The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 84

liigh priest, but n chi!,!, ns a more loyal subject, and more susceptible to DivinP teaching (Mntt. xi. 25, 26). 2. It broke suddenly on the silence and slumbers of the, niglit ,· "ere the lamp of God went out," i. e. toward the morning-a season suitable to deep and solemn impression. "Untroubled night, they say, gives counsel best." The light of Israel before God, represented by the golden candelabrum, with its "seven lamps of fire," was burning dimly, and the dawn of a new day was at hand. 3. It called Samuel by name, not merely as a means of arousing him, but as indicat- ing the Lord's intimate knowledge of his history and character (John x. 3), and his -claims upon his special service. The All-seeing has a perfect knowledge of each individual souJ,.and deals with it accordingly. 4. It was often repeated, with ever- increasing impressiveness. Natural dulness in the discernment of spiritual things renders necessary the repetition of God's call to men, and his patience is wonderfully shown in such repetition. 5. It was in the last instance accompanied by an appear· ,ance. "Jehovah came, and stood, and called" (ver. 10). Probably in glorious human form, as in former days. "Allied to our nature by engagement and anticipation, the -eternal ,v ord occasionally assumed its prophetic semblance before he dwelt on earth in actual incarnate life." There could now be no doubt whence the voice proceeded; .and even the.-delay which had occurred must have served to waken up all the faculties of the child into greater activity, and prepare him for the main communi- cation he was about to receive. II. TnE RESPONSE of Samuel. 1. He did not a(first recognise the voice as God's, but thought it was Eli's (vers. 4-6). For" he did not yet know the Lord" by direct and conscious revelation, "neither was the Word of the Lord revealed to him" (literally, made bare, disclosed; as a secret told in the ear, which has been uncovered by turning back the hair-Gen. xxv. 7; 1 Sam. ix. 15; Job x.xxiii. 16) as it was afterwards (ver. 21), "We must not think that Samuel was then ignorant of the true God, but that he knew not the manner of that voice by which the prophetical spirit was wont to awaken the attention of the prophets" (John Smith's 'Se!. Discourses,' p. 208). "God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not" (Job xxxiii. 14). How often is his voice deemed to be only the voice of man 1 2. He acted up to the light he had (vers. 7, 8). Three times his rest was broken by what he thought was the voice of Eli; three times he ran to him obediently, uncomplainingly, promptly; and three times he "went and lay down in his place" as he was bidden. The spirit which he thus displayed prepared him for higher instruction. 3. He obeyed the direction given him by the high priest (ver. 9). Although Eli could not himself hear the voice, yet he perceived that it was heard by another, showed no indignation, or envy at the preference shown toward him, and taught him to listen to the Lord for himself, and what he should say in response. "He showed himself a better tutor than he was a parent" (Hall). 4. He responded in a spirit of reverence, lmmility, and obedience to the voice that now uttered his name twice (ver. 10). " Speak ; for thy servant heareth." His omission of the name "Jehovah" was per- haps due to his overwhelming astonishment and reverence But he confessed him- self to be his servant, virtually ratifying of his own accord his dedication to his service, and testified his readiness to "hear and obey." Oh, what an hour is that in which the presence of the Lord is first manifested in living force to the soul I and what a change does it produce in all the prospects and purposes of life I (Gen. xxviii. 16, 17). "We were like them that sleep, them thut dream, before we entered into communion with God." · III. THE COMMUNICATION of God to Samuel. 1. It differed from the message of the "man of God;'' which had come some time previously, in that it was more brief, simple, and severe ; and was given to Samuel ulone, without any express direction to make it known to Eli, who seems to have paid no regnrd to the warning he pre- viously received. 2. It was an announcement ofjudgment on the house of Eli which would be-(1) Very startling and horrifying to men (ver. 11). (2) The fulfilment of the word which had been already spoken (ver. 12). (3) Complete. "When I begin, I will o.lso make an end." (4) Righteously desen·ed, inasmuch as his sons had grievously sinned, and he knew it as well as the approaching judgment, and restrained them not (ver. 13; James iv. 17). "Sinners make themsP.lves vile (literally, curse themselves), and those who do not reprove them make themselves accetisaries" (M. Henry). (5) Per- HO THE FITIST BOOK OF SA:'IIUEL. [CH. Ill. 1-21.