Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening
1 Samuel 3:1-21
One night, young Samuel heard someone calling him, and three times he ran to Eli. Eli understood that it was the Lord and taught him how to answer. Samuel listened, grew up, and all Israel knew that he was a prophet of the Lord. 1 Samuel 3:1-21
The story, in plain words
Young Samuel was serving the Lord under Eli’s guidance. In those days, the Lord spoke only rarely. 1 Samuel 3:1
Eli had already lost his sight and was asleep in his room. Samuel was sleeping in the temple, where the Ark of God was. 1 Samuel 3:2-3
Before the lamp of God had gone out, the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 1 Samuel 3:3-4
Samuel ran to Eli and told him he had come because Eli had called him. Eli answered that he had not called him and that he should go back to…
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See the mapWhat the Bible says
1 Samuel 3:1-21
1Now the child Samuel ministered to the Lord before Heli, and the word of the Lord was precious in those days, there was no manifest vision. 2And it came to pass one day when Heli lay in his place, and his eyes were grown dim, that he could not see: 3Before the lamp of God went out, Samuel slept in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4And the Lord called Samuel. And he answered: Here am I. 5And he ran to Heli and said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. He said: I did not call: go back and sleep. And he went and slept. 6And the Lord called Samuel again. And Samuel arose and went to Heli, and said: Here am I: for thou calledst me. He answered: I did not call thee, my son: return and sleep. 7Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither had the word of the Lord been revealed to him. 8And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose up and went to Heli. 9And said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. Then Heli understood that the Lord called the child, and he said to Samuel: Go, and sleep: and if he shall call thee any more, thou shalt say: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and slept in his place. 10And the Lord came and stood: and he called, as he had called the other times: Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. 11And the Lord said to Samuel: Behold I do a thing in Israel: and whosoever shall hear it, both his ears shall tingle. 12In that day I will raise up against Heli all the things I have spoken concerning his house: I will begin, and I will make an end. 13For I have foretold unto him, that I will judge his house for ever, for iniquity, because he knew that his sons did wickedly, and did not chastise them. 14Therefore have I sworn to the house of Hell, that the iniquity of his house shall not be expiated with victims nor offerings for ever. 15And Samuel slept till morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to tell the vision to Hell. 16Then Heli called Samuel, and said: Samuel, my son. And he answered: Here am I. 17And he asked him: What is the word that the Lord hath spoken to thee? I beseech thee hide it not from me. May God do so and so to thee, and add so and so, if thou hide from me one word of all that were said to thee. 18So Samuel told him all the words, and did not hide them from him. And he answered: It is the Lord: let him do what is good in his sight. 19And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and not one of his words fell to the ground. 20And all Israel from Dan to Bersabee, knew that Samuel was a faithful prophet of the Lord. 21And the Lord again appeared in Silo, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Silo, according to the word of the Lord. And the word of Samuel came to pass to all Israel.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
To talk about together
- Samuel did not recognize God’s voice, and Eli helped him. Who has helped you get to know God?
- Samuel had to tell Eli something hard. Why do you think it is important to tell the truth even when it is hard?
- For the child: if God spoke to you tonight, what would you say to him?