The lovely story, with which this chapter begins has had an appeal to children in all ages, we may be sure. That God should come into the growing boy's room and call him by name; call him again and again, after he had got up out of his bed and gone to Eli's side, and finally tell him what he needed to know to guard him against joining in the wickedness of the young men, is deeply interesting to old as well as young.
Verse 1. God had withdrawn from the open access to His presence which Moses enjoyed, it seems. Rarely did He speak to Israel now; and he did not tell His mind in dreams as before.
Verse 2. Only Eli is mentioned; the sons devoted to wickedness are left out; we see only the very old man and the young boy in his teens.
Verse 3. Why should the lamp of God have been permitted to go out? Exodus 27:20, 21 speaks of the light burning through the night from evening to morning, always.
Verses 5-9 show a right spirit in Samuel, prompt to obey the calls; no word of complaint is heard at having to leave his bed repeatedly. Surely his mother had sought to bring her boy up in the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom and every, other good. He did not know what the boys in many Christian homes are privileged to know of Christ as Saviour,—but though knowing little (verse 7), Samuel was in favor both with God and also with men, as we learned in chapter 2, verse 26. He was in his day a model boy, though when we think of the standard for all children, we turn to Luke 2:40-52, where Christ is told of as a boy with Mary and Joseph.
There was no purging the iniquity of Eli's house. The mercy of God had been exceeded. He that is often reproved and hardens him-self shall suddenly be cut off, and without remedy. The day when forgiveness was possible, had passed for these who despised God.
Verse 15. What thoughts were Samuel's as he lay through the night before morning dawned! It does not appear that he slept that night.
Verse 18, Eli's comment on Samuel's report in the morning shows submission, for after all he was true in heart to God, but how painful this last announcement of the now near approach of the divine intervention must have been. There could be no doubt in Eli's mind that Samuel was to be a prophet of God, and that he himself was practically set aside as a priest.
Deeply affecting is the story of Eli, and a powerful warning it ought to be to every Christian parent. How much needed in this day!