I’ve always thought of Samuel’s call as God reaching out to a young boy.
In today’s YouTube video, Rudy Ross suggests that Samuel was likely 25 years old when he received God’s call, preparing him for his future work. By age 30, Samuel would then step into the role God had planned for him.
The fact that his mother, Hannah, had five children supports the idea that he wasn’t a small child during this time but rather a grown adult.
In the 8th century, the prophet Amos predicted a time when there would be a famine for the word of God.
The time is surely coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land; not a famine of bread, or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord (Amos 8:11).
The days of Amos were much like those of Eli and Samuel, when hearing from God was rare.
The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions (1 Samuel 3:1).
I wonder about the times we’re living in. Worship music can be so dramatic that it stirs emotions, making us think it’s the Holy Spirit at work. The same goes for powerful preachers.
However, strong emotions and compelling messages aren’t the same as hearing the Lord’s voice.
I don’t have a clear answer on whether this is happening in our culture, but it’s worth asking: Are we truly hearing from God, or are our emotions just being moved by effective presentations?
God’s Call in a Spiritual Vacuum
God called Samuel during a time of a spiritual vacuum. Three times, God spoke to Samuel, but he didn’t recognize the voice. Each time, Samuel went to Eli. Recognizing that the Lord was speaking, Eli told him to ask the Lord to speak.
Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.
So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:8-10).
A Message of Judgment
In some churches today, certain individuals are praised as prophets. They often receive honor and speak to large crowds. Some even make a good income by giving personal prophecies after receiving a substantial offering.
This was not the case for Samuel and other Old Testament prophets. They usually had the tough job of telling the truth to people who didn’t want to hear it.
Samuel’s first task as a prophet was to deliver a very difficult message.
Then the Lord said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle.
On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.
For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them” (1 Samuel 2:11-13).
Tomorrow’s blog article will talk about the message Samuel gave to Eli. It was likely a message Samuel didn’t want to deliver, and one Eli definitely didn’t want to hear.
Truth to Power
In the Old Testament, there were mainly two types of prophets. Some prophets were paid by the king. These prophets told the king what he wanted to hear.
Then there were prophets like Samuel, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. They spoke God’s word no matter what the king thought. They often faced danger because he chose to speak for God instead of pleasing the rulers.
If you’re on social media, you’ll come across many opinions about what’s right and wrong in the world. Some will praise the current political leaders, while others will criticize them.
As social media users, we need to ask ourselves, and especially ask God, “Lord, is this a word from you?”
We also need to understand what God wants, so we can follow His direction instead of the messages that spread on social media claiming to be from Him.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed Samuel’s call into the ministry from God on YouTube today.
Real Voices 