October 19, 2025 – Generational Faith: Helping Kids Hear and Answer God’s Call – 1 Samuel 3:1-10

In 1 Samuel 3:1-10, the Lord calls to the young boy Samuel while he is ministering under the priest Eli, who has grown old and whose sons are wicked. Samuel, initially believing Eli is calling him, runs to the priest three times. Eli eventually realizes the Lord is speaking to Samuel and instructs him on how to respond: to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears”. When the Lord calls Samuel’s name a fourth time, Samuel obeys Eli’s instructions, and the Lord begins to communicate with him.

The passage begins by noting that in those days, “the word of the Lord was rare” and visions were infrequent. This sets the stage for the significance of God’s direct communication with Samuel. 

The young boy Samuel is serving the Lord in the tabernacle and hears the Lord calling his name. He mistakenly thinks the voice belongs to the high priest Eli, who is growing old and has poor eyesight. 

After the third time Samuel responds to the voice, Eli realizes the Lord is calling the boy. Eli, though his sons were disobedient, recognizes the Lord’s voice and instructs Samuel to lie down and say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears,” if called again. 

Following Eli’s instructions, Samuel does just that when the Lord calls him a fourth time. This marks the beginning of Samuel’s direct communication with God and his prophetic ministry. 

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Samuel’s Calling and Prophetic Activity

3 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!”[a] and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”