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Welcome to another installment of “Well That’s Interesting” (you can find the first post with a detailed explanation of the series here, or bookmark this page to keep track of the whole series).

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We’re back in the Old Testament this week, looking at a narrative that I have returned to many a time in personal devotions because I find it to be such an interesting blend of challenging, convicting, encouraging, and inspiring. And frankly, it’s just a captivating story. Specifically we’re going to be looking at the entirety of chapter 3 in the book of 1 Samuel, which I invite you to read. However I would suggest that if you want a clearer picture of what is going on here, take a few extra minutes and read chapters 1 and 2 as well. I’ll be referring to them, and when it comes to a story like this, it’s just helpful to know the beginning before jumping into the middle. To keep things organized, and as concise as possible with such a large text, we’re going to break it into four sections.

God Speaks (vv. 1–9)

In 1 Samuel 1, we read that Samuel was given as a gift from God to his mother Hannah, who up until that time had been barren. She had promised that if God gave her son, she would in turn give him up to the service of the LORD. She follows through on her promise in 1:28, giving Samuel to Eli, the priest, in the temple at Shiloh. Chapter 2 tells us that Samuel “was ministering before the LORD” (2:18), even as a young boy. Specifically, he is contrasted with Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were evil and consistently, intentionally disobeyed God’s laws. On the flip side, Samuel “was continuing to grow and to be in favor both with the LORD and with people” (2:26). In 2:27–36 Eli is told that his family will face severe consequences for his sons’ blatant disobedience. It is into this reality that chapter 3 starts off.

We are given some relevant information as sort of an introduction to this section:

Now the boy Samuel was attending to the service of the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days; visions were infrequent.

1 Samuel 3:1 NASB

This sets the scene: Samuel is still young, but he’s serving the LORD faithfully; and it was uncommon for people to receive direct messages from God. As we’ll see, both of these points are important going into vv. 2–9. Where in chapter 2, Samuel is contrasted with the unfaithful sons of Eli, here the young, willing, obedient boy is contrasted with the old, blind, imperceptive priest himself. God calls out to Samuel three times (vv. 4, 6, 8), and each time he diligently leaves his bed to attend to Eli, assuming the call was from him. This is the initiation to the theme of willingness to do whatever is required of him; a faithful obedience that is highlighted throughout this text.

Twice Eli sends Samuel back to bed without thinking any more on the matter, before finally, in the second half of verse 8 we read:

Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 

1 Samuel 3:8b NASB

What makes this realization so interesting to me is the contrast with Samuel that is emphasized in verse 7.

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him.

1 Samuel 3:7 NASB

The implication here is that Samuel didn’t recognize God’s voice because he had never heard it before. He didn’t know any better. He was young and being trained in the LORD’s service by Eli, the one who should have known better. Thankfully, although it took a while for him to get there, Eli does pass on helpful advice to Samuel, whose willing obedience is once again demonstrated in the next section.

Samuel Listens (vv. 10–14)

Then the LORD came and stood, and called as at the other times: “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

1 Samuel 3:10 NASB

Samuel follows Eli’s instructions and is rewarded with a message directly from the LORD (reminder, this was specifically noted as “rare in those days”). Unfortunately, as is the case with many of the prophets, his first revelation from God is not at all pleasant, and he is immediately given words that would be difficult to share with anyone, let alone his ailing mentor. God’s words reaffirms the message he gave to Eli in chapter 2 about the coming destruction of his family. Now, if you read chapter 2, you might find 3:13 to be a little strange, specifically the last phrase.

For I have told him that I am going to judge his house forever for the wrongdoing that he knew, because his sons were bringing a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them.

1 Samuel 3:13 NASB

What’s interesting is that in 2:22–25 we read that Eli does bring attention to the sins of his sons, calling them to at least some form of account. However the implication is that it was too little, too late, as 2:25 explains “But they would not listen to the voice of their father”. As the priest, who knew about his sons’ disobedient actions (2:22), he was responsible to do what he could to stop them from spitting in the face of God’s law. Again, the implication is that he did not live up to the responsibility of one in his situation. This emphasis is further driven home when in 3:14 God finishes his word to Samuel by saying that the sin of Eli’s family “shall never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.” You’ll note that while Leviticus 4 explains how the people were to atone for their unintentional sins, Eli’s sons’ intentional blasphemy and mockery of the sacrificial system was unatonable.

While this section can seem harsh, when it’s clear that Eli has at least some good things going for him, ultimately he is held to a high account and he failed in his responsibility as a priest and a father. Again, this isn’t to say that Eli is at fault for his son’s sin; but rather he is to blame for his own sin in that he did not do everything he could or should have to prevent such behaviour. Whether because of fear, laziness, apathy, or ignorance, he failed to have those tough conversations. Again, in contrast, let’s return to Samuel.

Samuel Speaks (vv. 15–18)

We read right away that Samuel was understandably afraid to tell Eli what the LORD told him. Yet even in the face of his fear, when he is called (this time actually by Eli) in verse 16, he responds dutifully. Any thought he may have had of avoiding the subject is quickly thrown out the window:

[Eli] said, “What is the word that He spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do the same to you, and more so, if you hide a single word from me of all the words that He spoke to you!”

1 Samuel 3:17 NASB

If nothing else, at least Eli emphasizes how important it is for Samuel to take all of God’s words seriously and declare them all fully. The irony is blinding.

Notice the comparison here: a young lad, new to the ministry, under the authority of Eli, who has to tell his mentor that he is going to be judged for his sin. Eli was a grown man, a priest, with authority over his sons, who ought to have addressed their sin. Yet where Eli fails and gives in to unwillingness (in at least some capacity), 3:18 tells us that Samuel was willing and “told him everything and hid nothing from him”. He demonstrates devoted obedience, sparing no detail, even in the face of a difficult and uncomfortable situation. He is willing to delve into discomfort for the sake of obedience, which once again emphasizes Eli’s choice to do the opposite.

When confronted with such a damning truth, Eli’s response is sobering.

And he said, “He is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him.”

1 Samuel 3:18b NASB

These are the words of one who knows where he stands before the LORD. One who is aware of God’s sovereignty and perfect holiness, yet also understands just how much he has fallen short. Another important lesson for the boy to witness, demonstrated as a living illustration through the failings of his mentor. All that’s left for us today is to see the results of Samuel’s faithfulness, as Eli continues to fade out.

God Blesses (vv. 19–21)

Now Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and He let none of his words fail. And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. 

1 Samuel 3:19–20 NASB

The result of Samuel’s obedience is blessing from God in the form of the opportunity to continue serving him faithfully as a prophet. I think of Jesus’ words in the book of Luke:

The one who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and the one who is unrighteous in a very little thing is also unrighteous in much.

Luke 16:10 NASB

Samuel demonstrated willingness, obedience, and faithfulness in the ways he served Eli, and even more-so in the way he served God. And God rewarded that faithfulness by entrusting him with more responsibility; a responsibility that brought with it the respect and acknowledgement of the whole land (3:20). But the kicker comes in the way that Samuel’s faithful willingness affects the people. Where 3:1 told us that words from the LORD were rare, implying that his presence and interaction with the people was distanced by their sin (specifically the sins of Eli’s family), the chapter ends with verse 21 telling us that “the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, because the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord”. One young person’s act of obedience brought blessing on the entire nation!

Why Does it Matter?

I’ve written more than once on this blog about passages that highlight the cost of disobedience. But what I love about this passage is while it definitely hits on that topic in the downfall of Eli and his family, it also really drives home what can happen when one is faithful, willing, and obedient. The start of Samuel’s life was miraculous, yet came at a cost. It would have been easy for him to grow up just as evil and unfaithful as Eli’s sons, whether through resenting his mother’s choice to dedicate him to the LORD, or simply because he was being trained by a faulty teacher. But this passage shows how God can work in and through us, despite the circumstances of our lives, if we are willing to give ourselves to him. It shows the blessings that can come when we put obedience before everything else, even our own comfort.

I want to end today with another question or two that I often ask myself after reading this text: If God were to call out to me today, would I be willing to follow? And am I even listening?