Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 3

Verses 1-21

1 Samuel 3:3 And 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;

1 Samuel 3:3 Comments The Scriptures tell us that the lamp in the Holy Place ceased burning while Samuel was young. God had commanded the Levites to keep the lamp always burning. It was to never go out (Exodus 27:20-21). In conjunction with this failure in Eli’s service in the Tabernacle as high priest, and with the disobedience of his sons in receiving the offerings of the people, the Lord now speaks judgment upon Eli and his descendants.

Exodus 27:20-21, “And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.”

1 Samuel 3:4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

1 Samuel 3:4 Comments - Notice how Samuel had positioned himself in God’s presence. He was before the ark of God, which was the place where God met with man. Samuel was resting in His presence. This is a position where the prophetic and the supernatural will operate in our lives. As we wait in God’s presence, we too, will experience supernatural visitations and receive divine words from the Lord.

1 Samuel 3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

1 Samuel 3:7 Comments - Just like Samuel, Christians have to learn to recognize God’s voice.

1 Samuel 3:14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

1 Samuel 3:14 Scripture References - Note:

Proverbs 29:1, “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

Hebrews 10:29, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

1 Samuel 3:19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

1 Samuel 3:19 Comments - As a prophet of God, Samuel prophecies always came true.

1 Samuel 3:21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

1 Samuel 3:21 Comments - God now had a man, a vessel, in which to speak through. Out of an entire nation, one man was yielded enough to God’s will in his life to be a spokesman for God. How much we, as people of God, especially a minister, need to be this kind of vessel both in our talk and in our walk.