1 Samuel 3
3
“Speak, God. I’m Ready to Listen”
1-3The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli’s direction. This was at a time when the revelation of God was rarely heard or seen. One night Eli was sound asleep (his eyesight was very bad—he could hardly see). It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still in bed in the Temple of God, where the Chest of God rested.
4-5Then God called out, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Yes? I’m here.” Then he ran to Eli saying, “I heard you call. Here I am.”
Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” And so he did.
6-7 God called again, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel got up and went to Eli, “I heard you call. Here I am.”
Again Eli said, “Son, I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” (This all happened before Samuel knew God for himself. It was before the revelation of God had been given to him personally.)
8-9 God called again, “Samuel!”—the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, “Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am.”
That’s when it dawned on Eli that God was calling the boy. So Eli directed Samuel, “Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, ‘Speak, God. I’m your servant, ready to listen.’” Samuel returned to his bed.
10Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Speak. I’m your servant, ready to listen.”
11-14 God said to Samuel, “Listen carefully. I’m getting ready to do something in Israel that is going to shake everyone up and get their attention. The time has come for me to bring down on Eli’s family everything I warned him of, every last word of it. I’m letting him know that the time’s up. I’m bringing judgment on his family for good. He knew what was going on, that his sons were desecrating God’s name and God’s place, and he did nothing to stop them. This is my sentence on the family of Eli: The evil of Eli’s family can never be wiped out by sacrifice or offering.”
15Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then rose early and went about his duties, opening the doors of the sanctuary, but he dreaded having to tell the vision to Eli.
16But then Eli summoned Samuel: “Samuel, my son!”
Samuel came running: “Yes? What can I do for you?”
17“What did he say? Tell it to me, all of it. Don’t suppress or soften one word, as God is your judge! I want it all, word for word as he said it to you.”
18So Samuel told him, word for word. He held back nothing.
Eli said, “He is God. Let him do whatever he thinks best.”
19-21Samuel grew up. God was with him, and Samuel’s prophetic record was flawless. Everyone in Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, recognized that Samuel was the real thing—a true prophet of God. God continued to show up at Shiloh, revealed through his word to Samuel at Shiloh.
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1 Samuel 3: MSG
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.
1 Kings 3
3
1Now the child Samuel ministered to the Lord before Heli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days: there was no manifest vision.
2And it came to pass one day when Heli lay in his place, and his eyes were grown dim, that he could not see:
3Before the lamp of God went out, Samuel slept in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
4And the Lord called Samuel. And he answered: Here am I.
5And he ran to Heli and said: Here am I; for thou didst call me. He said: I did not call. Go back and sleep. And he went and slept.
6And the Lord called Samuel again. And Samuel arose and went to Heli, and said: Here am I; for thou calledst me. He answered: I did not call thee, my son. Return and sleep.
7Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord; neither had the word of the Lord been revealed to him.
8And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose up and went to Heli.
9And said: Here am I; for thou didst call me. Then Heli understood that the Lord called the child, and he said to Samuel: Go, and sleep. And if he shall call thee any more, thou shalt say: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and slept in his place.
10And the Lord came and stood. And he called, as he had called the other times: Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.
11And the Lord said to Samuel: Behold, I do a thing in Israel: and whosoever shall hear it, both his ears shall tingle.
12In that day I will raise up against Heli all the things I have spoken concerning his house: I will begin, and I will make an end.
13For I have foretold unto him, that I will judge his house for ever, for iniquity; because he knew that his sons did wickedly, and did not chastise them.
14Therefore have I sworn to the house of Heli, that the iniquity of his house shall not be expiated with victims nor offerings for ever.
15And Samuel slept till morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to tell the vision to Heli.
16Then Heli called Samuel, and said: Samuel, my son. And he answered: Here am I.
17And he asked him: What is the word that the Lord hath spoken to thee? I beseech thee hide it not from me. May God do so and so to thee, and add so and so, if thou hide from me one word of all that were said to thee.
18So Samuel told him all the words, and did not hide them from him. And he answered: It is the Lord. Let him do what is good in his sight.
19And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him: and not one of his words fell to the ground.
20And all Israel from Dan to Bersabee knew that Samuel was a faithful prophet of the Lord.
21And the Lord again appeared in Silo for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Silo, according to the word of the Lord. And the word of Samuel came to pass to all Israel.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.