A unique phrase describes Samuel as he matured from a boy to a young man under the tutelage of Eli – Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

What does this mean?

The New Living Translation renders the Hebrew phrase as Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.

Samuel’s words proved reliable. Not that he preached brilliantly and delighted audiences, but that Samuel spoke accurately and truthfully. Samuel developed into a trusted, proven prophet of the Lord.

I’m encouraged to read Samuel’s story. Dedicated at birth by a mother desperate for a child, raised from boyhood in a temple surrounded by priests, addressed directly by the Lord at an early age, and due to this reliability, confirmed as a prophet.

The Lord prepared Samuel to lead Israel well before his birth.

I wonder, what pieces are moving into place as the Lord prepares the way for his next yet-to-be-born leader?

I Samuel 3:19 in week sixteen of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Kane Reinholdtsen