Why did God call Samuel three times before Eli realized it was the Lord? Historical Setting and Literary Context The scene unfolds “in those days the word of the LORD was rare; visions were infrequent” (1 Samuel 3:1). Shiloh’s sanctuary is run by Eli, an aging priest whose eyesight—physical and spiritual—“had begun to grow dim” (v. 2). Samuel, perhaps twelve, “was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was” (v. 3), faithfully executing tabernacle duties (cf. 2:18). The threefold call occurs against a backdrop of national spiritual lethargy and priestly corruption (2:12-17, 22-25). Why Three Calls?—Immediate Narrative Reasons 1. Samuel “did not yet know the LORD, because the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him” (v. 7). As a novice, he assumes a human voice; the repetition gently educates him in divine communication. 2. Eli’s spiritual dullness delays recognition. Only after the third disturbance does he connect the experience to Yahweh, instructing Samuel accordingly (v. 8-9). 3. The triadic call publicly vindicates Samuel as a genuine prophet, witnessed and authenticated by Israel’s high priest. Symbolic Significance of the Number Three Throughout Scripture, “three” marks confirmation and completeness: • “By the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter will be established” (Deuteronomy 19:15). • The Lord appears to young Samuel after three summonses, paralleling Jonah’s three days (Jonah 1:17), Hosea’s restoration “on the third day” (Hosea 6:2), and ultimately Christ’s third-day resurrection (Luke 24:46). The pattern signals that the forthcoming message is fully reliable and divinely sealed. Theological Implications • Divine Initiative: God pursues the listener (John 6:44). Samuel does not seek a revelation; Yahweh intervenes. • Prophetic Transition: Eli’s house is ending; Samuel inaugurates a new prophetic order (3:19-21), foreshadowing Christ, the ultimate Prophet (Acts 3:22-26). • Grace Amid Apostasy: Even when “the lamp of God had not yet gone out” (v. 3)—metaphorically near extinction—God preserves revelation. Character Studies Eli: Once discerning (1:12-17), now slow. Yet he retains sufficient piety to guide Samuel when realization dawns. Samuel: Humble, obedient (“Here I am”), teachable. The triple summons molds him for lifelong responsiveness (7:9; 12:23). Pedagogical Purpose for Israel Hearing God required covenant faithfulness, not mere lineage. Israel learns that revelation is transferred to the spiritually responsive, not automatically to the hereditary priesthood. Archaeological and Manuscript Corroboration • Tel Shiloh excavations (2017-2022) reveal Iron Age I storage silos and cultic installations, consistent with a central sanctuary during Samuel’s youth. • The continuity of 1 Samuel 3 in the Septuagint, Masoretic Text, and Dead Sea Scroll fragments demonstrates textual stability, rebutting claims of legendary embellishment. Cross-References to Later Scripture • God likewise repeats names to mark critical turning points: “Moses, Moses” (Exodus 3:4), “Saul, Saul” (Acts 9:4). • Jesus employs a triadic query to reinstate Peter (John 21:15-17), echoing Samuel’s pattern of confirmation. Practical Application for Believers 1. Cultivate attentiveness; divine communication is often gentle and requires receptivity (1 Kings 19:12-13). 2. Esteem spiritual mentors while testing all things against Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21). 3. Expect God’s persistence; He seeks relationship, not mere duty (Revelation 3:20). Conclusion God called Samuel three times to expose Eli’s dullness, apprentice a new prophet, confirm the message’s certainty through a biblically significant number, and model the persistent grace by which He still summons people to hear, respond, and glorify Him. |
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