1 Samuel 3:1-5: a reflection

1The child Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. The LORD’s word was rare in those days. There were not many visions, then. 2At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see), 3and God’s lamp hadn’t yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down in the LORD’s temple where God’s ark was, 4The LORD called Samuel. He said, “Here I am.” 5He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He said, “I didn’t call. Lie down again.” He went and lay down.

This passage opens a famous scene: God's call to the boy Samuel. And it sets the stage with a telling detail: the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there were not many visions. It was a spiritually dry time, when God seemed silent. And yet, into that silence, God speaks, calling Samuel by name in the night. Samuel, not yet knowing the LORD's voice, mistakes it for Eli's, and runs to him; he has to learn, over the coming verses, to recognize who is calling.

Notice two things at the start of this scene. First, that God speaks even in a time when his word is rare, when he seems silent; the dryness of the age did not prevent God from calling Samuel. And second, that Samuel had to learn to recognize God's voice; at first he did not know it, and mistook it for a human one. God was speaking, but Samuel had to learn to hear him rightly, to know the voice that was calling.

Both are worth taking to heart. God is not silenced by dry seasons; even when his word seems rare and he seems far off, he may be speaking, calling. And learning to recognize his voice, to know his call and distinguish it, is something we grow into, as Samuel did, often through the help of others and over time. If you are in a season when God seems silent, do not assume he has stopped speaking; he called Samuel in just such a time. And ask him to help you recognize his voice, to know his call when it comes, as Samuel learned to know it. God speaks even in the dry seasons; be attentive, and learn, as Samuel did, to recognize the voice that calls you by name, and to answer, here I am.

Lord, this passage opens with God's call to the boy Samuel, in a time when your word was rare and visions were few; and yet into that silence you spoke, calling Samuel by name, though at first he did not know your voice and mistook it for Eli's. Help me take both to heart. You are not silenced by dry seasons; even when your word seems rare and you seem far off, you may be speaking, calling. And learning to recognize your voice, to know your call and distinguish it, is something I grow into, as Samuel did, often through the help of others and over time. If I am in a season when you seem silent, keep me from assuming you have stopped speaking; you called Samuel in just such a time. And help me recognize your voice, to know your call when it comes, as Samuel learned to know it. You speak even in the dry seasons; make me attentive, and help me learn, as Samuel did, to recognize the voice that calls me by name, and to answer, here I am. Speak, Lord, and help me to hear you.