Av – Here I Am First Samuel 3:1 to 4:1a

Here I Am
First Samuel 3:1 to 4:1a

The main story line now resumes. For centuries ADONAI had rarely visited His people with new revelation. Now the LORD had one to whom He could entrust His message. He called the boy named Samuel, who was probably about twelve at that time. In this section we see the boy Samuel growing up to adulthood right before our very eyes. Many books have been written on the subject of God’s calling, for each individual who receives that call a mystery remains: Is this an authentic message from God, and if so, how am I to know that? Samuel received that calling through an audible voice, but he did not at first correctly identify its Source. The message he received had all the direct force of Truth, but final verification that he had indeed heard the voice of ADONAI came only later, when events vindicated God’s Word. It was a word he might well have wished he had not heard, as it tested his strength of character and resolve.⁹⁰

Chapter 3 verse 1 through Chapter 4 verse 1a can be broken down in chiastic fashion, resulting in a mirror effect as the ideas are “reflected” back in the passage: A to A, B to B, C to C, with D being the climax of the chiasm.

A. Absence of prophecy (3:1)

B. ‘Eli’s spiritual decline (3:2)

C. Samuel is called by God (3:3-9)

D. Messiah stands before Samuel (3:10-14)

C. Samuel’s first prophecy (3:15-18)

B. Samuel’s spiritual increase (3:19a)

A. Return of prophecy (3:19b-4:1a)