1 Samuel 3:1–10

The young man Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. ²At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. ³The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. ⁴Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” ⁵and 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. ⁶And 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.” ⁷Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. ⁸And 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 young man. ⁹Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. ¹⁰And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” (ESV)

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These days we seem unable to put the energy of our mind for purposeful hearing.  With so many distractions, cell phones, internet, work, driving, television, and a new puppy, our minds dart from one thing to another.  Perhaps we are just bored with the worthwhile stuff in life that ought to receive our eager attention.  That may be one reason why we fail to do the kind of hearing we should be doing in the presence of God.  We fail to hear with our hearts so that we keep and follow when God calls us.

Under the priest Eli, “The Word of the Lord was rare in those days” (1b).  So, it makes sense that Samuel did not recognize the voice of the Lord, three times, thinking it to be the voice of Eli (cf. 4, 6, 8).  The reason young Samuel did not yet know the Lord, was because “the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him” (7). The most important need for all people is not food and drink, it is to know the Lord. 

To know the voice of God we must go to the place where He speaks and not someone else doing the talking.  Reading the Holy Bible is where we learn to recognize His voice. It is the very Word of God.  Saint Paul writes in Romans fifteen verse four, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction.”   Therefore, we ought to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the precious voice of the Good Shepherd who “lays down His life for the sheep” (cf. John 10:11).   

Yet, the Lord has not left us without a human voice to speak under His authority and in His name.  Jesus is clear, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me” (John 13:20).  Through those who, like “the young man Samuel” (1), are called to His service, we hear the Lord’s absolution spoken in the name of the Holy Trinity.  The world needs to hear the message of salvation and hope which is found in Christ Jesus alone.  All Christians are called to witness the truth of who Jesus is, and everything He has done for us in wherever God puts you—in your home, your school, your workplace, your neighborhood.  Because “He Himself”, Saint Peter proclaims, “bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.  By His wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).  Jesus shed His holy, innocent blood on the cross to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  He lived and died and rose alive from the dead for us and for all the world.  He entered the tomb that was meant for us, but the grave could not hold Him and on Easter morning, the stone was rolled away with the glorious message, “Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!”

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