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whose own sons had spurned his advice and not heeded his warnings. Josephus tells us
that Samuel had reached the age of twelve by this time. If this is so it is worthy of note,
for it was at the age which the child Jesus disputed with the doctors of the law in the
Temple of Jerusalem (see Luke 2:). It was at this age that every Jewish boy became "a
son of the law", a practice which is continued to this day. It was a very significant step in
the life of every Jewish boy.
Thus, when Samuel came of age, we read that the "word of the Lord was precious in
those days; there was no open vision". The word "precious" is the Hebrew yagar, rare,
therefore of high value. It occurs in Lam. 4: 2 where we read that "The precious sons
of Zion, comparable to fine gold" had become worthless and likened to earthly pottery.
The word of the Lord was withheld from Israel, it became rare; there was no open vision.
As a nation Israel no longer served the Lord. The impurity that prevailed in the
Tabernacle had added to the corruption that pervaded the people. The eyes of their
understanding were shut and darkness covered the land. Only a remnant remained
faithful. As a nation God had been cast out, dethroned, forgotten, and ignored.
Vision in a nation necessitates communion with God. When that breaks down the
result is blindness. Because sin is inherent in our nature, we by nature prefer darkness to
light. Instead of the desire to look up to the light and seek the word and will of God, we
close our minds and deliberately bury our heads in the sand. There is nothing strange
about this, for where there is no vision, where the word of the Lord is not heard, the
people perish, spiritually and morally.
With this background, with no open vision, the Lord comes to Samuel. Eli, whose
eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.
Samuel was lying down in the tabernacle of the Lord. The lights of the 7-branched
lampstand had not yet gone out when Samuel hears a voice calling:
"Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, `Here I am'. And he ran to Eli and
said, `Here I am; you called me'. But Eli said, `I did not call; go back and lie down'.
So he went and lay down. Again the Lord called, `Samuel!' And Samuel got up and
went to Eli and said, `Here I am; you called me'. `My son', Eli said, `I did not call, go
back and lie down'.
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: the word of the Lord had not yet been
revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli
and said `Here I am; you called me'. 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" (3: 4-9, N.I.V.).
There seems to have been no animosity or jealousy on the part of Eli. The word of the
Lord had passed him by and was being directed to the boy, Samuel. If he was grieved at
this divine call coming to Samuel and not to himself, and envious of the honour
bestowed, he certainly did not show it. Perhaps in his heart he knew that he had forfeited
the Lord's favour and was unworthy of receiving it.
"The Lord came and stood there, calling as at other times, `Samuel! Samuel!'."
(verse 10, N.I.V.).