1 Samuel Chapter 3

The Call of Samuel

¹ The boy Samuel continued to serve the LORD with Eli. A message from the LORD rarely came at that time; visions weren’t frequent. ² Eli was lying down. (His eyesight had gotten bad.) ³ The LORD’s lamp hadn’t gone out yet, and Samuel was lying down in the Tabernacle where the Ark of God was. ⁴ The LORD called out to him. He said, “Yes?” ⁵ He ran to Eli and said, “You called.” But he said, “I didn’t call; lie back down.” So he went and lay down. ⁶ The LORD called out again, “Samuel.” He got up and went to Eli, “You called.” But he answered, “I didn’t call you, son; lie back down.” ⁷ Samuel didn’t know the LORD yet, and the LORD hadn’t revealed a message to him before. ⁸ The LORD called out to him the third time. He got up and went to Eli, “You called.” Eli surmised that the LORD was calling the boy. ⁹ He told him, “Go lie down. If he calls you, say, ‘Yes, LORD; I’m listening.’” So he went and lay down.

1 Sam 3:1-9

¹⁰ The LORD came and stood and called out like before, “Samuel!”

He said, “Yes, LORD, I’m listening.”

¹¹ He said,

“I’m about to do something in Israel that will make everybody’s ears ring. ¹² I’ll carry out against Eli everything I’ve said about his house from beginning to end. ¹³ I told him I’m about to condemn his house forever for the sin he knew about. His sons have brought a curse on themselves, and he didn’t restrain them. ¹⁴ I’ve sworn to his house that sacrifice and offering won’t atone for its great sin.”

¹⁵ Samuel lay down till morning. He opened the doors of the LORD’s Tabernacle, but he was afraid to tell Eli about the vision.

¹⁶ Then Eli called him.

¹⁷ “What did he say? Don’t hold it back from me. God do so to you and more if you keep back anything he said.”

¹⁸ Samuel told him everything.

“It’s the LORD. Let him do what he thinks is right.”                                        

¹⁹ Samuel grew, the LORD was with him, and didn’t let any of his message fail. ²⁰ Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew he was confirmed as a prophet for the LORD. ^21[4:1]The LORD appeared again at Shiloh and revealed himself to Samuel in a message.

1 Sam 3:10-21