1 Samuel 3
God calls young Samuel
Ages 8 to 11
The account
Samuel was serving the LORD under Eli. In those days, messages from the LORD were rare. One night Eli was lying down, and Samuel was lying in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
The LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered and ran to Eli because he thought Eli had called him. Eli said he had not called and told Samuel to lie down again. This happened a second time. Then it happened a third time. Eli understood that the LORD was calling the child. He told Samuel that, if the voice called again, Samuel should answer that the LORD's servant was listening.
The LORD came and called Samuel again. Samuel answered. God gave him a serious message about Eli's family. Eli's sons had done wrong, and Eli had known about it but had not stopped them. God said judgment would come upon Eli's house.
Samuel lay down until morning. He was afraid to tell Eli what God had said. Eli called him and asked him not to hide the message. Samuel told him everything. Eli accepted that the message was from the LORD.
Samuel continued to grow. The LORD was with him and let none of his words fail. People throughout Israel came to know that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. The LORD continued to reveal himself to Samuel at Shiloh by his word.
Memory verse
And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
1 Samuel 3:10
Talk about it
- Who did Samuel think was calling him at first?
- What did Eli understand after Samuel came to him three times?
- What did Samuel do when Eli asked him about God's message the next morning?
Try this
Make four small paper cards and write "first call," "second call," "third call" and "fourth call" on them. Put the cards in order, then act out Samuel going to Eli three times and finally answering the LORD.
What can we learn?
This account can teach us to listen carefully before deciding what is happening. It also shows that telling the truth can matter even when the truth is difficult to say.
Ages 12 to 15
The account
Samuel was still a child serving the LORD under Eli. The account opens by explaining that the word of the LORD was precious in those days and that there was no open vision. That means this was a time when messages from God were not common. Eli was growing old, and his eyesight had become dim.
One night Eli was lying in his place. Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Before the lamp of God had gone out, the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered and hurried to Eli, thinking the priest had called him. Eli said he had not called and sent Samuel back to bed.
The same thing happened again. Samuel heard his name, ran to Eli, and was told that Eli had not called him. The passage explains that Samuel did not yet know the LORD in this way, because the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. When the LORD called a third time, Samuel again went to Eli. This time Eli understood that the LORD was calling the child. He instructed Samuel how to answer if the call came again.
The LORD came, stood, and called Samuel again. Samuel answered as Eli had instructed him. God then gave Samuel a difficult message. Judgment was coming upon Eli's house because of the wrongdoing of his sons. Eli knew about their iniquity, yet he had not restrained them. The message was serious, and Samuel remained in bed until morning.
When morning came, Samuel opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli about the vision. Eli called him and insisted that Samuel tell him everything. Samuel did so and hid nothing. Eli replied that it was the LORD and accepted that God would do what seemed good to him.
From there, the account shows Samuel growing into his calling. The LORD was with him and did not let his words fall to the ground. From Dan to Beersheba, Israel recognized that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. The LORD continued to appear in Shiloh and revealed himself to Samuel by the word of the LORD.
Memory verse
And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
1 Samuel 3:10
Think about it
- Why does the account begin by saying that the word of the LORD was rare in those days?
- What does Samuel's repeated running to Eli show about what Samuel first understood?
- Why do you think Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the message the next morning?
- What does the end of the chapter show about the change in Samuel's place among the people of Israel?
Going deeper
This chapter marks the beginning of Samuel's recognized work as a prophet. Later he leads Israel, speaks God's word to the people and anoints Israel's first kings. The closing lines of 1 Samuel 3 connect the boy who once did not recognize the call with the prophet whom all Israel came to recognize.
What can we learn?
A lesson from this account is that learning to recognize what is true may take patience and help from someone more experienced. Samuel also shows that faithfulness can include carrying a difficult message accurately instead of changing it to make the moment easier.