He heard his name called: “Samuel! Samuel! And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening (1 Samuel 3:10, NASB).” Samuel’s response says a lot about his character and his heart for God. He humbly declared that he was ready to serve God, and that he was ready to listen to Him.
If God called your name, how would you respond? It’s a simple question with profound implications. How ready are you to serve God, no matter what his calling on your life? There are two aspects to how Samuel responded: “Your servant” and “listening.” Are you at a point in your faith where you humbly submit to God’s will for your life as His servant? Are you ready to listen to what God speaks into and about your life? Are your ready to obediently follow His lead?
You could say Samuel was raised in the church. He was perhaps only three years old when his mother handed over her boy Samuel to the priest. She told him, “For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him. So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD (1 Samuel 1:27-28).” From that day on, “he ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest (2:11).”
Samuel grew up in the house of the Lord in Shiloh (1:24) where the priest Eli ministered. It was all he knew from young on. “Now the boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with the LORD and with men (2:26).” As he matured he stood out in sharp contrast to Eli’s sons: “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the LORD (2:12).” God placed Samuel there at that time for a specific purpose.
When we have a heart for God, and seek to connect to Him, we are prepared to hear when he calls our name. We may not recognize it at first, as Samuel did not: “Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him (3-8).” Like Samuel, we may not at first recognize God calling us. We may go to others to discern if it’s God, but the key is to listen and pursue what God has to say about our life.
Answering the Call
This post is part of the “Answering the Call” series. Join me each Tuesday morning as we explore the moment of decision for so many people in the Bible.
© 2024, Chris G. Thelen
140 Character Christian 
Amen. There is much to reflect upon from Samuel’s journey of faith. His desire to serve His God while listening to Him offers us a glimpse of God’s light in our faith walk.
Praise God for the people of faith in the Bible who inspire us in our journey with God. Thanks for the comment. Blessings.
Indeed, well said!
Blessings.
Great post, Chris! Blessings.
Praise God that he reaches out to us. Blessings.