September 15, 2015 – I Samuel 3:3-5

One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had 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!”  “Yes?”  Samuel replied, “What is it?” He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am.  Did you call me?”  “I didn’t call you, ” Eli replied, “Go back to bed.”  So he did.  I Samuel 3:2-5As I, Samuel, lay down near the Ark of God to sleep.  I thought about how I came to live with Eli, the priest.  My Mother, Hannah, gave me to the Lord to serve Eli.  It took a lot of listening to understand what I must do each day.  So when I heard my name called one night, I went to Eli immediately ready to do whatever he needed.  But he sent me back to bed.The third time that night, Samuel heard his name called.  He obediently went to Eli.  “The Lord is calling you, Samuel!  Next time he calls, say, ‘Speak, your servant is listening.’What I didn’t know is that the Lord had something for me to do.  I grew up listening and obeying the Eli.  Then I listened to God.  I anointed two Kings – Saul when the people demanded a king.  I also anointed David, a young shepherd boy, the youngest son of Jesse according to the word from God.When Samuel died after a lifetime of serving the Lord, all Israel gathered for his funeral to honor him.  Samuel was a prophet of honor and obedience!Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!” Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.” Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” 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, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.  I Samuel 3:6-9