Last night I was reading 1 Samuel, and something struck me:
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. (1Sa 3:4-10 KJV)
In my Norwegian translation verse 7 reads: Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, BECAUSE the word of the Lord was not yet revealed unto him.
This got me thinking about:
And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. (1Co 4:6 KJV)
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (Joh 17:3 KJV)
Samuel couldn't know the Father, because He hadn't been revealed yet. And he did not know the Lord, for the word of the Lord was not yet revealed unto him. But Samuel learned something important from Eli, he learned how to ANSWER to that voice which he heard. He learned to answer: Speak; for thy servant heareth.
And so we must NOT think above that which is written, because we hear the voice of the Lord in His Word! The voice of the Lord IS His Word! We must strive to LISTEN (read) and humbly say Speak; for thy servant heareth.
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luk 10:38-42 KJV)
One thing is needful - to LISTEN.
Any other views on this?
God bless you all,
Eirik