1 Samuel 3:5
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. 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.
In the night Samuel heard God's voice, supposed it was Eli, and ran promptly and obediently to the priest's bedside to answer, and he was told he had not been called and to lie down again. This happened three times in the same way before Eli was convinced that the mysterious call was God's voice. At that time Samuel was still a mere child and youth being educated for the Lord.
The Lord passed by the aged high priest to commune with a child and no longer spoke to Eli because he had indulged his sons, had failed to restrain their wrong habits and to separate them from holy office, and had thereby dishonored God. Instead He revealed to Samuel what was to come upon Eli and his house, which was in itself a bitter yet deserved rebuke to Eli and his house. Samuel lived as a child surrounded by the most corrupting influences, where Eli's sons ministered in holy office yet were controlled by evil and polluted the whole atmosphere and fascinated many with sin and wrong. He saw and heard things that grieved his soul, while men and women were daily fascinated with sin and wrong, with sins that filled all Israel with fearful reports.
Yet Samuel walked untainted with spotless character and spotless robes of character, having no fellowship with those sins and no delight in them. He loved God and kept so close a connection with Heaven that a heavenly messenger was sent to talk with him about the sins of Eli's sons which were corrupting Israel. Neglect to train children in childhood and youth brings divine judgment that might have been averted by careful discipline, self-control, and keeping God's glory in view. His experience proves that youth may have principles so firm that the most powerful temptations will not draw them away from allegiance, by uniting their weakness and ignorance to divine wisdom and strength and to Christ's wisdom and strength and remaining as those who see not and hear not evil.
The Lord claimed the young Samuel as His helping hand and used him even as a child to do a good and gracious work. God called Samuel and prepared him for sacred work and service while still a child, showing that He likewise fits people of every age, even children as well as men and women, to carry truth, to make His message and His message of truth known to others, and to serve as His messengers and in His work. God communicated with Samuel as a child to instruct him and mold his mind, showing that He can still communicate with children and youth today because they are more impressible. Older persons can become so set in their own course that even when messages are sent they do not hear with a firm will to obey, and Christ is willing to reveal Himself to children.
Samuel's prompt obedience is an example of what is expected from children and youth, whose active energies should be trained, disciplined, drilled, and organized into a working force and large army to win souls and do a work which adults could not do.