How does Samuel's response in 1 Samuel 3:5 demonstrate obedience to authority? Setting the scene Young Samuel is serving in the tabernacle at Shiloh, apprenticed to the aging priest Eli. It is night, the lamp of God is still burning, and Samuel is resting when he hears his name. Samuel’s immediate response BSB: “He ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, for you have called me.’ ” (1 Samuel 3:5) What obedience looks like in this moment • Swift action—“He ran,” wasting no time. • Availability—“Here I am,” offering himself without hesitation. • Submission—He assumes Eli’s voice has ultimate claim on him. • Teachability—He is ready to receive whatever instruction Eli might give. • Respectful address—He speaks plainly, neither questioning nor arguing. Layers of authority honored 1. Parental-like authority: Eli is Samuel’s guardian and spiritual mentor (see 1 Samuel 1:24-28). 2. Priestly authority: Eli is the high priest; Samuel recognizes that role. 3. Divine authority behind human authority: By obeying Eli, Samuel is ultimately obeying God, who placed Eli over him. Why his response matters • It sets the pattern for Samuel’s lifelong ministry of hearing and delivering God’s word faithfully (compare 1 Samuel 3:19). • It contrasts sharply with Eli’s own sons, who despised authority and “showed contempt for the LORD’s offering” (1 Samuel 2:17). • It demonstrates that even before Samuel knows God’s voice, his heart is already tuned to obey the one God has set over him. Supporting Scriptures • Ephesians 6:1: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” • Hebrews 13:17: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls.” • Proverbs 1:8: “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” Personal takeaways • Prompt obedience to legitimate authority positions us to hear God more clearly. • A willing heart—expressed in simple words like “Here I am”—often precedes significant spiritual calling. • Respect for earthly leaders reflects trust in God’s ordered design, even when those leaders are imperfect like Eli. |
    |