That God did the calling is apparent. The extent to which God determined to go in order for Samuel to hear that calling is amazing.

1Samuel 3 this morning . . .

We’re still in the chaotic, corrupt era of the judges, a time when “the word of the LORD was rare in those days” and “there was no frequent vision” (1Sam. 3:1b). Every man doing what was right in their own eyes (Jug. 21:25), no man really listening for God.

Sure, religious activity continued, but the priests were corrupt, and you get the sense that the people were just going through the motions. But then God determines to move a barren woman to pray, so that He might answer her prayer and take her up on her pledge to dedicate her boy to God for “all the days of his life” (1Sam. 1:10-11). And so, as a young boy, Samuel “is lent to the LORD” for as long as he lives (1Sam. 1:25-28).

Okay, now things are happening. Samuel, miraculously conceived, has been dedicated to serving the LORD. Just one problem, Samuel “did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him” (1Sam. 3:7). He was growing “in both stature and favor with the LORD” (1Sam. 2:26), he was ministering to the LORD (1Sam. 3:1a), but he didn’t know the LORD. Cue the LORD.

Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.

Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.

(1Samuel 3:2b-5 ESV)

Can’t blame the kid for not picking up on what God was laying down. The word of the LORD was rare in those days. Visions were even rarer. But God persists. Two more times He calls. Two more times Samuel goes to Eli and says, “What do you want?” And then the old man figures it out.

Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if He calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.'”

(1Samuel 3:8b-9 ESV)

And it does happen again. But not quite the way it happened the prior three times.

And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

(1Samuel 3:10 ESV)

The LORD came and stood . . .

He entered Samuel’s world in order to utter Samuel’s name. This time He wasn’t just a mere voice, but He was present as a Living Word. In fact, you might say the Word effectively somehow became flesh. Sound familiar? I’m thinking . . . (John 1:14).

The LORD called not just from a distance, but He came, and He called. He stood and He spoke. He arrived and He announced. He was present and He proclaimed.

Oh, the condescending grace of God! Towards Samuel and towards us.

While God could have determined to call us only from a distance through the testimony of His created world (Rom. 1:19-20), instead, through His Son, He entered creation — emptying Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men (Php. 2:7) — so that He might come and stand and call to all those with hears to hear, “Follow Me!”

The LORD came and stood in order to call. How can I not but bend and bow in response.

Worshiping again because of His amazing grace.

Responding afresh, “Speak, for your servant hears”, only for His glory.

Amen?