サムエル記上3:1-21 1 Samuel 3:1-21,

It was about 100 years after the Israelites had lived in the land of Canaan given to them by God. At that time, Israel did not yet have a king to rule. and So Eli, a priest in the service of God, led the Israelites. In those days, there was a woman called Hannah who was married and childless. Hannah prayed fervently, saying, “If you give me a son, I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life.” And she received a son. She named the child Samuel.

Hannah gave the child Samuel to Eli the priest to be brought up in his house. She thought it would be better for him to be brought up in the house of the priest in the service of God, because she had vowed that she would devote his life to God. Eli the priest had children who had already grown up and become young men. These children were priests, but they were rascals. When the people brought oxen, sheep or goats as a peace offering to God, they intercepted the offering and ate them. According to the Old Testament law, the fat of the ox, sheep or goat was to be burnt on the altar and offered to God, the breast and the right thigh were to be the priest’s, and the rest of the meat was to be returned to the person who offered it and eaten. However, Eli’s children did not follow this rule and ate the meat they wanted. And even when the father, Eli, cautioned them, they refused to stop their bad behaviour.

Unlike these bad children, Samuel grew up to be a faithful servant of God. Samuel worshipped God in the temple and slept in the temple at night. One night, Samuel heard a voice calling his name. Thinking it was Eli calling him, Samuel replied, “Here I am!” He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” It is strange! When Samuel returned to the temple to sleep, he heard the voice calling his name again. So once again Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But again Eli said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” How strange! When Samuel returned to the temple to sleep again, he heard the voice calling him for the third time. Samuel went to Eli the third time and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli realised that it was God who was calling Samuel. Then he said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’”

Samuel went back and slept in his place, and for the fourth time he heard a voice calling to him, “Samuel! Samuel!” So Samuel said, as Eli had taught him, “Speak, for your servant hears.” Then God said, “I will judge the house of Eli because his sons have done wrong and Eli did not restrain them. The sins of the house of Eli will not be forgiven.” What God told Samuel was a harsh word of judgement against the house of Eli. Eli the priest heard God’s word from Samuel. He said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.” In this way, Samuel began his ministry as a prophet, carrying on God’s word from childhood. Then, through Samuel, God appointed David king of Israel.