* Story taken from 1 Samuel Chapter 2, KJV *
Samuel, the prophet of the Old Testament, left his mother and father when he was about three years old. His mother hadn’t been able to have children for many years. She made a promise to the Lord: if he granted her a son, she would hand the boy over to the Lord.
Hannah kept her promise. When Samuel was about three years old Hannah took him to the priest Eli and gave him up. For many years Samuel learned from Eli, and ministered to the Lord.
Eli was growing old and, as happens sometimes even with grownups, wasn’t doing everything he should. He had two sons of his own who had grown up to be wicked men. They stole food from the priests, corrupted some of the sacrifices made to the Lord, and convinced good people to do very wicked things.
A messenger from the Lord came to Eli to tell him of the wickedness of his sons, as well as what would happen to them all because Eli didn’t discipline them. Eli, however, didn’t really listen.
One night after everyone had gone to bed, Samuel heard a voice call out his name. He went into Eli and said, “Here am I.”
Eli told Samuel he had not called out and to go back to bed.
A second time Samuel heard someone say, “Samuel.” Again he thought it was Eli and went in to say, “Here am I.”
Like before Eli told Samuel he had not called out and told the boy to go back to bed.
This happened a third time. Both Samuel and Eli might have been a bit frustrated with each other by this time, yet Samuel still went in and said, “Here am I; for thou didst call me.”
This time Eli realized what was happening. He told Samuel to go back to bed, and if he heard his name called once more he should say, “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.”
Samuel went back to bed. This time when he heard his name called, Samuel said, “Speak; for thy servant heareth.”
The Lord then began to tell Samuel many things that had already been told to Eli. This worried Samuel, and he didn’t want to tell Eli any of it. Yet Eli pressed Samuel to tell him every word, and this time Eli really listened.
Grownups aren’t always good at listening to the Spirit of the Lord, but sometimes kids aren’t good at it either. We all need to live righteously to keep the Holy Ghost close to us. If we do this we will be ready to answer, “Speak; for thy servant heareth” when our own name is called.
Samuel showed real bravery in telling Eli the things the Lord said. It’s not always easy to do what the Lord asks, but even as a child Samuel knew it was important.
Though Eli didn’t want to listen the first time around, he really listened when Samuel spoke to him. Instead of becoming angry, Eli recognized what he’d done in letting his sons do wicked things and submitted to the Lord’s will.
