“Speak; for thy servant heareth”: the boy Samuel hears God’s call

A boy is asleep in the temple. A voice calls his name. He jumps up and runs to the old priest: “Here am I; for thou calledst me.” It happens three times before either of them understands what is going on. The story of Samuel’s call is one of the Bible’s most gentle and memorable.

Hannah's son and Eli

Samuel was the son of Hannah, who had prayed for a child and promised to give him to the Lord’s service. After he was weaned, she brought him to Shiloh to serve under Eli the priest. The chapter begins with a sad note: “the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.” God’s voice was rarely heard in Israel.

Eli was old, and his eyes had grown dim. His sons, who served as priests, were corrupt, and Eli had failed to restrain them.

The calls

One night, while Samuel was lying down in the temple, “the Lord called Samuel”. Samuel ran to Eli. Eli said he had not called, and sent him back to bed. It happened a second time and a third. The text explains: “Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.”

The third time, Eli realised that the Lord was calling the boy. He told Samuel: if you are called again, say, “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.”

A hard message

The Lord came and called, “Samuel, Samuel.” Samuel answered, “Speak; for thy servant heareth.” God’s first message to Samuel was a judgement on Eli’s household because of his sons’ sins. In the morning, Samuel was afraid to tell Eli, but Eli insisted, and Samuel told him everything. Eli accepted it: “It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.”

“And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him.” All Israel came to recognise him as a prophet. He later anointed Israel’s first kings, Saul and David.

The mentor's role

The story teaches that God can speak to the young, that recognising his voice sometimes needs help from wiser believers, and that listening is the first step of obedience. Eli was a flawed man with a failing family. Yet he did one important thing well: he helped a boy recognise God’s voice. Many readers find encouragement in that. Even imperfect people can point others in the right direction.