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Samuel was still living with Eli;
and he was kind and obedient, when Eli's own sons were rebellious and
self-willed. Samuel did not know much about God, but he wished to
know more, and he was glad and attentive when Eli told him about holy
things. One night, when
Samuel was in bed, he heard a voice calling, "Samuel,
Samuel." It was God who called; but Samuel did not know this,
because God had never called him before. So Samuel arose directly,
and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for thou calledst
me." But Eli answered, "No, my son, I called not; lie down
again." Then Samuel went again and lay down; but soon the voice
called the second time, "Samuel." Samuel still thought it
was Eli's voice, and he went again to the old priest, and said, "Here
I am." But Eli said, "My dear child, I did not call; go
and lie down again." Samuel obeyed; he wondered who had called
him: but he did not ask questions; he did what Eli told him, and lay
down quietly in his bed. Did God call again? Yes; the third
time, He said, "Samuel, Samuel." Was not Samuel tired of
running to Eli? No, he went again to him directly; he was not
impatient because he was called so often. When
Eli saw Samuel running to him again, he began to think it was God who had
called the child. So he said, "Go, and lie down; and, if He
call again, thou shalt say, Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth."
So Samuel went back, and lay down; wondering why the holy God should speak
to him a poor sinful boy. Did the voice call again? Yes, the
Lord called the fourth time, "Samuel, Samuel." Then the
boy arose, and looked up humbly to Heaven, and said, "Speak, for thy
servant heareth." It
is very pleasant when children early learn to serve and love God, like
Samuel. God calls children now. How? Does He speak to
them with a loud voice, and call them by their names? No; they
cannot hear His voice; but He speaks to them in His word, in
the Bible. What does He say? He says, "My son, give me
thine heart." Proverbs 23:26. "I love them
that love me, and they that seek me early shall find me." Proverbs
8:17. "Seek ye my face." Psalms 27:8.
Do you wish to have God for your friend and savior? Then you must,
like Samuel, attend to Him, and obey Him, and say, "Thy face, Lord,
will I seek."
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