1 Samuel 3:18

18 So Samuel told him everything; he did not keep anything back. Eli said, "He is the Lord; he will do whatever seems best to him."

1 Samuel 3:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 3:18

And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him
And so approved himself to be a faithful prophet of God, and man of God, as he is afterwards called; the whole counsel of God is to be declared by his servants the prophets, and the ministers of his word; nothing is to be concealed, which it is the will of God should be made known, whether it be pleasing or displeasing to man:

and he said, it is the Lord;
that has said it, and there is nothing to be said against it, and that will do it; and there is no resisting him: or "the Lord is he" F23; who has a sovereign right to all his creatures, and may dispose of them as he pleases; he is all wise, and does all things well; he is holy and righteous in all his ways and works, and there is no unrighteousness in him; he is faithful to his word, whether in a way of promise or threatening; and all he does to his people is in love, mercy, and kindness:

let him do what seemeth him good;
not what seems good to men, or is so in their esteem, but what seems good to the Lord, who knows what is best for his people, and can do nothing but what is good; all is good he does; there is nothing but goodness in him, and nothing but goodness comes from him; he does good, and nothing else, and even when he afflicts his people; all he does is well done in creation, providence, and grace: and Eli's desire is, that he would fulfil the good pleasure of his will; he appears to be in an excellent temper, not surly and morose, taking it ill that such a message should be sent him by a child; nor was he unaffected with the case of his family, but humbly submitted to the will of God, and acquiesces in it as good, and neither arraigns his justice, nor murmurs at his providences.


FOOTNOTES:

F23 (awh hwhy) (kuriov autov) , Sept. "Dominus ipse", Montanus.

1 Samuel 3:18 In-Context

16 Eli called him, "Samuel, my boy!" "Yes, sir," answered Samuel.
17 "What did the Lord tell you?" Eli asked. "Don't keep anything from me. God will punish you severely if you don't tell me everything he said."
18 So Samuel told him everything; he did not keep anything back. Eli said, "He is the Lord; he will do whatever seems best to him."
19 As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and made come true everything that Samuel said.
20 So all the people of Israel, from one end of the country to the other, knew that Samuel was indeed a prophet of the Lord.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.