Lesson 21: God Will Honor Those Who Honor Him

The introduction of Samuel marks an interesting shift in the history of Israel. He is both the last of the Judges and the first of the Prophets. Although the term “prophet” had been used previously in the Old Testament (Abraham, Moses, Miriam, Deborah), Samuel is the first to define the prophetic office as an institution in Israel. Thus we later read Paul’s statement:

Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. (Acts 3:24)

And that of the Savior to the Nephites:

Verily I say unto you, yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have testified of me. (3 Nephi 20:24)

There were certainly prophets prior to Samuel, but especially after the rise of the Kings, and in the national identity of Israel, Samuel was the first to define that role as a specific office.

The longing of Hannah and the miraculous birth of Samuel are recorded to show that he had a divine destiny to bless Israel. Like those who came before (Sarah, Rebekah and the unnamed mother of Samson), as well as those who were to follow (Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist), the miraculous elements of God’s grace are emphasized to prefigure the greatness of Samuel even before he was born.

The calling of Samuel and the demise of Eli and his family as recorded in 1 Samuel 3 contains some subtle lessons.

2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

Note that Eli is described as having dim eyes, that he could not see, and that the lamp of God was going out in the temple. The imagery shows us that Eli was not only getting old and more feeble, but that he had lost some of his spiritual vision, presumably because of the iniquity of his children and his unwillingness to stem it.

4 That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Although Eli was dim of hearing the word of the Lord, Samuel was as yet unfamiliar with it and needed someone to identify it for him. Though Eli was on the decline, he had enough insight left to discern what was happening and to instruct Samuel to answer. It must have been a sad day for Eli to realize that although he was nominally the spokesman of the Lord, that God had chosen instead to reveal his will to this child. Surely, by this time, Eli must have begun to understand what was going to happening, and that the number of days allotted to him and his house were few. One wonders how much sleep Eli had the remainder of that night.

10 And the Lord came, and stood and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11 ¶ And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

Though Eli and his house were under condemnation, Eli was still the religious leader of Israel. His sons were unworthy to follow in the office of their father, and so Samuel was given that calling. This break in tradition, was unusual enough that it would cause the ears of all who hear it to “tingle.”

15 ¶ And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
17 And he said, What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.

Even at his young age, Samuel seems to understand the implications of his vision and so he fears to relate it to his master. Eli, on the other hand, makes no protestations. He knows the truth and accepts the will of God.

Though Samuel’s own later experiences with his progeny were somewhat different, he learns from Eli to accept the will of the Lord and trust in his justice.