“One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A 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. 9 So 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. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3.2-10
Four times God called to Samuel before he understood. Samuel answered each time, but he did not realize it was the Lord speaking. It even took some time for the priest Eli to understand that it was God and not the boy’s imagination.
One night, as the lamp of the Lord was still burning, Samuel was lying down in the same building where God’s presence dwelled in the ark of the covenant—not a bad place to be. This is somewhat similar to when the disciples were in the boat with Jesus, who was sleeping. God’s presence was there in Christ.
But Samuel heard a voice, and in his eagerness, he got up and ran to Eli. “It wasn’t me,” the priest said (my own interpretation). So Samuel went and lay down. This happened again and again before the old priest remembered that God can still speak! Then he gave good advice to the young boy, saying, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'” And it happened again, and Samuel replied in kind, and God spoke to the boy.
How does God speak, and why does God speak to some and not others? I believe God wants to speak to all people. What prevents Him from speaking to everyone? Are we closed off? Do we shutter our souls against His voice? Are we wary of His voice, or are we afraid of what He might say?
In Samuel’s case, he had not yet encountered the Lord—”he did not yet know the Lord.” And so, he was unable to recognize His voice.
How, then, do we come to know the Lord? We submit, we believe, we pray, we ask for Christ to encounter us. We surrender our hearts to Him, believing that He has saved us and will forgive our sins. I met the Lord at the age of 17 at a summer camp, and from that point on, I knew His voice.
Perhaps today is the day to surrender, to listen, to submit. If you would like to know God’s voice, will you pray this prayer with me? “O Lord God, I confess that I am a sinner and believe that You died for me upon the cross. Come now, Holy Spirit, and fill me. Save me, Jesus, by Your blood. I give You my life and commit my ways to You. For You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen.
“O Lord God, thank You for Samuel. Thank You for speaking to us. Thank You for Eli, who knew Your voice and submitted to Your call. Come now, Holy Spirit, and fill us, take us, use us, and redeem us for Your glory. I love You, Lord, and praise Your name. For You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen.