1 Samuel 3:2
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; 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;
The verse shows the aged high priest Eli lying down in his own place at night with eyes grown so dim that he could not see. At that time the word of the Lord was rare and there was no open vision because the sins of Eli and his sons had shut out the Holy Spirit. God passed the aged priest by to speak to and call the youthful child Samuel as prophet, making that commission a bitter yet deserved rebuke to Eli and his house. Eli had dishonored God by indulging his sons and failing to restrain and remove them from holy office though they were utterly unfitted for it, thus honoring his sons above God. Yet Samuel, though a mere child surrounded by the most corrupting influences, walked untainted and without fellowship in those sins, showing that God educates children in youth and can communicate with and shape all who give themselves to Him to carry sacred truth.
Verse Setting and Turning
The night scene finds the aged high priest Eli laid down in his own place, his eyes grown so dim that he could not see. At that same time the word of the Lord was rare and there was no open vision, because the sins of Eli and his sons had shut out the Holy Spirit. While Eli lay there, Samuel lay to sleep near the ark before the lamp of God went out. God then ceased speaking to Eli and passed the aged priest by to speak to and call the youthful child Samuel instead, who had been educated for the Lord in his youth and who gave himself to Him.
The child's commission as prophet was a bitter yet deserved rebuke to Eli and his house, with the Lord revealing to Samuel what was to come upon them because of sin. Eli received this shift without envy or jealousy by directing Samuel how to answer God. The verse belongs to the first three chapters of 1 Samuel which are to be read carefully because they show how hidden impurity in those in sacred office brings God's displeasure upon the church. Those chapters show the sons of Eli doing wickedly and making the Lord's people to transgress, Eli reproving them with words but not removing the transgressors from their office, and the Lord sending the message that Eli honored his sons above God and that those who honor God He will honor and those who despise Him shall be lightly esteemed.
Parental Neglect and Corruption
Eli dishonored God by neglecting his duty as a parent, indulging his sons instead of restraining their wrong habits and practices even though they were utterly unfitted for holy office. He failed to judge his own sons and to separate them from the Lord's service. Those sons ministered in holy office yet did wickedly while controlled by Satan, polluting the whole atmosphere around them. They made the Lord's people to transgress, while men and women were daily fascinated with sin and wrong and fearful reports filled Israel.
Eli reproved them only with words and did not remove the transgressors from their office. In so doing he honored his sons above God. God sent the message that those who honor Him He will honor, and those who despise Him shall be lightly esteemed. He revealed to the youthful Samuel what was to come upon Eli and his house because of this sin.
Example for Children Today
Samuel was a mere child surrounded by the most corrupting influences at the time Eli lay down with failing sight. He saw and heard things that grieved his soul, for the sons of Eli ministered in holy office while controlled by Satan and polluted the whole atmosphere around them, and men and women were daily fascinated with sin and wrong while fearful reports filled Israel. Yet he walked untainted with spotless robes of character, having no fellowship with or delight in those sins. He loved God and kept his soul in such close connection with Heaven that an angel was sent to talk with him about the sins of Eli's sons which were corrupting Israel.
The Lord claims young men and children as His helping hand, using Samuel when he was a mere child to do a good and gracious work. He was educated for the Lord in His youth, for God passed by the aged Eli and spoke with the child Samuel. God prepares children as well as men and women for His work and makes them His messengers, fitting even children to carry sacred truth and calling the child Samuel to make His message known. God can work with children and young people who give themselves to Him and are willing to be guided by His Spirit to share truth.
God can communicate with and shape the minds of children and youth, revealing Himself to Samuel while he was still a child to show that children and youth can know and serve God. Even a child can do a good and gracious work when willing to be guided, whereas older people who receive God's messages may be so fixed in their ways that they do not hear with a firm will to obey. His life shows that youth can have principles so firm that the most powerful temptations of Satan will not draw them away from allegiance, standing as those who see not and hear not amid evil communications. They fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life by uniting weakness and ignorance to Christ's strength and wisdom in firm reliance on divine strength. His history teaches parents to guide their children from infancy in obedience to God and in forming characters like His, and shows that a bad example did not make failure inevitable because even those under it could have remained faithful to the Lord.