God's First Manifestation to Samuel

Click here to read I Samuel 3.

Chapter 3 deals with first of God's manifestations to Samuel. It was a time of "darkness" and there was no "visions" or prophesies in those days. The "impurity" that prevailed in the Tabernacle angered God and He withheld His Spirit. Eli had grown old and Samuel had lain near his side to be of some aid should he awake. The Lord called to Samuel. Samuel thought it was Eli. Eli perceived that it must have been the Lord. He told Samuel to lie down and the next time that he heard his name called to say, "Speak Lord, for thy servant hears." God's message to Samuel was short and sad. "Behold, I will punish the house of Eli for ever because of the sin of his sons which he did not restrain."

The next morning, Eli inquired of Samuel what the Lord had said and Samuel told him. The chapter ends with this information about Samuel: "He grew and the Lord was with him and all Israel knew that he was a Prophet of the Lord." (Samuel was Judge, Priest and Prophet)

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