Samuel began serving in the Lord’s temple as a small child after his mother Hannah gave him to the Lord. Being raised by priests sounds lonely, but there must have been advantages for the future prophet, or God would not have put Samuel there. There was training and education and so many kinds of servants and priests and rabbis and teachers and the sacrifices and the people worshipping—there was a rich pageant of constant activity for Samuel to take in. Surely it was a special, amazing childhood. But he did not yet know God’s voice:
“Now Samuel had not yet experienced the Lord, because the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him” 1 Samuel 3:7.
Samuel was doing well, “growing in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men” 2:26. But though he was growing, experiencing all the flavors of the Lord’s work at the temple, he did not yet know the voice of God. And that’s TOTALLY NORMAL: None of us know God’s voice until He chooses to reveal Himself.
One night Samuel heard his name, “Samuel, Samuel.” Three times he heard his name and three times he left his bed and went to Eli the priest saying, “Here I am; you called me.” After the third time, Eli realized what was going on and told Samuel to answer, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” 3:9.
Samuel lay down a third time and when God called his name he answered as instructed and the Lord gave him a powerful message of judgment against Eli and Eli’s family. (Interesting that God revealed Himself to Samuel first as One who punishes corrupt priests. Samuel’s life would include hard words for Eli, Saul, and others, and he was never afraid to speak those words.)
God, REVEAL yourself to us. May we “experience the Lord” as Samuel did—and help us know when our thoughts are ours alone and are NOT from you.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 