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For Children · Lesson 39 · F. Samuel, Saul, and David

God Calls Samuel

Read together in your Bible: 1 Samuel 3 (King James Version)

Little Samuel wakes in the night and listens for God's voice
Memory Verse — Hide It in Your Heart
“And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.”
1 Samuel 3:10 · KJV

Say it together morning and night until you know it by heart — these are the very words of God.

The Story

Little Samuel lived in the house of the LORD at Shiloh, helping old Eli the priest. In those days, God did not speak to people very often: "the word of the LORD was precious in those days" — precious because it was so rare, like a treasure hardly ever seen. But God was about to speak to a child.

One night, Samuel was lying down to sleep in the temple, not far from the ark of God, while the lamp of God was still burning. Suddenly, out of the quiet dark, a voice called his name: Samuel! Samuel jumped up and ran to Eli's bedside, saying, "Here am I" — he was sure Eli had called him. But Eli said he had not called, and told the boy to lie down again. So Samuel went back to bed.

Again the voice called: Samuel! Again the boy ran to Eli: here am I, for you called me. Again Eli said, I called not, my son; lie down again. Samuel did not yet know the LORD's voice, for God had never spoken to him before. The LORD called a third time, and Samuel ran to Eli a third time — and at last Eli understood: it was the LORD who was calling the child! So Eli taught Samuel the right answer. If the voice called again, he was to say: "Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth".

Samuel lay down in his place, and waited. And this time the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times: Samuel, Samuel! And Samuel answered with the words Eli had taught him — his answer is our memory verse. Then God gave Samuel a serious and solemn message. Because Eli's sons had done wickedly, and Eli had not stopped them, God would judge Eli's house. It was a heavy message for a boy to carry.

In the morning, Samuel got up and opened the doors of God's house as usual. He was afraid to tell Eli what God had said. But Eli called him and asked him honestly, and Samuel was brave and truthful: he told Eli every single thing, and hid nothing from him. Eli answered humbly: "It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good".

From that night, everything changed. Samuel kept growing, "the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground" — every word God gave Samuel came true. And all Israel, from one end of the land to the other, knew that Samuel was God's prophet. The God who called a little boy by name in the night had not come to a king or a priest first — He came to a child who was lying still, ready to listen.

The Big Truth

God spoke to a little boy who was listening — God still loves to speak to children who listen.

What We Learn

  1. God spoke to a child — He still loves to speak to children today, through His Word, the Bible, whenever we will listen.
  2. Samuel ran quickly and answered humbly; and when God spoke, he listened with his whole heart. Listening well is something we can learn, like Samuel did.
  3. Samuel told the truth bravely, even when the message was hard — and Eli received it humbly. God helps us both to speak truth and to hear it.

Talk About It

  1. Why did Samuel keep running to Eli during the night?
  2. What did Eli teach Samuel to say, and what did Samuel do the next morning?
  3. How can you be a good listener to God this week — when is a quiet time you could read or hear the Bible and listen with your whole heart?

Fun to Do

Play Samuel Says! It is like Simon Says, but the leader plays Eli teaching Samuel: whenever the leader says Samuel says before an action (clap, hop, fold your hands), do it — but if the leader gives an action without Samuel says, stay perfectly still and listen. The last one still listening carefully wins. End the game lying down quietly, hands folded, saying Samuel's answer together.

Let’s Pray

Dear God, I am listening. Help me to hear Your words when the Bible is read, and to obey them with my whole heart. Amen.

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“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” — Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
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