1 Samuel 3:1-19 KJV
1 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.
2 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;
3 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;
4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5 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.
6 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.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8 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.
9 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.
10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11 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.
12 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.
13 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.
14 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.
15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
17 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.
18 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.
19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

What would you do if God spoke to you the way God spoke to Samuel. Samuel was just a child and did not know it was not Eli that was calling him, but when Eli perceived it might be God. He told Samuel how to answer God. He said to say, "speak for the servanat hears". The story is such a simple Bible story if we stop there. However how does it play out in what God actually tells Samuel. Why did God alert Eli and not just tell Samuel who he was that spoke. God has a little humor perhaps, maybe not. I can see the little boy running to the prophet each time and discovering it not Eli that spoke and God standing behind the door watching. Finally Samuel got it who was speaking and God then told Samuel some awful things that would happen to the people he lived with. That God was going to send judgment upon Eli's sons that were corrupt and Eli as well. . Then Eli the next day wanted to know all God told Samuel and told him not to hide it from him. When Samuel told him, he hid nothing from him. Eli told Samuel, "Let the Lord decide what seems good to him". If we stop there and ask one important question what was Samuel learning first from God and then Eli. Samuel was learning the judgment of God was not his concern but his role was to prophesy it, to speak the truth. Probably the hardest thing ever told to Samuel. Yet a lesson learn early and lesson he would witness at a young age.

What can we learn, we need to learn our job in life that God has called us to has nothing to do with the response of others. If we doing what God says do then why worry about it. If we obey God the first law is to love him and to love others. The message Samuel had to deliver to Eli would be a lesson that would prepare him for a time he spoke God's word to King Saul. One of the hardest calls on his life. If we can remember the compassion Samuel showed and lead the people with we can understand that the judgment that Samuel had to give was hard on him as it was on those that received it. Yet he could not change what would become of another, only that they could repent and yet no repentance seem to come to any that God sent the judgment through the prophet too. Yet Samuel's love for the people was clear through out his ministry. Jesus had compassion for the people has well. Jesus spoke about judgment but he also spoke to the disciples in the last chapter of John about Peter's end and John's end. Speaking the type of death of Peter would experience and it was not Peter's concern how John would die. Hard lesson but one spoken well. You might know God's judgment but you can not prevent it. May know God's will and you can not prevent it. Christ would go to his cross loving the people that persecuted him and yet he rose again to demonstrate love once more. When we have a problem with God's judgment like Samuel, Abraham, and Jonah we have a God that will explain it to us and speak to us about it, though the reason why maybe not completely ever be known us. Excepting God's decision is part of our journey, yet we can repent, we can seek God has David did when he send with Bathesheba. King Hezekiah would repent and Isaiah would turn around and tell him God was going to show him mercy. and mercy on his household. We can not know what God will do if we repent, but if we have sinned we need to confess, we need to seek God has these men did. Cain, Judas, Eli, and King Saul did not repent. A lesson we need to understand must come from a sincere heart.

Dear Heavenly Father, give us grace to do the work you gave us to do and not worry about what will be. Help us to trust your judgment, your will, and your purpose in our life and the lives of others. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: John 21:17-23 KJV
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?