March 24 Daily Devotional

1 Samuel 2–3

Eli had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. They were wicked and full of mischief. While they grew up, their father was too lenient with them. He neglected to punish them, and their wickedness grew worse. In course of time they became hopeless, and the people were shocked at their ungodly deeds. They dreaded to go to Shiloh with their offerings, where Eli’s sons served as priests. He said to them, “Why do ye such things? … Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear … they hearkened not unto the voice of their father … And there came a man of God to Eli, and said, Thus saith the Lord, … Thou honourest thy sons above me … Them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” Behold harm shall come upon thine house; thy sons shall die in one day.

When Eli was old, Samuel assisted him in the work at the tabernacle. One night while he was lying on his bed, he heard a voice calling his name. He thought it was Eli, so he arose and went to him saying, “Here am I, for thou calledst me.” Eli replied, “I called not; lie down again.” Samuel obeyed. Soon the voice called again, “Samuel.” Again he hurried to Eli’s bedside, and said as before, “Here am I, for thou calledst me.” Eli replied, “I called not, my son; lie down again.” When the voice came to Samuel the third time he ran in again. Eli perceived that the Lord was calling Samuel, and he said to him, “Go lie down and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.” And when the Lord called as before “Samuel, Samuel” he answered, “Speak, for thy servant heareth.”

Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house … For I have told him that I will judge his house … because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.” Samuel hesitated to tell this message to Eli. He knew it would not be pleasant for Eli to hear it. But when Eli inquired, “What is the thing that the Lord hath spoken unto thee? … Hide it not from me.” He told him everything. Eli bowed his head and said, “It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.”

Meanwhile Samuel grew up: he was in favor both with the Lord and also with men. He became a great prophet of God. Endowed with power from on high, he proclaimed the message of salvation in the days of apostasy. Not only in a few sections of the country was it heard, but from Dan to Beersheba the echoes of the prophetic word resounded. Israel again realized, “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”