June 18, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 1 Samuel and Mark? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Samuel 3 (NIV)
The Lord Calls Samuel
1 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.…..Continue Reading
This was like Samuel’s first personal encounter with God. He was obviously faithful and obedient when it came to his responsibilities and to Eli, however, he didn’t recognize God’s voice right away. Until we come to a personal relationship with God it can be easy to overlook or misunderstand God’s voice in our lives. Eli recognizes it and explains it to Samuel and then he hears God for the first time. Unfortunately, he is given bad news for Eli and his family, which I am sure Samuel cares about and is understandably scared to give him. Samuel, again directed by Eli, is faithful and shares what God has said and begins a ministry of hearing and speaking God’s words to His people.
1 Samuel 3
What a picture of someone at the beginning of their journey with God who doesn’t know what is happening, and someone at the end of their journey and does know what is happening, but God is not speaking to him. How sad for Eli who was the one responsible for the light and voice of God to become less because he did not address his sons to stop them from doing what they were doing. And it is sad that Eli knows that God acts in this way and knows what to say, but God is using another instrument. And God will always do that when someone who is supposed to carry the mantle of God and doesn’t. But Samuel is the guy and as a young boy is introduced to the ways of God and his reputation grows because of it.
1 Samuel 3
”Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”“
I Samuel 3:10 NKJV
It is interesting how God is personified here as standing and calling Samuel.