Who Am I · Day 2
1 Samuel 3:1-10 — a devotion
1 Samuel 3
- 1아이 사무엘이 엘리 앞에서 여호와를 섬길 때에는 여호와의 말씀이 희귀하여 이상이 흔히 보이지 않았더라And 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.The child Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. The LORD’s word was rare in those days. There were not many visions, then.
- 2엘리의 눈이 점점 어두워 가서 잘 보지 못하는 그 때에 그가 자기 처소에 누웠고And 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;At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see),
- 3하나님의 등불은 아직 꺼지지 아니하였으며 사무엘은 하나님의 궤 있는 여호와의 전 안에 누웠더니And 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;and God’s lamp hadn’t yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down in the LORD’s temple where God’s ark was,
- 4여호와께서 사무엘을 부르시는지라 그가 대답하되 내가 여기 있나이다 하고That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.The LORD called Samuel. He said, “Here I am.”
- 5엘리에게로 달려가서 가로되 당신이 나를 부르셨기로 내가 여기 있나이다 가로되 나는 부르지 아니하였으니 다시 누우라 그가 가서 누웠더니And 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.He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He said, “I didn’t call. Lie down again.” He went and lay down.
- 6여호와께서 다시 사무엘을 부르시는지라 사무엘이 일어나서 엘리에게로 가서 가로되 당신이 나를 부르셨기로 내가 여기 있나이다 대답하되 내 아들아 내가 부르지 아니하였으니 다시 누우라 하니라And 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.The LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He answered, “I didn’t call, my son. Lie down again.”
- 7사무엘이 아직 여호와를 알지 못하고 여호와의 말씀도 아직 그에게 나타나지 아니한 때라Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.Now Samuel didn’t yet know the LORD, neither was the LORD’s word yet revealed to him.
- 8여호와께서 세번째 사무엘을 부르시는지라 그가 일어나서 엘리에게로 가서 가로되 당신이 나를 부르셨기로 내가 여기 있나이다 엘리가 여호와께서 이 아이를 부르신 줄을 깨닫고And 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.The LORD called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
- 9이에 사무엘에게 이르되 가서 누웠다가 그가 너를 부르시거든 네가 말하기를 여호와여 말씀하옵소서 주의 종이 듣겠나이다 하라 이에 사무엘이 가서 자기 처소에 누우니라Therefore 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.Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD; for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
- 10여호와께서 임하여 서서 전과 같이 사무엘아 사무엘아 부르시는지라 사무엘이 가로되 말씀하옵소서 주의 종이 듣겠나이다And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.The LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak; for your servant hears.”
KJV and World English Bible — Public Domain · 개역한글 ⓒ Korean Bible Society
Background
This passage is the story of the time when Samuel was growing up under Eli the priest at the temple in Shiloh. The end of the era of the judges was a spiritual dark age for Israel; the expression that God's word was rare means that prophetic revelation had nearly ceased at that time. Eli's eyes were dim so that he could not see well, and this goes beyond a mere physical condition to symbolically portray Israel's spiritual state as well. In such an age, God intended to open a new era not through the existing religious leaders but through the young Samuel. The story of Samuel's calling is an important event that becomes a turning point in Israel's later history.
Reflection questions: 1. If God is calling me, in what ways can I hear His voice? 2. Like Samuel, do I have a posture of continuing to listen even when I don't yet understand God's will well at first? 3. In what area of my life right now do I need to respond to God, "Speak, for thy servant heareth"?
Today's reflection
First Samuel 3:1-10 depicts the young Samuel hearing God's voice for the first time. It was an age when the word of the LORD was rare and visions were not often seen. Samuel heard a voice calling him at night and ran to Eli three times, but Eli said he had not called him. At last Eli realized it was God's calling and taught Samuel how to respond.
This text shows an important truth: that when God calls a person, He does not use age or experience as His standard. Samuel was still a young child who did not yet know the LORD, but God chose and called him. God's calling rests not on our qualifications but on God's sovereign choice. Also, just as Eli taught Samuel how to respond to God's voice, the help of a spiritual mentor plays an important role in discerning God's will.
Recognizing God's voice does not have to be perfect from the start. Samuel too was confused three times, yet in the end he responded rightly to God's voice. If God is calling you now, take courage like Samuel to respond, "Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth." God is one who calls us as precious regardless of our age.
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