God calls Samuel
1 ① The boy Samuel ministered to Yahweh under Eli’s care in a time in which the word of Yahweh was rarely heard; visions were not seen.
2One night Eli was lying down in his room, half blind as he was. 3The lamp of God was still lighted and Samuel also lay in the house of Yahweh near the ark of God. 4Then Yahweh called, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel answered, “I am here!” 5and ran to Eli saying, “I am here, did you not call me?” But Eli said, “I did not call, go back to sleep.” So he went and lay down.
6Then Yahweh called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel stood up and went to Eli saying, “You called me; I am here.” But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”
7Samuel did not yet know Yahweh and the word of Yahweh had not yet been revealed to him. 8But Yahweh called Samuel for the third time and, as he went again to Eli saying, “I am here for you have called me,” Eli realized that it was Yahweh calling the boy. 9So he said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you again, answer: “Speak, Yahweh, your servant listens.”
10Then Yahweh came and stood there calling as he did before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant listens.” 11Then Yahweh spoke to Samuel, “Look, I am about to do something in Israel which will scare everyone who hears about it. 12On that day I will carry out what I told Eli regarding his family. All will be fulfilled from beginning to end. 13For I told him that I was about to sentence his family forever. He himself knew that his sons were blaspheming God, but he did not stop them. 14This is why I have cursed the family of Eli. Their sin shall never be atoned for by sacrifice or by any offering.”
15Samuel lay down until morning and rose up early. Then he opened the doors of Yahweh’s house. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli, 16but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “I am here.” 17Eli asked, “What did Yahweh tell you? Do not hide it from me. Fear the punishment of God if you hide from me even one thing he told you.” 18So Samuel told him everything to the end and Eli said, “He is Yahweh. Let him do what seems good to him.”
19Samuel grew; Yahweh was with him and made all his words become true. 20All Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was really Yahweh’s prophet. 21Yahweh would appear at Shiloh; there he revealed himself to Samuel by giving him his word.
- 1 S 3,1 God's call to Samuel is personal and direct. The answer of the child Samuel prepares him for greater things. How seriously Eli, in spite of his age and function, regards Samuel! He knows that spiritual maturity has nothing to do with physical age and he accepts God's reproaches relayed through this boy. The Bible also underlines the responsibility of those who do not discipline their children. The father's duty to educate and correct his children, even by punishing them, instead of leaving them to do what they want, was taught in Israel. As the conscience of the child is not yet fully awake, the future liberty of the young person as a mature adult has to be ensured through the discipline of a Law. (See Sir 30; Gal 4 and commentary on Jdg 8:22.) The call of Samuel reminds us that every person has a vocation, i.e., that God calls individuals and destines them to accomplish their own irreplaceable tasks. In our society many are looked upon merely as work force and receive little appreciation. Since they have no duty or responsibility of which they can be proud, they rightly feel frustrated. They do not feel themselves called or needed for something big. So they lack one of the more important drives to build their future. In directing ones life, each one has to ask: What does God want of me?
