] For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it.

-10] Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon. [2] One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. [3] The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God. [4] Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” [5] He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did. [6] Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!” Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.” [7] Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. [8] So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. [9] So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening*.’” So Samuel went back to bed. [10] And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening*.”

a] “Be still, and know that I am God!

] My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

] but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.