The LORD Speaks to Samuel
Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 1 Samuel 3:1-11. Samuel ministered to the LORD along with Eli. In that day the word of the LORD was precious. One night when Eli and Samuel went to bed Samuel heard a voice calling his name. He thought it was Eli, so he went to Eli and said, “Here am I.” Eli told Samuel that he didn’t call him and told him to go lay back down.
Samuel heard the voice calling him a second time and went back to Eli saying, “Here am I.” Eli told him that he didn’t call him. The third time this happened Eli realized that it may have been the LORD calling out to Samuel so he told Samuel to go lay back down and if the voice called out to him again to answer it saying, “Speak LORD, for thy servant heareth.”
Samuel was still a child. He didn’t know the LORD. But, Samuel lay back down and sure enough the LORD came and spoke to him again and Samuel answered Him as Eli had instructed. The LORD warned Samuel that He was going to do something major in Israel. He told Samuel that the ears of everyone who heard about it would tingle. Has the LORD ever spoke to you in the night?
Daily Bible Reading:
1 Samuel 3:1-11
1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
Things to think about:
- Can you imagine being a child and hearing a voice call your name in the night and not knowing who was calling? How do you think you would have felt?
- Why do you think it took Eli three times to realize it was God calling Samuel?
- What was Samuel’s response to Eli’s instruction?
- What was the LORD’s message?
Prayer of the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you for this story in the book of 1 Samuel where we learn that You spoke to Samuel, even as a child. Help us to listen for Your voice. Help us to answer the call as Samuel did. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
– This is an excerpt from our new release The Book of 1 Samuel: Prophets, Priests, and Kings
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Featured Book:
The Book of 1 Samuel: Prophets, Priests, and Kings
by Deborah H. Bateman
About the Book:
The Book of 1 Samuel: Prophets, Priests, and Kings by Deborah H. Bateman is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of 1 Samuel. This is the 31st book in the Daily Bible Reading Series. The book of 1 Samuel is found in the Old Testament of the Bible.
The Book of 1 Samuel not only discusses the life and call of Samuel as prophet but also includes events that happened during his lifetime. The people of Israel insisted on having a king and even though Samuel tried to warn them of the dangers of appointing a king, they insisted. So God chose Saul to be their king. A good portion of the book includes the events during the reign of King Saul including the ongoing rivalry between King Saul and David.
The Book of 1 Samuel: Prophets, Priests, and Kings contains 71 Daily Bible Reading Lessons. Each lesson consists of a commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer to go along with the lesson. This Bible study is great as a personal daily devotional or a group Bible study.
For those of you interested in Bible journaling, pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.
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Deborah
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