The Voice in the Temple

He was a boy, serving in the temple under Eli.

The word of the LORD was rare in those days. There was no frequent vision.

Eli's eyes were dim.

Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.

The lamp of God had not yet gone out.

He heard his name.

Samuel.

He ran to Eli and said: Here I am, for you called me.

Eli said: I did not call. Lie down again.

He went back and lay down.

The voice came again.

Samuel.

He went to Eli again. Here I am, for you called me.

Eli said: I did not call, my son. Lie down again.

Samuel did not yet know the LORD. The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

The LORD called Samuel again. A third time.

He went to Eli again.

And this time Eli understood.

He told Samuel: Go, lie down. And if he calls you, you shall say, Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.

Samuel went and lay down.

The LORD came and stood and called as at other times.

Samuel said: Speak, for your servant hears.

And God spoke.

What He said was difficult and concerned Eli and his house.

But Samuel heard it.

Because Eli, in his wisdom, had taught him the words that opened the conversation.

Speak, LORD.

Your servant hears.

Two sentences.

And the rarest thing in that era — a word from God — came to a boy sleeping near an ark in the middle of the night.

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