1 Samuel 3 - The Call of Samuel | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 3, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.

1 Samuel Chapter 3 Samuel seems to be learning the duty of the priest. He in fact might have been Levite despite having lived in Ephraim. At this point he is about 12-13, a fact which comes from the historian Josephus. He is now old enough to be spiritually responsible for himself. Scripture says here that the word of the Lord was rare.

Perhaps because people didn’t seek Him for them. Also note that the proper translation here is not rare, but precious. The fact that the word is not common is what makes it precious, but it indicates our attitude towards those rare times when God speaks. Samuel at first doesn’t recognise the voice as the Lord. Learning to recognise the voice of God is a skill that many people do not have.

Even though this is a situation in which God seems to be speaking audibly, it doesn’t actually say that he is. God knows how to get the attention of people, so the onus is on him to be heard, but the onus is on his people to want to hear, and to seek his voice. Once God speaks however, it can take practice to learn to recognise Him.

Then Samuel said, “Speak; for your servant hears.” Or “speak for your servant is listening.” This phrase is an amazing phrase to speak to the Lord at any time. During our times of silent prayer at Peace Christian Church, I have often said this to the Lord. Moses aside, Samuel is really the first of the prophets and is also the last of the Judges.

Counting the 12 in the book of Judges, there are 13 judges if we count Samuel, and Samuel is clearly the more significant.