04: The Call of Samuel ( 1Samuel 3:1 – 21)

The Lord called Samuel for the first time and announced imminent judgment on Eli’s house. Then, through Samuel, the Lord resumed making His word known. 

πŸ‘‰ Read 1Samuel 3:1 - 21


Q1. There was no message from the Lord. Eli’s blindness symbolizes the spiritual (              ) of those days. (1-2) However, the Lord (           ) appeared in Shioloh and resumed revealing His words to all (            ) through Samuel. None of his prophecies fell to the ground (            ). (19-21)

There was no message from the Lord. Eli’s blindness symbolizes the spiritual ( darkness  ) of those days. (1-2) However, the Lord ( again ) appeared in Shioloh and resumed revealing His words to all ( Israel ) through Samuel. None of his prophecies fell to the ground ( unfulfilled  ). (19-21)

But still, there is hope, for the Lord’s lamp was not off, and His ark was there. When we consider the aftermath of the ark being permanently removed from the Tabernacle—returning only to Solomon's temple rather than the Tabernacle—it is evident that the ark and the Tabernacle, in their original condition, must have evoked nostalgic adoration for the Mosaic period, a time when the Lord's revelations were abundant and overwhelming.



Q2. What was the reason that Samuel did not know it was the Lord? (7)

It was the first time.

In contrast, Eli's failure to recognize it as God's calling two times shows his spiritual blindness.

It is the same for us. We might not know at first time if it is God’s voice when we sense a vision or a thought in our mind. 

The Lord patiently calls us until we recognize Him, as long as we are willing to listen. On the fourth call, the Lord stood near Samuel, ensuring that Samuel would not miss the Lord.



Q3. The Lord’s message for Eli came through (        ). The Lord is about to judge Eli’s house (        ) because of their sin. His sons were cursing God, and he did not (       ) them. Anyone who hears about what the Lord will do, both of his (       ) will tingle, for everything God had spoken against his house will happen (       ).

The Lord’s message for Eli came through ( Samuel ). The Lord is about to judge Eli’s house ( forever ) because of their sin. His sons were cursing God, and he did not ( rebuke ) them. Anyone who hears about what the Lord will do, both of his ( ears ) will tingle, for everything God had spoken against his house will happen ( one day).

Because of Eli’s spiritual blindness, the Lord’s message came through someone else: the man of God (2:27) and Samuel (3:13).

“Forever” After this, the Tabernacle and the Ark would no longer remain in their original condition. The Ark would never return to the Tabernacle, only to Solomon’s temple before disappearing entirely when Jerusalem fell. The Tabernacle itself was transported to Nob after the Ark was captured by the Philistines, marking the end of Shiloh as Israel's religious center. Later, the utensils of the Tabernacle were moved to Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8:4). The judgment of Eli’s house signifies the end of the Mosaic Tabernacle and anticipates the Tabernacle that the Lord Himself will establish. Solomon’s temple was not the final dwelling place the Lord intended. 

Remember that the fall of the Levites lies at the center of Israel's national apostasy during the days of the Judges. Thus, the judgment on the Levitical priesthood would be an expected consequence, ultimately leading to its complete replacement with the priesthood through Christ.



Q4. What was Eli’s response to the Lord’s message through Samuel?

“The Lord will do what he pleases”

He acknowledged the Lord’s sovereignty but didn’t know His grace and goodness for us. 

The Bible says the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. That means the judgment didn't come right away. If Eli had removed his two sons from their priestly duties and earnestly sought God’s forgiveness, the judgment could have been averted. However, Eli failed to take action.



Q5. Why did they think Samuel was a prophet? (v19-21)

His prophecy was fulfilled. That means the Lord had appeared to him.



He had made Hannah barren when the Lord's message was rare. Thus, He made Samuel dedicated to the Lord through Hannah's vow, and resumed revealing His words for Israel. He is good, always!


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