The Boy Who Heard His Name

Samuel grew up at Shiloh, where Hannah brought him a little robe each year. Beside the account of the boy ministering before the LORD stands the account of Eli’s sons. Hophni and Phinehas were wicked men who had no regard for the LORD. Their conduct reached the Israelites who came there to sacrifice.

A priest’s servant plunged a three-pronged fork into the boiling meat and claimed whatever came up. Even before the fat was burned, he demanded raw meat for the priest. If the worshiper asked him to wait, the answer was a threat: “No, you must give it to me right now. If you refuse, I will take it by force!”

The account calls their sin severe in the sight of the LORD. Eli, now very old, heard what his sons were doing, including that they slept with the women serving at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He rebuked them, but they would not listen; the account says the LORD intended to put them to death. Meanwhile, Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with man.

In those days the word of the LORD was rare, and visions were scarce. Eli’s sight had grown dim, and he was lying in his room. Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying in the temple, where the ark of God was located. Then the LORD called him.

“Here I am.” Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” Eli said he had not called and sent him back to lie down. The boy returned to his place.

The LORD called again, and Samuel went to Eli again. “Here I am, for you have called me.” Eli answered, “My son, I did not call,” and told him to lie down. Samuel did not yet know the LORD; the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

A third call brought the boy to Eli with the same answer. This time Eli understood who was calling. He told Samuel to return to his place and answer the LORD if He called again. Samuel went and lay down.

Then the LORD came and stood there, calling, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” The message that followed concerned the house of the man to whom he had been running.

The LORD told Samuel that He would carry out everything He had spoken against Eli’s family. Eli knew his sons had blasphemed God and had not restrained them. The judgment announced against his house would be lasting, and its iniquity would never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering. Samuel lay down until morning with that message still to tell.

Then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him. “Samuel, my son.” The boy answered, “Here I am.”

“What was the message He gave you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God punish you, and ever so severely, if you hide from me anything He said to you.” Samuel told him everything and held nothing back.

“He is the LORD,” replied Eli. “Let Him do what is good in His eyes.” The man who had taught Samuel how to answer in the night had now heard the answer given to the boy. Samuel had spoken the hard message to him in full.

Samuel grew, and the account says the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. All Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, recognized him as a prophet of the LORD. The LORD continued to reveal Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by His word. The boy Hannah had brought there, named for what she had asked, now spoke to Israel the words he received.