1 Samuel 3:17-21: a reflection

17He said, “What is the thing that he has spoken to you? Please don’t hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he spoke to you.” 18Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him. He said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.” 19Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. 21The LORD appeared again in Shiloh; for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the LORD’s word.

God has given the boy Samuel a hard message about the judgment coming on Eli's house; and Eli asks Samuel to tell him everything, hiding nothing. So Samuel tells him all of it, the whole hard word, holding nothing back. And Eli's response is remarkable: It is the LORD; let him do what seems good to him. Samuel spoke the hard truth honestly, and Eli received it with submission to God's will.

Notice both Samuel's honesty and Eli's submission. Samuel, though young, did not soften or hide the hard word God had given, but told it fully, honestly, even though it was painful. And Eli, hearing this hard word of judgment against his own house, did not rage or despair, but submitted: it is the LORD; let him do what seems good to him. He bowed to God's will, trusting God's goodness even in a word that fell heavily on him.

Both responses are worth learning. There is a place for the honesty Samuel showed, telling the truth even when it is hard, not softening or hiding it out of fear. And there is a grace in Eli's submission, receiving even a hard word from God with the trust that says, it is the LORD; let him do what seems good. When you must speak a hard truth, do it honestly, as Samuel did, not hiding it out of fear. And when God's word or God's will falls hard on you, receive it as Eli did, with submission, saying, it is the LORD; let him do what seems good. Both the courage to speak hard truth and the grace to submit to God's will, even when it is painful, are marks of a heart yielded to God; ask him for both.

Lord, when you gave young Samuel a hard word about the judgment coming on Eli's house, Samuel told Eli everything honestly, hiding nothing; and Eli received it with submission, saying, it is the LORD; let him do what seems good to him. Teach me from both responses. There is a place for the honesty Samuel showed, telling the truth even when it is hard, not softening or hiding it out of fear. And there is a grace in Eli's submission, receiving even a hard word from you with the trust that says, it is the LORD; let him do what seems good. When I must speak a hard truth, help me do it honestly, as Samuel did, not hiding it out of fear. And when your word or your will falls hard on me, help me receive it as Eli did, with submission, saying, it is the LORD; let him do what seems good. Give me both the courage to speak hard truth and the grace to submit to your will, even when it is painful; for both are marks of a heart yielded to you. Make my heart yielded to you, Lord.