Samuel thought Eli called but he hadn't 1 Word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to Samuel 7 Samuel told to respond if the Lord called again 9 The Lord came again and stood and called; Samuel responded 10 Samuel told that Eli's family would be punished 11 Eli wanted to know and Samuel told him 15 Samuel recognized as a prophet; The Lord spoke to him 19 |
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| .1
¶ And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the
word of the LORD was precious [rare] in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; .3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. 6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. |
1 -
No
open vision Literally, "no vision breaking forth." In the time
of wickedness, God did not speak.
3 - Ere the lamp of God went out Or "The lamp of God had not gone out." (MKJV). Apparently the prophet was using figurative language to say that, although visions had not been given and the light of the Holy Spirit was about to go out, God would keep the flame going by speaking to a youth. It's also possible that Samuel was to watch to see that all seven lamps of the candlestick kept burning and the lack of divine instruction was like lamps about to go out. See on le2403 and context. 4 - The Lord called The Lord would speak many more times to His messenger, Samuel. |
| .7
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD
yet revealed unto him.
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. |
8 - Called ... again Eli, the high priest, realized that the Lord was speaking to Samuel and not to himself yet the old man accepted the situation calmly and in faith. How many, even in Church offices, push their own interests. |
| .9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. | 9 - Speak Lord May this be our prayer, too. He speaks mostly by His inspired word. |
| .10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. | - |
| .11
¶ And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel,
at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. 14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. |
Samuel "The burden of [the Lord's message] was an extraordinary premonition of the judgments that impended over Eli's house; and the aged priest, having drawn the painful secret from the child, exclaimed, "It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good." Such is the spirit of meek and unmurmuring submission in which we ought to receive the dispensations of God, however severe and afflictive. But, in order to form a right estimate of Eli's language and conduct on this occasion, we must consider the overwhelming accumulation of judgments denounced against his person, his sons, his descendants--his altar, and nation. With such a threatening prospect before him, his piety and meekness were wonderful. In his personal character he seems to have been a good man, but his sons' conduct was flagrantly bad; and though his misfortunes claim our sympathy, it is impossible to approve or defend the weak and unfaithful course which, in the retributive justice of God," (JfB) |
| .15
And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of
the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. .17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. 18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good. |
15
- Samuel feared The true prophetic voice is generally not
appreciated.
18 - It is the Lord Eli knew that he was guilty by neglect. |
| .19
¶ And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of
his words fall to the ground.
.20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. 21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. |
19
- None ... fall Samuel was apparently yet a boy when called
to the prophetic ministry.
21 - Appeared again The divine presence is absent where it is unappreciated. |
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