Now Samuel Did Not yet Know the Lord
1 Samuel 3:7 • 3 min. read • grade level: 6
IF any child might be supposed to know the Lord, it would be—Samuel. His birth was in answer to the agonizing prayers of a godly mother. From his birth he had been given by his parents to the Lord. Directly his mother had weaned him, she took him to the House of the Lord in Shiloh; and there he always lived and served in holy things. He never played with ungodly boys, nor was he tempted by the many snares with which other children were surrounded. From his early childhood his daily employment was to minister before the Lord, clad in the holy garments of priesthood. His mother never had him home for a. holiday. She had lent him to the Lord forever, and each year she brought him a little priestly garment, which she had made for him to wear. When the worshippers came to the House of God, they saw the child Samuel serving Jehovah, and doubtless they thought him a holy child, and perhaps wished that their own boys and girls were half as good as dear little Samuel. But grace cannot be given to children by godly parents. Little Samuel did not know the Lord, though he was the son of godly parents, lived in God’s House, wore holy garments, and daily ministered before Him in His sanctuary. God had not yet spoken to Samuel, and Samuel had not yet spoken to God. At length God heard his mother’s prayers and called little Samuel by name. The child ran to old Eli, for he did not know who was calling him, and Eli told him to go back to his bed, and should the Lord call him again, to say, “Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.” Then little Samuel lay down on his bed quite alone, and listened. When God speaks, He speaks to each alone, as the Lord Jesus says, “He calleth His own sheep by name.” And Jehovah came to little Samuel’s couch, and He stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel, Samuel” (ver. 10). What a beautiful picture of God’s tender love is here. The great and holy One comes and stands beside the bed of a little child at night, and calls lira by name, as a mother calls her little one. But Samuel is a sinner, and he is afraid. He dares not to call God by name, as Eli bade him. He only answers, “Speak―, for Thy servant heareth.” Ah! that was the beginning of a new life to little Samuel. God had called him that night, that Samuel might know Him as his God. When God speaks to the soul, even a little child cannot call Him by name. He may have said daily, like a parrot, “Our Father, which art in heaven;” but now the voice of God is heard through His word, the little child feels he is a sinner, and is troubled and afraid, until he hears by faith the Saviour’s word, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee” (Mark 2:55When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. (Mark 2:5)).
Dear young readers, Do you yet know the Lord? Has His Word spoken to you alone, and have you spoken to Him? Can you say this new year, God is my Father; Jesus is my Lord and Saviour; and the Holy Spirit is my Comforter and Guide? If not, may you by grace, “Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace” (Job 22:2121Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. (Job 22:21)).
O.