God Will Reveal Himself Again

And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision. I Samuel 3:1 (KJV)

The Word of the Lord was precious, meaning it was rare and valuable. There was no open vision, or no supernatural revelation of God’s will. There was no prophetic word or divine illumination of God’s will at that time.

And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; I Samuel 3:2 (KJV)

Eli was the high priest. The fact that his eyesight was growing dim and he could not see is a picture of spiritual blindness. The priesthood and the people were not attuned to God.

And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; I Samuel 3:3 (KJV)

The light in the temple went out, where the ark of God was. The ark represents the presence of God. The presence of God gives light. We need His presence to gives us light so we can see to do the right thing so we serve God with purity. The priesthood and the people were not receiving illumination and direction from God because the presence of God was not there.

That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. I Samuel 3:4-11 (KJV)

God called to Samuel and revealed Himself to Samuel. Thus, God was once again giving an open vision and Word from Him. Once again, the Lord was revealing Himself. He tells Samuel what He will do: remove Eli and his family from the priesthood forever. In Samuel, God found someone who was open to Him and His Word so He could speak to him.

In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. I Samuel 3:12 (KJV)

This speaks of divine removals.

For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. I Samuel 3 :13 (KJV)

This speaks of divine judgment.

And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. And he said, What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good. I Samuel 3:14-18 (KJV)

Samuel goes and tells Eli what God has said and shown him, thus decreeing the changing of the times.

God was revealing Himself again and speaking to man once more. This showed a new era was upon them. God would find a faithful priest in Samuel. True to His Word, God did remove Eli and his house and established Samuel.

And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord. I Samuel 3:21 (KJV)

As we position ourselves to hear and see God through His written Word, God will speak and reveal Himself to us, using us as He sees best.