again, through Samuel, in all Israel, so that his people’s history could move forward to its great consummation in Christ. Our text begins: v. 1—The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. Samuel, who had been brought to the sanctuary and dedicated to the Lord as a young child, had now grown to be a youth. From little on he had, under the direction of Eli, performed various services in and around the sanctuary in