What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 3:21? And the LORD • The verse opens by putting the spotlight squarely on God, not on Samuel. Just as in Genesis 1:1, the initiative is His. • “The LORD” (“YHWH”) is the covenant name revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:14–15), stressing God’s faithfulness to act for His people. • This same Lord had already called Samuel by name earlier in the chapter, showing a personal, relational God (1 Samuel 3:10; compare John 10:3). continued to appear • The phrase points to an ongoing pattern, not a one-time event. Earlier, “the word of the LORD was rare” (1 Samuel 3:1), but now that drought is ending. • God’s consistent appearances echo His repeated visits to the patriarchs (Genesis 26:2; 35:9) and anticipate His promise never to leave nor forsake (Hebrews 13:5). • For Israel, this meant guidance and correction were once again flowing; for us, it reminds us that God’s self-revelation in Scripture is steady and reliable (2 Peter 1:19). at Shiloh • Shiloh housed the tabernacle and the ark (Joshua 18:1; 1 Samuel 1:3). It functioned as Israel’s worship center before Jerusalem. • By choosing Shiloh, God honored the place where sacrifices and prayers had been offered (1 Samuel 1:24-28). • Jeremiah later points back to Shiloh as a warning (Jeremiah 7:12-14), underlining that privilege brings responsibility. because there He revealed Himself • God’s “appearance” is tied to self-revelation. He is not distant or hidden; He makes Himself known (Amos 3:7; John 14:21). • Revelation is always purposeful—God shows Himself so His people can know His character and follow His ways (Psalm 103:7). • This continues the pattern of redemptive history: God acts, then explains His actions so we can respond in faith (Exodus 6:2-8). to Samuel • The revelation is personal. Samuel, still a young man, becomes God’s chosen mouthpiece (1 Samuel 2:35; Jeremiah 1:6-9). • God often uses unlikely servants to shame human pride (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). • Samuel’s growth “in stature and favor with the LORD and with men” (1 Samuel 2:26; compare Luke 2:52) shows what God can do with a surrendered life. by His word • The channel of revelation is explicitly “His word.” Even divine appearances serve to communicate authoritative truth (Psalm 119:89). • Hebrews 1:1-2 captures this principle: “God, having spoken at many times and in various ways… has spoken to us by His Son.” • The reliability of God’s word is underscored in 1 Samuel 3:19—“The LORD let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.” • For believers today, Scripture remains the primary means by which God reveals Himself (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Isaiah 55:11). summary 1 Samuel 3:21 assures us that the covenant God deliberately, continually, and verbally reveals Himself. He chose Shiloh as the setting, Samuel as the servant, and His word as the vehicle. The verse invites us to trust that the same faithful Lord still speaks through His written word, guiding those who, like Samuel, are ready to listen and obey. |
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