1 Samuel 3, according to the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, tells the story of Samuel’s calling by God. In this chapter, Samuel is a young boy serving under Eli the priest at the sanctuary in Shiloh.
As the chapter begins, Samuel is sleeping when he hears a voice calling his name. Thinking it is Eli, he goes to Eli and asks what he wants. Eli tells Samuel that he did not call him and instructs him to go back to bed. This happens three times, and finally, Eli realizes that it is God who is calling Samuel.
Eli advises Samuel to respond to God’s voice, saying, “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.” Samuel goes back to bed, and God calls him again, revealing a message to him. The Lord informs Samuel that He will bring judgment upon Eli’s house because of the sins of his sons. This is a significant revelation for Samuel, and he fears to tell Eli about it.
In the morning, Eli urges Samuel to reveal everything God told him, assuring him that he must not hide anything. Samuel conveys the message, and Eli accepts God’s judgment, acknowledging that the Lord is just.
1 Samuel 3 offers an insightful account of Samuel’s divine calling and the beginning of his prophetic ministry. To delve deeper into the context and significance of each verse, click the links below: