We find ourselves in the dim-lit sanctuary of Shiloh, watching young Samuel lie down to sleep near the ark of God. In those days the word of the LORD was rare, and visions were uncommon. Samuel, still learning the rhythms of worship and duty under Eli the priest, is growing in faith but has yet to know how closely God watches over His own. As we enter this quiet hour, there’s a sense of stillness—an expectancy that something profound might break through the ordinary hush of night.
Suddenly, Samuel hears a voice calling his name. He springs up and rushes to Eli, assuming it must have been the old priest: “Here I am; you called me,” he says. Eli, whose eyesight has grown dim and whose hearing has grown accustomed to the rhythms of the tabernacle, tells him, “I did not call; go lie down again.” So Samuel returns to his bed. In that moment we sense the tension between human misunderstanding and divine persistence, as God’s voice cuts through the silence, calling for receptive ears.
The LORD calls again, and again Samuel runs to Eli with the same words. Each time Eli’s response is patient but firm: “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” In those repeated calls we see a pattern that mirrors our own struggles to discern God’s voice—so familiar are our own patterns of thought and routine that we may mistake divine whispers for something else. Eli begins to perceive what is happening. He realizes that God is speaking to the boy and instructs Samuel: “If you are called, say, ‘Speak, LORD; for your servant is listening.’”
That simple, obedient reply transforms Samuel’s posture from confusion to readiness. When the LORD calls a third time, Samuel answers exactly as Eli instructed: “Speak, LORD; for your servant is listening.” And God begins to speak. He shares a message of judgment against Eli’s household, declaring that because Eli’s sons have treated the offerings and the tabernacle with contempt—and because Eli failed to restrain them—a curse will fall on his lineage. We shudder as we hear the weight of those words, recalling how seriously God’s holiness demands integrity from those who minister in His name.
Samuel is afraid to tell Eli the full vision, but Eli insists, “Tell me all that the LORD has said to you. Do not hide a thing from me.” So Samuel recounts every detail. Even as the prophecy of doom settles over the old priest, Eli responds with remarkable faith: “He is the LORD; let him do what seems good to him.” Eli’s posture reminds us that when we face hard words from God, our trust must rest not in our own understanding but in His sovereign goodness—even when we cannot see the outcome. It’s a testimony to the same truth we find in Jeremiah 1:5, where God declares He knew the prophet before forming him, and in the painful moments still carries out His purpose faithfully.
As the chapter closes, Samuel continues to grow, and the LORD is with him, allowing none of his words to fall to the ground. Word of his prophetic calling spreads throughout Israel, and all who hear it recognize that Samuel is confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. We see here the spark of a new era—a transition from the failed priesthood of Eli’s sons to the faithful ministry of Samuel. In Samuel’s obedient response, we glimpse the echo of Isaiah’s “Here am I; send me,” as God raises up servants who answer His call without reserve.
Samuel’s story invites us to consider how we listen for God’s voice in our own lives. We may not hear a direct word in the night, but God still speaks through Scripture, through prayer, and through the wise counsel of mentors. Like Samuel, we are called to respond with humility and readiness: “Speak, LORD; for your servant is listening.” And even when the message is difficult, we can take comfort in the truth that God’s ways are higher than ours, and His purposes will stand (Isaiah 55:9).
As we reflect together, a few key takeaways emerge:
- God’s voice often comes in unexpected moments, calling us out of routine into deeper relationship.
- Discerning His call requires patience, humility, and the guidance of those with spiritual wisdom.
- Even when His words bring correction or hardship, we can trust in His sovereign goodness and faithfulness.
Samuel’s first encounter with divine calling marks the beginning of a life wholly dedicated to God’s service—and it reminds us that our own moments of hearing and obedience are the foundation for all that the LORD will accomplish through us.