In this chapter, the Lord expresses His plans for Eli and his family to Samuel, and Samuel grows up and becomes the voice of the Lord. The chapter begins, “Meanwhile, the boy Samuel was serving the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon. One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had just gone to bed. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God. Suddenly, the Lord called out, “Samuel! Samuel!”
“Yes?” Samuel replied, “What is it?” He jumped up and ran to Eli, “Here I am. What do you need?” “I didn’t call you, “ Eli replied. “Go on back to bed.” So he did. Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!” Again Samuel jumped up and ran to Eli. “Here I am, he said. “What do you need?” “I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go on back to bed.” Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. (Are we not hearing God’s voice in our own lives because, we too, don’t know the Lord?) So now the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel jumped up and ran to Eli, “Here I am,” he said. “What do you need?”
Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, “Yes, Lord, your servant is listening.”” So Samuel went back to bed. And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Yes, your servant is listening.”
Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family. I have warned him continually that judgment is coming for his family, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn’t disciplined them. (Wow! What has God been warning us about that we have not yet done?)
So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.” (1Samuel 3:1-14) Does God’s forgiveness require some change or movement on our part? Is God saying that simple religious acts and procedures, like the ritual of sacrifices and offerings not good enough for His forgiveness?
The text continues, “Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then got up and opened the doors of the Tabernacle as usual. He was afraid to tell Eli what the Lord had said to him. But Eli called out to him, “Samuel, my son.” “Here I am,” Samuel replied. “What did the Lord say to You? Tell me everything. And may God punish you if you hide anything from me!” So Samuel told Eli everything; he didn’t hold anything back. “It is the Lord’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.” (1 Samuel 3:15-18) Nice! Look at the maturity of Eli…recognizing that God’s way may not be ours, and, ultimately, understanding that God knows best.
The chapter ends with the people of Israel knowing that Samuel was a prophet of the Lord because as he grew up, the Lord was with him and everything he said was wise and helpful. “The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle. And Samuel’s words went out to all the people of Israel.” (1 Samuel 3:21)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us hear, listen, and act on your counsel, direction, guidance, and warnings so we never go without your forgiveness. And help us get to know you through your Word, so that we hear your voice. We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
Comentários