Samuel's Boy Witness

8A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

11And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 12At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God,^a and he failed to restrain them. 14Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’ ” (1 Samuel 3)

Thoughts: Hannah prayed for a son.  Eli, the high priest, falsely accused her of drinking too much wine because of her sad state.  The Lord was calling Samuel.  Ironically, Eli helped Samuel listen to the Lord-  but the words were doom for Eli and his godless and undisciplined family.  Samuel had to learn to listen.  Humility and listening are the very first steps in pursuing God.  "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening" are good words for all of us to say.  We may say it as we read scripture, for the Holy Spirit is still at work today. 

Prayer: Speak Lord, for I am your servant and I am listening today. 

Eli and Samuel