Reading
SAA Notes
This is one of those precious records of where the Lord makes someone aware of Himself in a wonderful way. Paul’s meeting with Christ is equally dramatic and determinative for the future well-being of His people. This chapter makes the point that it was important that all of Israel recognized that God had attested Samuel as His prophet!
SJA Notes
“And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.”
After the terrible moral depravity of Judges and then with the promise and hope we read of in Ruth, here we have the calling of Samuel the prophet by the Lord.
What a wonderful reading this is!
A young boy is called by the Lord.
We know from the previous passage that as a young fellow Samuel has been ministering to the Lord, growing in the presence of the Lord, growing both in stature and in favour with the LORD and also with man.
But here Samuel is CALLED.
How good then is Samuel’s response, both when he thinks it is Eli but also then when answering the Lord – “Here I am!”
This is a good encouragement to us, to respond as Samuel did, to say “Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.”
How much more we have today too, that the word of God has been revealed to us in Jesus, God the Son, His word become flesh.
This truth is never old or dusty, and we are able to wrestle with it and chew on it all the way to glory.
Let us be encouraged in this reading to be like Samuel, to thank God that we have His word revealed to us in Jesus, and to pray that His Spirit would be planting His word deep down in us, good soil, to bear much fruit.
* Gracious Father God,
May we be as Samuel here each day, listening for Your word and hearing and doing it.
Please write Your word on our hearts today, that we might not sin against You.
Please plant Your word deep down in us, and grow it, that we might be good soil and bear much fruit.
Please open the eyes and ears of our hearts, that we might see and hear what You have for us today.
Please sink us in self that we might rise in You!
Amen.