SAMUEL, THE LITTLE PRIEST
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| The little Samuel. |
Once, there was a little boy named Samuel who was brought to the Temple with Priest Eli. Priest Eli took Samuel's hand and walked with him in the Temple court. Samuel saw the evening fire burning on the altar. He saw the shiny washbasin and the cloth fence. He heard priests blowing trumpets and people praying. The tiny bells on Priest Eli's robe tinkle-tinkle-tinkled, as Samuel and he walked together.
Priest Eli and Samuel stopped at the Temple door. Everything in the Temple was made of gold-- There was a golden table, a golden altar, and a golden candlestick with seven golden lamps. Samuel watched as Priest Eli went inside the Temple to burn sweet-smelling incense on the golden altar, and pray to God. Samuel hoped that someday God would choose him to be a priest-a priest like Eli. Then he would do God's special work in the Temple.
Samuel helped Priest Eli with the Temple work. Every morning, he got up early to open the curtain doors of the Temple. The curtains were purple and red and blue. Samuel is a busy worker-- He brought wood for the fire. He carried water for the shiny washbasin. He dusted the golden furniture.
Samuel helped Priest Eli fill the seven golden lamps with oil. The lamps must be kept burning, all through the day, all through the night. The oil made the lamps burn with a yellow light. When it began to grow dark, Samuel closed the Temple doors. And then came the time he liked best. It was story time.
Samuel brought his favorite book, and sat on a stool beside Priest Eli. Samuel's book did not have pages to turn. It was a long, long piece of paper rolled into a roll, called a scroll. Priest unrolled the book and read him stories about Joseph, and Moses, and God. Much too soon the stories were over, and it was time to go to bed.
Samuel said good night to Priest Eli. He spread his bed out on the floor. Then he said his prayer and lay down to sleep. Priest Eli slept in a room nearby. If he needed anything in the night he would call Samuel.
Samuel went to sleep. He was sound asleep one-night when a voice called, "S-a-m-u-e-l!" Samuel jumped up. He ran to Priest Eli. "Here I am, for you called me." But Priest Eli said. "I did not call, lie down again." Samuel went back and lay down.
Before Samuel could go to sleep, the voice called again, "S-a-m-u-e-l!" Samuel jumped up quickly and ran to Priest Eli. "Here I am, for you called me." But Priest Eli said, "I did not call, my son, lie down again." Samuel went slowly back to bed. He was sure someone had called him.
Almost before Samuel's head was on his pillow, the voice called, "S-a-m-u-e-l!" Samuel jumped up and ran to Priest Eli. "Here I am, for you did call me." Then Priest Eli knew that it must be God who was calling Samuel. He said, "Go lie down and if He calls again, say, 'Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.' " Once more Samuel lay down on his bed.
Samuel lay wide awake . . . listening . . . listening! Then the voice called, "S-a-m-u-e-l!
S-a-m-u-e-l! Samuel sat up in bed. In almost a whisper he said, "Speak, for thy servant heareth." And God heard Samuel's whisper. God talked to Samuel and told Him many things. God told Samuel He had chosen him to be a priest. This made Samuel happy. Now he wasn't just a little boy named Samuel. He was SAMUEL, THE LITTLE PRIEST.
GENUFLECT
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| God talked to Samuel and told Him many things. |
Here is the reflection in the story that eventually it relates to one's prayer life.
In the story "Samuel, the Little Priest". the Lord called on Samuel. At that time, the Word of the Lord was not yet widespread at those times. Samuel thought it was Eli who called him. for Samuel does not know the Word of the Lord that is revealed to him.
The striking point in the given scripture is that the Lord is calling Samuel while he is laying down in his bed upon the tabernacle of the Lord where the Ark of God was. Simply speaking upon this reflection, it is as if the Lord speaks to Samuel almost before sleeping, asking Priest Eli, realizing that it was God. Thus, it give Priest Eli the idea that he told Samuel what to do, saying "Speak, for Your servant hears."
It was like our prayers. We communicate to God and let Him and His blessings close to us. With prayer comes absolute silence. It It is from there that we can hear God clearly in a sense that all of those problems will be gone a sudden. And it is a good thing to see that God is there to listen, speak, and influence us in our direction of life.
Prayer in all cases are like in the case of Samuel. Like him, we pray to the Lord. With us praying, let us not forget that upon praying especially in the deafness of silence. We can heed the Lord God's call as what Samuel did in the scriptures.
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