3
"'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"

What we expect from a Loving Father GOD is very important. Eli did recognize God is Love, yet God loved Abraham for asking for Mercy.

Father GOD we pray You would bless us in the fulfilling of Your Word. We pray Love, Hope, Joy, Peace, Prosperity. We ask for blessings to reign upon those doing Your Will. Thank You for answered prayer. You always answer faithful prayer. And we Praise You because you continually do that. In the Glory of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †


<><