Called: reading for 4 voices, 1 Samuel 3:1-10 — arranged by Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson
This reading can be used to explore the theme: “Hineni: Here I Am” – looking at the idea of spiritually showing up and saying ‘Yes’ to God’s call and invitation.
1 Samuel 3:1-10
Four Voices: Narrator, Eli, God, Samuel
Narrator: Now the boy Samuel was ministering to Yahweh under Eli. The word of Yahweh was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of Yahweh, where the ark of God was. Then Yahweh called,
God: Samuel! Samuel!
Narrator: and Samuel said,
Samuel: Here I am!
Narrator: and Samuel ran to Eli, and said,
Samuel: Here I am, for you called me.
Narrator: But Eli said,
Eli: I did not call; lie down again.
Narrator: So Samuel went and lay down. Yahweh called again,
God: Samuel!
Narrator: Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said,
Samuel: Here I am, for you called me.
Narrator: But Eli said,
Eli: I did not call, my son; lie down again.
Narrator: Now Samuel did not yet know Yahweh, and the word of Yahweh had not yet been revealed to him. Yahweh called Samuel again, a third time. And Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said,
Samuel: Here I am, for you called me.
Narrator: Then Eli perceived that Yahweh was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel,
Eli: “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’”
Narrator: So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now Yahweh came and stood there, calling as before,
God: “Samuel! Samuel!”
Narrator: And Samuel said,
Samuel: “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Featured image above: Sri Lanka child, by Dick Stuart, USA
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- photo by Ben Ulrich
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- Nepal, photo by Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson
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- photo by Hugh Abel
