Bird's-eye view
The third chapter of 1 Samuel marks a pivotal transition in the life of Israel. The priesthood under Eli has become corrupt and spiritually inert, a true picture of institutional decay. His sons are scoundrels, and Eli himself is old, fat, and blind, both physically and spiritually. Into this darkness, God prepares to speak a new word, but He does not address the compromised leadership. Instead, He sovereignly chooses to reveal Himself to a young boy, Samuel. This chapter is the story of that call, a narrative that sets the stage for the end of the line of the judges and the beginning of the prophetic office, which will eventually lead to the monarchy. It is a story about how God preserves His purposes and His people, even when the appointed leadership has utterly failed. It is a story about learning to distinguish the voice of God from the voices of men.
The central theme is revelation. In a time when direct communication from God was rare, God breaks His silence. The narrative carefully contrasts the spiritual dullness of the old priest Eli with the spiritual awakening of the boy Samuel. Samuel is obedient and willing, but inexperienced; he does not yet "know" the Lord in this personal, revelatory way. It takes the persistent call of God and the dawning discernment of the failing Eli to connect the boy to the voice of his Creator. The passage culminates in Samuel being instructed in the fundamental posture of a true servant of God: humility and a readiness to hear. "Speak, Yahweh, for Your slave is listening."
Outline
- 1. The Setting of Spiritual Famine (1 Sam 3:1-3)
- a. A Rare Word in Dark Times (v. 1)
- b. A Blind Priest in a Darkening Room (vv. 2-3)
- 2. The Persistent Call of God (1 Sam 3:4-9)
- a. The First Call and Misunderstanding (vv. 4-5)
- b. The Second Call and Continued Confusion (v. 6)
- c. The Reason for Samuel's Ignorance (v. 7)
- d. The Third Call and Eli's Discernment (v. 8)
- e. The Instruction for Receiving God's Word (v. 9)
Commentary
1 Samuel 3:1
Now the young boy Samuel was ministering to Yahweh before Eli. And word from Yahweh was rare in those days; visions were infrequent.
We begin with the juxtaposition of faithful service and spiritual famine. Samuel, a boy dedicated to the Lord from birth, is doing his duty. He is "ministering to Yahweh," and he is doing it "before Eli." He is in the right place, under the established, albeit failing, authority. This is a picture of simple faithfulness in a dark time. And the times were very dark indeed. The narrator tells us plainly that the "word from Yahweh was rare." This is a terrifying spiritual condition. When God goes silent, it is a form of judgment. It is not that God has lost His voice, but rather that the people have become so deaf that He has ceased to speak. The pulpits, as it were, were empty. And because the word was rare, "visions were infrequent." Without the Word, there is no true sight. Israel was stumbling about, leaderless and without direction from Heaven. This is the baseline condition into which God is about to speak.
1 Samuel 3:2-3
And it happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to fade, and he could not see well), and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of Yahweh where the ark of God was,
The spiritual condition of Israel is embodied in its high priest. Eli is "lying down," passive and inert. The narrator adds a parenthetical note that is anything but incidental: his eyesight was failing. The man who was supposed to be the spiritual eyes of the nation could not see. This physical blindness was a direct reflection of his spiritual blindness. He could not see the wickedness of his sons, he could not see the judgment of God approaching, and as we will see, he could not initially discern the voice of God. But in the midst of this decay, there is a grace note. "The lamp of God had not yet gone out." This lamp in the tabernacle was supposed to burn continually, a symbol of God's abiding presence. Though the leadership was failing, God had not entirely abandoned His house. The light was flickering, but it was still there. And right there, in the holy place, near the Ark of the Covenant itself, was Samuel. He was sleeping at the very epicenter of God's covenant presence on earth. Proximity matters. God was about to speak from His throne, and His chosen vessel was right there.
1 Samuel 3:4-5
that Yahweh called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.” Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; go back, lie down.” So he went and lay down.
Into the silence, God speaks. The initiative is entirely His. He calls the boy by name: "Samuel!" This is a personal, specific, and sovereign call. Samuel's response is immediate and commendable. "Here I am." He is awake, attentive, and ready to serve. His problem is not one of willingness, but of direction. He immediately "ran to Eli." He assumed the call came from the human authority he was accustomed to serving. This is a common mistake for young believers. We hear a stirring in our souls and assume it is the voice of a pastor, a parent, or some other human leader. We mistake the ultimate source. Eli, for his part, is oblivious. "I did not call." He sends the boy back to bed, unaware that Heaven is breaking into their midst. Samuel obeys and lies down again. He is dutiful, even in his confusion.
1 Samuel 3:6
Then Yahweh called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he answered, “I did not call, my son; go back, lie down.”
God is persistent. A true call from God is not a fleeting impression; it has staying power. He calls again, by name. And Samuel is also persistent in his obedience. He gets up again and goes to Eli again. His respect for Eli's office is unwavering. He is a model of a submissive servant. But he is still attributing the divine call to a human source. And Eli is still completely in the dark. He addresses Samuel as "my son," a term of affection, but his spiritual ears are just as clogged as his eyes are dim. He sends the boy away a second time.
1 Samuel 3:7
Now Samuel did not yet know Yahweh, nor had the word of Yahweh yet been revealed to him.
Here the narrator pauses to give us the theological key to the whole event. Why did Samuel not recognize the voice? It was because he "did not yet know Yahweh." This does not mean he was an unbeliever or an atheist. Of course he knew about Yahweh; he had been serving in His house his entire life. But this "knowing" is the deep, personal, experiential knowledge that comes from a direct encounter. It is the difference between reading a biography of the president and having him call you on the phone. The "word of Yahweh" had not yet been "revealed" to him. Revelation is an unveiling, a gift of grace where God pulls back the curtain and makes Himself known. Samuel had the religion, but he had not yet had the revelation. This was about to change.
1 Samuel 3:8
So Yahweh called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that Yahweh was calling the young boy.
The third time. In Scripture, the number three often signifies completeness and divine action. God's persistent call finally breaks through, not to Samuel, but to Eli. The old priest, dull as he was, finally puts the pieces together. The repeated call, the boy's insistence, the sacredness of the place, it all clicks. "Eli discerned that Yahweh was calling the young boy." In this moment of clarity, Eli functions as a true priest should. Though he himself cannot hear the voice, he recognizes its source and is able to guide another into God's presence. It is a moment of tragic nobility. The man being set aside by God becomes the instrument to usher in his own replacement.
1 Samuel 3:9
And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Yahweh, for Your slave is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Eli's instruction is perfect. He tells Samuel to return to his place and prepare himself. And he gives him the exact words to say. This is not a formula for demanding a conversation with God. It is a posture of absolute submission. First, acknowledge the speaker: "Speak, Yahweh." This recognizes the authority and covenant name of God. Second, acknowledge your position: "for Your slave is listening." The word is "slave" or "servant." It denotes total ownership. Samuel is not an independent contractor negotiating terms. He is a bondservant, and his only job is to listen and obey. This is the fundamental stance of every true prophet, and indeed, every true Christian. We do not come to God with our demands. We come with open ears, ready to receive His marching orders. Eli, the failed leader, teaches the new leader the most important lesson of all. Samuel, in his characteristic obedience, does exactly as he is told.
Application
This passage is a profound reminder that God often works outside of our established and respectable structures. When the institutional church becomes corrupt, deaf, and blind, God is more than capable of raising up a new voice from an unexpected place, even from a child in the sanctuary. It is a warning to all church leaders not to become an Eli, so comfortable in his position that he can no longer see or hear what God is doing.
For the individual believer, the central lesson is found in Eli's final instruction. Our relationship with God is defined by that posture: "Speak, Yahweh, for Your slave is listening." In an age that prizes self expression and speaking "your truth," the Bible calls us to be quiet and listen to the Truth. We must learn to distinguish the voice of God in His Word from the clamor of our culture, our own ambitions, and even the voices of well meaning but mistaken human authorities. True spiritual maturity begins not when we start talking to God, but when we finally learn how to listen.