A boy tormented by nightmares. But why?" Yet when Samuel ran to him a third time, Eli shared his suspicion:
"I think it is the Lord calling you, my son."
And what should I do?
When the One who calls you calls again, say: "Speak, Lord! Your servant hears you."
Samuel returned to his bed. Sleep fled as if by a wave's hand. The Most High speaks with him! What is He like? And what does He wish to say? Minutes stretched like centuries. And then, the familiar voice again:
Samuel! Samuel!
The boy moved toward the sound. He tried to determine from where the voice came. And he found it. From the Holy of Holies! From the chamber where none could enter! And from there the Most High called to him! Or perhaps toward there?
Samuel!
The young priest tiptoed toward the curtain—light pierced through the gap below. He carefully drew back the edge of the veil and looked within.
Before him stood the legendary Ark of the Covenant upon crossed wooden poles, fashioned from acacia wood. Along the edges of the polished lid were fastened two golden cherubim. Turned face to face, they touched with outstretched wings, forming the back of a throne. Two other wings spread to the sides sheltered their bodies, serving as armrests of the seat of grace. And upon the throne sat He—the Most High! Soft radiance, as if woven from billions of luminous points.
Samuel, entranced by this incredible sight, whispered:
Speak, Lord! For your servant hears you.
And the Lord spoke in a voice wherein could be heard the wind's rush and the ocean's roar, thunder's rolls and echoes in mountains, a lion's roar and a nightingale's trill, the voice of a dove, the call of cranes, and the hum of bees. And much, much more. All sounds of the Universe were woven into the voice of the Creator:
"Samuel!
Behold, I will do a deed in Israel, Of which whoever hears it, Both his ears shall tingle.
On that day I will fulfill upon Eli all that Which I have spoken of his house; I will begin and complete it.
I declared to him that I will punish his house for the guilt, Which he knew—how his sons blaspheme, And he did not restrain them.
And therefore I swear to the house of Eli,
