The
Book of First Samuel
Chapter 3
[1] And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD
before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no
open vision.
1) Call Of Scarcity (Vs
1)
Then led by Joshua & Judges (#14 Eli the
priest but God no longer will move through a priest)
But now Samuel is being trained as (judge #15
I Sam 7:15) and as a priest- prophet
It will be Samuel who will pour
the annointing oil on Saul & then David to be
king
The Word of the Lord was precious in those days-
Meaning it was scarce
The way the priests (Hophni
& Phineas) have corrupted things
The way of the people sinning in their
sacrifice and hard heartedness
It had ruined the relationship between man
& God and there was no open vision
[2] And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid
down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
[3] And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark
of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
[4] That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
[5] And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst
me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he
went and lay down.
[6] And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli,
and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he
answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
[7] Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet
revealed unto him.
2)
Call of Submission (Vs 2-7)
(V 2-3) Customary for the priest to maintain oil in the
lamp at the tabernacle to keep it burning (Ex27:20)
Eli, being old laid, his eyesight dim, laid down not
realizing the light of the lamp was about to go out
(V 4-5)The Lord spoke then to Samuel
Samuel heard a voice (audible or not he was impressed) but thought it was Eli (High Priest)
Samuel responds by running to Eli
(the High Priest) and saying “Here am I”
Eli replies that he did not call
for Samuel, but to go lie back down
(V 6-7)This happens again a second time
It is stated that Samuel, did not
yet know the Lord, nor was the word revealed unto him
Samuel, served in the
tabernacle and did not know God.......(Job 33:14)
It is possible to
attend church service after service and work for God but not know
Samuel, has not given his heart to the Lord (from the godliest home still must be saved)
[8] And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to
Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And
Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
[9] Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and
it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say,
Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went
and lay down in his place.
[10] And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel,
Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
3)
Call of Salvation (Vs 8-10)
Preacher may speak, parent, friends or the teacher may
speak BUT we need to hear God Speak!!
There comes a third call and all
circumstances continue as before except:
Eli perceives that the Lord has called the
child and advises as such
Samuel, if called upon again should say speak
Lord for thy servant heareth
In fact, the Lord
spoke again and “stood”, this time Samuel does as advised “Speak Lord
for thy servant heareth”
[11] And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in
[12] In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken
concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
[13] For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity
which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves
vile, and he restrained them not.
[14] And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of
Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
4)
Call of Sovereign God (Vs 11-14)
The Lord confirms to Samuel exactly what He had
communicated through the man of God to Eli
Judgment is coming because you honor your
sons more than I
When God says something is going to happen,
get ready. It will happen just as He said
[15] And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the
LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
[16] Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am
[17] And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray
thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more
also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
[18] And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth
him good.
5)
Call of Service (Vs
15-18)
Samuel opened the doors of the house of the Lord early
the next morning and fears to tell Eli the news
Eli calls for Samuel and charges the young man to tell
him the whole counsel of God (Acts20:26,27)
Samuel, a true man of God, does not change
the message but tells the “truth in love”
Eli knew this was the same as he was already
told and is now confirmed by three witnesses :
1) God 2) Man of God 3) Samuel
“In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall
everything be established” Deut 17:6 II Cor 13:1
[19] And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words
fall to the ground.
[20] And all
[21] And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to
Samuel in
6)
Call of Scripture (Vs
19-21)
Samuel grew and the Lord was with him.....And all of
And God appeared unto
Samuel again in
He appears to us today by His Word. Illuminating by His Spirit the
pages of the Scripture