31 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli . And word from the Lord was rare in those days , visions were infrequent e . 2 It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well), 3 and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord where e the ark of God was, 4 that the Lord called Samuel ; and he said , " Here I am." 5 Then he ran to Eli and said , "Here I am, for you called me." But he said , "I did not call , lie down again ." So he went and lay down . 6 The Lord called yet again , "Samuel !" So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said , "Here I am, for you called me." But he answered , "I did not call , my son , lie down again ." 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord , nor had the word of the Lord yet been revealed to him. 8 So the Lord called Samuel again for the third time . And he arose and went to Eli and said , "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli discerned that the Lord was calling the boy . 9 And Eli said to Samuel , "Go lie down , and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say , 'Speak , Lord , for Your servant is listening .' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place . 10 Then the Lord came and stood and called as at other times , "Samuel ! Samuel !" And Samuel said , "Speak , for Your servant is listening ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 3:1-10
Commentary on 1 Samuel 3:1-10
(Read 1 Samuel 3:1-10)
The call which Divine grace designs shall be made effectual; will be repeated till it is so, till we come to the call. Eli, perceiving that it was the voice of God that Samuel heard, instructed him what to say. Though it was a disgrace to Eli, for God's call to be directed to Samuel, yet he told him how to meet it. Thus the elder should do their utmost to assist and improve the younger that are rising up. Let us never fail to teach those who are coming after us, even such as will soon be preferred before us, John 1:30. Good words should be put into children's mouths betimes, by which they may be prepared to learn Divine things, and be trained up to regard them.