Samuel!

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (KJV)

 1And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 2And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 3And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 5And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

6And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 8And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 9Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

Chosen for the season, it’s an epiphany and perhaps a theophany, God appearing as in light shining down from heaven. It was a favorite Sunday school story and still is. Born of a barren woman, Samuel is an answer to prayer, a gift of God. As soon as he is weaned, his mother turns him over to Eli the priest to be raised as God’s own child, and he is just that all his life, prophet and judge, anointer of kings.

Whose lightbulb was turned on in the story? Obviously, Eli is the one who realized it was God calling the boy, so Eli had the epiphany; the theophany, the actual appearance of God, came to Samuel. It's a great and beloved old story.

But no Bible lesson is to be just read and enjoyed and put away. A Bible story is meant to be an igniter. Hearing this old Sunday school story again as the Old Testament lesson this coming Sunday will turn somebody’s lightbulb on; someone will realize that God is speaking to them in some way, perhaps obnoxiously, perhaps ever so subtle, but nevertheless. It may be in joy or in anguish, at early dawn, at noonday, or in darkest night. But someone will perceive that God is calling. It may even, as with Samuel, turn out to be life-changing. 

TW+