1 Samuel 1-3

I wonder how the events of chapter 3 seems to flow from Eli’s perspective?  We don’t know the time delay from the man of God speaking God’s judgment to Eli (1 Samuel 2:27-36) and the night that the LORD first spoke to Samuel, but I’m sure Eli pondered God’s words the rest of his life.  Here is how I would portray the events of that fateful night.

I picture Eli laying down for the night as he always did.  His mind restless because of his sons’ immorality and God’s words he might have had a difficult time falling to sleep.  Then just as he dozed off he was shaken awake by young Samuel.  “Here I am.  You called me!” The young voice questioned urgently.  Eli may have sent him back to sleep wondering if he had called out Samuel’s name in his sleep.  After a few minutes of quiet Eli was awoken again by the young man with the same words.  He may have spoken sternly.  Roughly ordering the young man back to rest while inwardly questioning Samuel’s sanity.  But the third time was somehow different.  Maybe Samuel was less alert when he approached Eli, or maybe his voice betrayed his frustration at the apparent trick that the old priest was playing on him.  Maybe Eli hadn’t fallen asleep this time, but listened intently to the darkness of the tabernacle, straining his weak ears for the voice that Samuel kept hearing.  For a long time he heard nothing.  And then the feet of the young man walked tentatively into his bed chamber; “Here I am.  You called me.”  Samuel was convince that someone was trying to get his attention, and Eli knew of one who was always seeking to get the attention of those who would listen.  The old priest gave Samuel different instructions this time as he sent him back to his mat.  Eli knew God would keep speaking to Samuel until the young man paid attention.  Even though his eyesight was poor he surely noticed the change in attitude of Samuel with these new instructions.  I imagine that though they both lay down neither one slept the rest of the night.  While Samuel heard God’s voice and his judgment on Eli’s house, Eli only hear one sentence the rest of the night; Samuel answering God.  As Samuel was awed by the wonderful voice of the LORD, Eli was surrounded by the silence of the night.  I wonder who wept harder that night?

It took me about 16 minutes to read this passage.

Stuart