1 Samuel 3

Living in a busy society like ours, I believe most of us do not have enough sleep. When it is time for us to sleep, our body system seem to “shut down” automatically when we landed on our beds, and in no time, our surroundings will fade into oblivion.

In today’s Bible reading chapter, we read that little Samuel was still so alert when it was time for him to sleep, or maybe he was already fast asleep. Were there worries in his little mind that kept him awake, or was he simply an alert and very dutiful little servant of the Lord?

Bible Passage: 1 Samuel 3

When I read this chapter, the warning “Be Watchful” kept appearing in my mind, so let me share a bit on how I feel about today’s Bible reading chapter.

“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming…” (Mk.13: 35a)

Little Samuel was dedicated to the Lord by his mother, and he ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest (ref. 2:11).

From a very tender age, Samuel had already learnt to serve in the house of the Lord under Eli, therefore his relationship with Eli must have developed through the years, and they must have been very close. So whenever Eli called for him, he would be ever ready to respond.

The obedience of little Samuel is worth our emulation. He did not murmur to his mother whenever she visited him, and he did not refuse to stay in the house of the Lord with an aging priest.

The next thing we can learn from Samuel was his alertness even in the night. He was very quick to respond to his mentor’s calling (as Samuel supposed it to be).

We may not be physically alert like Samuel, but we NEED TO BE ALERT SPIRITUALLY.

When we read the Bible, we have to be prayerful, so that we can be alert to heed the Lord’s words of commands, warnings and even rebukes; and to “jump” on our feet to respond, “Here I am, I’m willing to go! I’m willing to heed! I’m willing to change!”

This kind of alertness is needed for our salvation sake,

But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

Luke 21:34

And also for the works of the Lord,

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

“Whom shall I send,

And who will go for Us?”

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Isaiah 6: 8

“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mk.14: 38)

After Samuel came to Eli for three times, supposing Eli was calling him, the old priest perceived that it was the Lord who was calling Samuel.

So he taught Samuel how to respond, “Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.”‘

This instruction seems to tell us of Eli’s experience with the Lord, or was it just some kind of formula/theory that a priest must know?

Had the Lord come to speak to Eli instead of Samuel, could Eli know how to respond in the same way he had instructed Samuel?

Well, Eli could have asked the Lord to speak, but would Eli want to hear/listen and do what the Lord had spoken to him?

Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: “Did I not

clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in

Pharaoh’s house?

Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon

My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? And did I not give to

the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?

Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My

dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with

the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?’

1Samuel 2:27 – 29

These were the words of the Lord spoken through a man of God. Did Eli hear/listen and obey the Lord in seriously rebuking and chastising his two sons for kicking at the Lord’s sacrifice? Obviously not.

God gave Eli a chance to repent and correct his two sons’ abominations, but Eli did not treasure the grace of God but continued to favor his evil sons instead.

Then we see another warning came to Eli from the Lord, this time through the mouth of Israel’s future judge and priest, Samuel.

The lesson we can learn here is to not yield to temptations, the temptations to do what we feel is good and comfortable for us, or even temptations to show favoritism to people whom we like most even these people have done wrong.

Through the word of God, we can know what is right and wrong, but very often our flesh is weak to do the right things according to God’s standards.

Even Paul, a faithful and prominent apostle of Christ, he also lamented about this struggle in him. But he did give us a practical solution to this:

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,

but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8: 5 – 6

Yes, our worst enemy is ourselves, and there is no easy way out. We have to be spiritually minded, and this needs effort in spiritual nurturing. So let us be watchful of our actions, always keep our faith in check, pray without ceasing, and be sensitive to the words of God.

When the Lord chooses to call us forward to do work(s) that we may not like, we must still respond, “Here am I, send me!”

Trust and have faith in Him that He will provide and guide us in His work(s).

And if God chastises us for things we have done wrong, we have to be humble to listen, accept, and repent of our ways.

May God guide us all.

Shalom!