1 Samuel 3

CHAPTER 3

The Lord Calls Samuel (3:1–21)

1–3 Samuel was probably about the age of twelve when the Lord called him. Because of the poor spiritual condition of Israel at that time (and also because of the evil behavior of Eli’s sons), God was not speaking much with His people nor sending them visions (divine revelations). So when God did call Samuel, neither Samuel nor Eli recognized that it was God speaking! But God was patient. Israel was in great need of a true prophet, and Samuel had been chosen by God to be that prophet.

Samuel was lying down in the temple (tabernacle) where the ark of God was located (Exodus 25:10–22); it was nighttime. The lamp of God—the golden lampstand (Exodus 25:31–40)—was still burning; the lamp was put out only after dawn (Exodus 27:20–21).

4–9 Three times the Lord called Samuel, and each time Samuel thought it was Eli calling. The third time, Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling Samuel.¹⁸

The writer explains that Samuel did not yet know the LORD (verse 7). That is, Samuel had not yet heard the Lord speaking to him; he had not yet had a personal encounter with God.

10–14 The fourth time, the Lord came and stood there; perhaps Samuel could see Him as well as hear Him. As Eli had instructed, Samuel answered: “Speak, for your servant is listening”¹⁹ (verse 10). We would do well to follow Samuel’s example; what we usually say to the Lord is: “Listen, your servant is speaking”!²⁰

Then the Lord summarized the message that the man of God had given Eli earlier (1 Samuel 2:27–36). God’s JUIGMENT had fallen on Eli’s family (verse 14); their fault could never be atoned²¹ for by sacrifices or offerings (see Hebrews 10:26–27). The fact that the Lord was repeating to Samuel an earlier message showed that this was indeed a true revelation from Him.

15–18 In the morning Eli demanded to know what the Lord had spoken to Samuel. When Eli heard from Samuel the same prophecy that the “man of God” had given him earlier, he knew it must be true; and so he resigned himself to the Lord’s will (verse 18).

19–21 From that time on, Samuel became the Lord’s prophet. The Lord let none of [Samuel’s] words fall to the ground (verse 19)—that is, every prophetic word the Lord spoke through Samuel came true. All Israel from Dan to Beersheba—from north to south (Judges 20:1)—came to recognize that Samuel was indeed the Lord’s prophet²² (verse 20).