SAMUEL: DEDICATED TO GOD

As a judge, Eli was OK, his sons not so OK, but young Samuel, left at the temple to grow up under the care of Eli, was coming along nicely.  And  in time,  Samuel was one of God's greatest prophets.  As the people clamored for a king, Samuel anointed Israel's first kings, yet his own sons, like Eli's, also turned away from God.


Very early in his life, Samuel ministered at the temple.  Every year his mother made him a little linen robe to wear before the Lord.  And the Lord was generous to her, as she had conceived five more times to birth three more sons and two daughters, as the boy Samuel grew in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men.


The Lord came again to Eli and Eli felt saddened to hear what God spoke. "I promised that your house would minister before me forever.  But those that despise me will be disdained, and I will cut short your strength and your sons will die on the same day.  But I will raise up for myself  a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind."  And Eli begged the Lord to appoint him to some priestly office so he could have food to eat. 


Now, in that day there were not many visions.  So one night, Eli, whose eyes were  becoming weak, while lying down in his usual place, had Samuel before him, saying, "Here I am."  But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."  So Samuel went and lay down.  Again the Lord called, "Samuel!"  And Samuel went to Eli and said, "Here I am, you called me!"  But, once again, Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down!"  


Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord personally.  The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.  And the Lord called Samuel yet a third time, and Samuel got up and went once again to Eli and said, "Here am I; you called me."  Then Eli realized the Lord was calling the boy. So, Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you again say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."  So Samuel went and lay down in his place.


The Lord came and stood  right where Samuel was sleeping, and he called as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"  And Samuel said, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."  And the  Lord said, "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.  At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family forever because of the sin he knew about his sons who made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them.  Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, 'The guilt of Eli's house will never  be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.' "  


The following morning Samuel opened the doors of the temple.  When Eli heard him, he called to Samuel to  ask him what the Lord had said.  Samuel hesitated and felt sad, yet he told him the truth.  Then Eli said, "He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes."


Study/  "God's chain of command is based on faith, not on age or position.  In finding faithful followers, God may use unexpected channels.  Be prepared for the Lord to work at any place, at any time, and through anyone he chooses." The study also says, "Eli had spent his entire life in service to God.  His responsibility was to oversee all the worship in Israel.  But in pursuing this great mission he neglected the responsibilities in his own home.  If we have a desire to do God's work, in order to hear his messages we must be ready to listen and to act upon what he tells us.  We must be ready to say, 'Here I am!' "


Here I am, Lord! I am listening!


Jo INMN