Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
Samuel was still a youthful child serving in the sanctuary under Eli when God first called him, and not yet knowing the Lord means he had not yet received personal revelation and was not yet acquainted with the direct manifestations of God's presence granted to the prophets. He had not yet learned to recognize the Lord's voice in direct communion, so he supposed the night call was Eli's and hastened with Here am I three times until Eli was convinced it was the voice of God. The Lord passed by His aged chosen servant to commune with a child because Eli dishonored God by failing to judge and restrain his sons and to separate them from the Lord's service, and this passing by was itself a bitter yet deserved rebuke purposed so Eli would hear of it through the surprise and inquiry of the youth. God then revealed to Samuel what was to come upon Eli and his house for the sins of Eli's sons that were corrupting Israel, and Samuel was so awed that the great God should speak to him that he answered only Speak, for thy servant heareth. Youth does not prevent receiving God's instruction, for He prepared and fitted even a child to be His messenger and keeper of sacred truth, communicating with children and youth because they are more impressible, to train them and raise up from them a large army of soldiers for Christ to share the truth and do a work which adults could not do.
Meaning and Setting
The verse describes Samuel as still a youthful child at the time God first called him. Not yet knowing the Lord meant he had not yet received a personal revelation and was not yet acquainted with the direct manifestations of God's presence granted to the prophets. He had not yet learned to recognize the Lord's voice in direct communion, so when called in the night he supposed the voice was Eli's.
He hastened to Eli to present himself as having been summoned, and did so three times until Eli was convinced the call was the voice of God. This took place while he was serving in the sanctuary under Eli and being educated and prepared for the Lord in his youth.
He lived surrounded by the most corrupting influences that grieved his soul. Eli's sons ministered in holy office while controlled by evil, even by Satan, and they polluted the whole atmosphere around them, while men and women were daily fascinated with sin and wrong until all Israel was filled with fearful reports of sin. In the midst of this Samuel walked untainted with spotless robes of character, having no fellowship with those sins and no delight in them.
Judgment on Eli's House
God spoke no more to Eli because Eli dishonored God by failing to judge his own sons, by neglecting to restrain their wrong habits, and by neglecting to separate them from the Lord's service. Instead the Lord passed by His chosen servant, the man of hoary hairs, to commune with a child, addressing the child rather than the aged Eli. God purposed to reveal Himself to Samuel in an unexpected manner, so that Eli would hear of it through the surprise and inquiry of the youth.
This passing by of Eli in itself was a bitter yet deserved rebuke to Eli and his house. God called Samuel and revealed to him what was to come upon Eli and his house, sending an angel to talk with him and reveal the word of the Lord concerning the sins of Eli's sons which were corrupting Israel. When Eli directed him to answer Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth, Samuel was so awed that the great God should speak to him that he could not remember the exact words and answered only Speak, for thy servant heareth.
God Uses Children
The verse belongs to the account of Samuel's youth, when he was still a child being prepared for service to God and had not yet known the Lord through personal revelation, with the word of the Lord not yet made known to him. God passed over the aged Eli and spoke to the child Samuel, showing that youth does not prevent someone from receiving God's instruction. His history shows that God is willing to reveal Himself to children.
God prepared and fitted even a child for sacred work, calling Samuel as a child to be His messenger and keeper of sacred truth. The Lord claimed him as His helping hand and used the mere child Samuel to do a good and gracious work and to make His message known, showing that God can call children to share the truth with others. He communicated with Samuel as a child and youth, instructing him and molding his mind.
Children and youth are more impressible and can be taught by the Lord, while older persons can become so set in their own course of action that although God sends His messages to them, as He did to Eli, they do not hear with a firm will to obey His voice. His example teaches that children can be formed to obey God and reflect Christ, and that the Lord claims young men as His helping hand. The lesson is that the Lord can still communicate with children and youth today to train them and raise up from them a large army of soldiers for Christ to share the truth with others and to do a work which adults could not do.
Samuel was still a youthful child serving in the sanctuary under Eli when God first called him, and not yet knowing the Lord means he had not yet received personal revelation and was not yet acquainted with the direct manifestations of God's presence granted to the prophets. He had not yet learned to recognize the Lord's voice in direct communion, so he supposed the night call was Eli's and hastened with Here am I three times until Eli was convinced it was the voice of God. The Lord passed by His aged chosen servant to commune with a child because Eli dishonored God by failing to judge and restrain his sons and to separate them from the Lord's service, and this passing by was itself a bitter yet deserved rebuke purposed so Eli would hear of it through the surprise and inquiry of the youth. God then revealed to Samuel what was to come upon Eli and his house for the sins of Eli's sons that were corrupting Israel, and Samuel was so awed that the great God should speak to him that he answered only Speak, for thy servant heareth. Youth does not prevent receiving God's instruction, for He prepared and fitted even a child to be His messenger and keeper of sacred truth, communicating with children and youth because they are more impressible, to train them and raise up from them a large army of soldiers for Christ to share the truth and do a work which adults could not do.
Meaning and Setting
The verse describes Samuel as still a youthful child at the time God first called him. Not yet knowing the Lord meant he had not yet received a personal revelation and was not yet acquainted with the direct manifestations of God's presence granted to the prophets. He had not yet learned to recognize the Lord's voice in direct communion, so when called in the night he supposed the voice was Eli's.
He hastened to Eli to present himself as having been summoned, and did so three times until Eli was convinced the call was the voice of God. This took place while he was serving in the sanctuary under Eli and being educated and prepared for the Lord in his youth.
He lived surrounded by the most corrupting influences that grieved his soul. Eli's sons ministered in holy office while controlled by evil, even by Satan, and they polluted the whole atmosphere around them, while men and women were daily fascinated with sin and wrong until all Israel was filled with fearful reports of sin. In the midst of this Samuel walked untainted with spotless robes of character, having no fellowship with those sins and no delight in them.
Judgment on Eli's House
God spoke no more to Eli because Eli dishonored God by failing to judge his own sons, by neglecting to restrain their wrong habits, and by neglecting to separate them from the Lord's service. Instead the Lord passed by His chosen servant, the man of hoary hairs, to commune with a child, addressing the child rather than the aged Eli. God purposed to reveal Himself to Samuel in an unexpected manner, so that Eli would hear of it through the surprise and inquiry of the youth.
This passing by of Eli in itself was a bitter yet deserved rebuke to Eli and his house. God called Samuel and revealed to him what was to come upon Eli and his house, sending an angel to talk with him and reveal the word of the Lord concerning the sins of Eli's sons which were corrupting Israel. When Eli directed him to answer Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth, Samuel was so awed that the great God should speak to him that he could not remember the exact words and answered only Speak, for thy servant heareth.
God Uses Children
The verse belongs to the account of Samuel's youth, when he was still a child being prepared for service to God and had not yet known the Lord through personal revelation, with the word of the Lord not yet made known to him. God passed over the aged Eli and spoke to the child Samuel, showing that youth does not prevent someone from receiving God's instruction. His history shows that God is willing to reveal Himself to children.
God prepared and fitted even a child for sacred work, calling Samuel as a child to be His messenger and keeper of sacred truth. The Lord claimed him as His helping hand and used the mere child Samuel to do a good and gracious work and to make His message known, showing that God can call children to share the truth with others. He communicated with Samuel as a child and youth, instructing him and molding his mind.
Children and youth are more impressible and can be taught by the Lord, while older persons can become so set in their own course of action that although God sends His messages to them, as He did to Eli, they do not hear with a firm will to obey His voice. His example teaches that children can be formed to obey God and reflect Christ, and that the Lord claims young men as His helping hand. The lesson is that the Lord can still communicate with children and youth today to train them and raise up from them a large army of soldiers for Christ to share the truth with others and to do a work which adults could not do.