That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
The call came at night in the temple where the ark was, while the lamp was still burning, with Eli lying in his place unable to see because his eyes were dim and Samuel lying down to sleep. God passed by the aged high priest Eli to call the youthful Samuel because He could no longer commune with Eli and his sons, whose sins had shut out His Holy Spirit. This passing over of Eli to commune with a child was itself a bitter yet deserved rebuke to Eli and his house. With the call God revealed to Samuel what was to come upon Eli and his house, including through a heavenly messenger speaking about the sins of Eli's sons.
Eli had dishonored God by failing to judge his own sons and by neglecting to separate them from the Lord's service though they were utterly unfitted for it. Samuel at first did not recognize the voice and supposed it was Eli, so he promptly hastened to the priest's bedside to present himself with readiness to answer. After three such calls and answers Eli became convinced the voice was God's and told the child how to answer, which the awed child then did. Those who hold the fullest account add that he did so without remembering the exact words.
Samuel was a mere child surrounded by corrupting influences, yet he remained untainted because he loved God and kept close to Heaven while being educated for the Lord in his youth. The Lord claims young men as His helping hand, calling Samuel as a child, preparing him to serve as a messenger in God's work, and using him to do a good and gracious work. His youth did not prevent him from serving God faithfully. God prepares and fits people of every age, including children, for sacred service to bear sacred truth, and the Lord who called the child Samuel to make known His message of truth likewise calls children today to share that message.
God is willing to reveal Himself to children, and children who give themselves to God can be taught and used by Him and can form characters after the divine likeness. The Lord directly calls and communicates with children and youth because they are more impressible and their minds can be instructed and molded. With proper training, organization, and direction in right channels He can raise up from them a large army of soldiers for Christ to win souls in a work adults cannot do. This stands in contrast to older persons who, like Eli, can become so set in their own course that even when God sends His messages they do not hear with a firm will to obey. Indulging children, failing to restrain wrong habits, and neglecting God-given training brings loss and judgment, while careful training in childhood and youth to control self and keep God's glory in view would avert much evil.
The call came at night in the temple where the ark was, while the lamp was still burning, with Eli lying in his place unable to see because his eyes were dim and Samuel lying down to sleep. God passed by the aged high priest Eli to call the youthful Samuel because He could no longer commune with Eli and his sons, whose sins had shut out His Holy Spirit. This passing over of Eli to commune with a child was itself a bitter yet deserved rebuke to Eli and his house. With the call God revealed to Samuel what was to come upon Eli and his house, including through a heavenly messenger speaking about the sins of Eli's sons.
Eli had dishonored God by failing to judge his own sons and by neglecting to separate them from the Lord's service though they were utterly unfitted for it. Samuel at first did not recognize the voice and supposed it was Eli, so he promptly hastened to the priest's bedside to present himself with readiness to answer. After three such calls and answers Eli became convinced the voice was God's and told the child how to answer, which the awed child then did. Those who hold the fullest account add that he did so without remembering the exact words.
Samuel was a mere child surrounded by corrupting influences, yet he remained untainted because he loved God and kept close to Heaven while being educated for the Lord in his youth. The Lord claims young men as His helping hand, calling Samuel as a child, preparing him to serve as a messenger in God's work, and using him to do a good and gracious work. His youth did not prevent him from serving God faithfully. God prepares and fits people of every age, including children, for sacred service to bear sacred truth, and the Lord who called the child Samuel to make known His message of truth likewise calls children today to share that message.
God is willing to reveal Himself to children, and children who give themselves to God can be taught and used by Him and can form characters after the divine likeness. The Lord directly calls and communicates with children and youth because they are more impressible and their minds can be instructed and molded. With proper training, organization, and direction in right channels He can raise up from them a large army of soldiers for Christ to win souls in a work adults cannot do. This stands in contrast to older persons who, like Eli, can become so set in their own course that even when God sends His messages they do not hear with a firm will to obey. Indulging children, failing to restrain wrong habits, and neglecting God-given training brings loss and judgment, while careful training in childhood and youth to control self and keep God's glory in view would avert much evil.