1 Samuel 3:1-21 GW

[1] The boy Samuel was serving the LORD under Eli. In those days a prophecy from the LORD was rare; visions were infrequent. [2] One night Eli was lying down in his room. His eyesight had begun to fail so that he couldn't see well. [3] The lamp in God's temple hadn't gone out yet, and Samuel was asleep in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was kept. [4] Then the LORD called Samuel. "Here I am," Samuel responded. [5] He ran to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me." "I didn't call you," Eli replied. "Go back to bed." So Samuel went back and lay down. [6] The LORD called Samuel again. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, "Here I am. You called me." "I didn't call you, son," he responded. "Go back to bed." [7] Samuel had no experience with the LORD, because the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. [8] The LORD called Samuel a third time. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, "Here I am. You called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. [9] "Go, lie down," Eli told Samuel. "When he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD. I'm listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his room. [10] The LORD came and stood there. He called as he had called the other times: "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Speak. I'm listening." [11] Then the LORD said to Samuel, "I am going to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears it ring. [12] On that day I am going to do to Eli and his family everything I said from beginning to end. [13] I told him that I would hand down a permanent judgment against his household because he knew about his sons' sin-that they were cursing God-but he didn't try to stop them. [14] That is why I have taken an oath concerning Eli's family line: No offering or sacrifice will ever be able to make peace for the sins that Eli's family committed." [15] Samuel remained in bed until morning. Then he opened the doors of the LORD's house. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision. [16] Then Eli called Samuel. "Samuel, my son!" he said. "Here I am," he responded. [17] "What did the LORD tell you?" he asked. "Please don't hide anything from me. May God strike you dead if you hide anything he told you from me." [18] So Samuel told Eli everything. Eli replied, "He is the LORD. May he do what he thinks is right." [19] Samuel grew up. The LORD was with him and didn't let any of his words go unfulfilled. [20] All Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew Samuel was the LORD's appointed prophet. [21] The LORD continued to appear in Shiloh, since the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh through the word of the LORD. And Samuel spoke to all Israel.