Commentary on 1 Samuel 3:1-21

We jump from wandering in the wilderness last week to the work of establishing leaders for God’s people, through several books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings. This narrative arc traces the rise and fall of God’s people as they struggle to establish themselves, with varying success. This week, God calls a prophet who will bring divine messages, even hard messages, to the people. 

In this story, the young Samuel hears a voice calling and wrongly assumes it is his mentor, Eli. Samuel “did not yet know the Lord,” but after several confused responses, Eli wisely discerns that it is God calling out to Samuel. 

Let’s notice a few things here that raise fruitful questions for preaching and congregational engagement with this text:

First, we must stop talking and listen. 

Both Samuel and Eli are lying down, a posture of stillness and receptivity. Neither is talking. In this still silence, Samuel hears a voice call his name. If Samuel were in a flurry of activity or distracted by other conversations, he might have missed it entirely. Listening is a key spiritual practice that opens up space to hear God’s voice. 

What listening practices do we have? What pauses or openings do we create to listen for the Holy? What postures help us become receptive to God’s speaking? 

Second, God calls Samuel by name. 

In fact, God says only Samuel’s name at first. God addresses Samuel directly in his particularity, separately from messages God sends more generally to the whole people. There is an intimacy in God’s speaking Samuel’s name directly and persistently. It’s hard for most of us to imagine, much less accept, God speaking personally to us, to our particular time and place, to our particular biography and personality. This is worth exploring. 

Am I willing to let God speak personally to me, in my particularity? What does it sound like when God calls my name? How might God long for intimacy with me? 

Third, Samuel does not recognize God’s voice. 

Even when God speaks his name, Samuel does not recognize God’s voice. It takes another person, his mentor, to help him recognize God’s voice. This passage tells us that “the word was rare in those days” (verse 1), so we can understand Samuel not getting it. Plus, Samuel is young and may not have developed the discernment muscles that recognize the Holy. In our own development, we need others around us to affirm that indeed, yes, that is a word from God speaking into our lives. The body of Christ plays this role. We need each other to help us pay attention to and recognize when God speaks.

How do we recognize God’s voice when we hear it? Who in our lives helps us recognize holy invitations or nudges? What role does the community play in this discernment?

Fourth, God is persistent. 

We see God return over and over until Samuel does get it. God does not try once and give up, but persists through four attempts! This means divine revelation does not depend on our spiritual quickness or skill but rather on God’s faithfulness. If we don’t get it (as indeed the gospels portray Jesus’ disciples not getting it most of the time), God will not give up. God will try again, perhaps at another time or in another place or even through a different method. God persists.

Remember a time when you sensed God speaking into your life. Did you get it the first time, or did God have to persist? What were some of the attempts God made through others or through life experiences? How has your church experienced the persistence of God?

Last, we may not like what we hear. 

There’s no denying that the message given to Samuel for Eli is hard. What are we to make of God’s punishment of Eli and his house? On the one hand, it seems Eli and his descendants will experience the natural consequences of their choices. On the other hand, the notion of permanent punishment is shocking. Yet, neither Samuel nor Eli seems shocked or upset. 

How do we receive what God says to us? What discernment might come from listening to God as we determine its meaning for our lives? 

As you shape your sermon, look for one or two of these points from 1 Samuel 3 that speak to where your community is right now. Don’t try to cover them all. Which might open the narrative door for your community to step in and explore this week?

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Beckoning God,

In the stillness of the night you called Samuel into your service. Call us into service with a voice we are able to hear, and give us hearts to come when we are called. Amen.

HYMNS

Here I am, Lord   ELW 574
I will call upon the Lord (trad.)
Come, thou fount of every blessing   ELW 807, H82 686, UMH 400, NCH 459

CHORAL

Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts, Henry Purcell