God calls those who are humble enough to say, “Here I am,” even if they misunderstand at first.
Then we read in 1 Samuel 3:5, “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” (v.5). This occurs in Shiloh, located in the hill country of Ephraim, where the tabernacle of God had remained from about 1350-1100 BC until it was destroyed and the ark was captured by the Philistines. Eli served as the high priest and judge of Israel at this time, and the young Samuel was left in Eli’s care, having been dedicated to the LORD by his mother Hannah (1 Samuel 1:24-28). In this verse, Samuel misunderstands God’s call, thinking it was Eli who summoned him, which underscores Samuel’s humble obedience and willingness to serve.
When Samuel ran to Eli believing his mentor had called him, he demonstrated attentiveness and submission to authority. Though often interpreted as mere confusion, Samuel’s immediate response also shows the heart of a servant, eager to answer any request or need. Eli’s instruction for Samuel to “lie down again” reveals both Eli’s lack of awareness that the LORD was calling Samuel, and his own fatigue in old age. Yet God persisted, speaking again and again to Samuel, foreshadowing the new prophetic role He was about to impart to the boy, who would become a key figure in transition from the period of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy in Israel (around 1050 BC).
In a larger sense, this moment highlights how God chooses to speak in unexpected settings, even amid the routine of late-night rest. It reminds us that divine calling can come when we least expect it; our part is to remain faithful and watchful. Samuel’s readiness contrasts the silence in Israel at the time, since visions and messages from God had grown rare (1 Samuel 3:1). This verse sets the stage for a fresh revelation and marks Samuel as a hinge point in Israel’s spiritual history—someone who would ultimately anoint Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David (1 Samuel 10:1; 16:13).
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1 Samuel 3:5 meaning
Then we read in 1 Samuel 3:5, “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” (v.5). This occurs in Shiloh, located in the hill country of Ephraim, where the tabernacle of God had remained from about 1350-1100 BC until it was destroyed and the ark was captured by the Philistines. Eli served as the high priest and judge of Israel at this time, and the young Samuel was left in Eli’s care, having been dedicated to the LORD by his mother Hannah (1 Samuel 1:24-28). In this verse, Samuel misunderstands God’s call, thinking it was Eli who summoned him, which underscores Samuel’s humble obedience and willingness to serve.
When Samuel ran to Eli believing his mentor had called him, he demonstrated attentiveness and submission to authority. Though often interpreted as mere confusion, Samuel’s immediate response also shows the heart of a servant, eager to answer any request or need. Eli’s instruction for Samuel to “lie down again” reveals both Eli’s lack of awareness that the LORD was calling Samuel, and his own fatigue in old age. Yet God persisted, speaking again and again to Samuel, foreshadowing the new prophetic role He was about to impart to the boy, who would become a key figure in transition from the period of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy in Israel (around 1050 BC).
In a larger sense, this moment highlights how God chooses to speak in unexpected settings, even amid the routine of late-night rest. It reminds us that divine calling can come when we least expect it; our part is to remain faithful and watchful. Samuel’s readiness contrasts the silence in Israel at the time, since visions and messages from God had grown rare (1 Samuel 3:1). This verse sets the stage for a fresh revelation and marks Samuel as a hinge point in Israel’s spiritual history—someone who would ultimately anoint Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David (1 Samuel 10:1; 16:13).