Hearing the Voice of God
1 Samuel 3:1-10
1 Samuel 3:1-2, (NIV)
The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.
1 Samuel 14:37-38, (NIV)
So Saul asked God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel's hand?" But God did not answer him that day. Saul therefore said, "Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed today.
1 Samuel 28:6, (ESV)
And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.
Amos 8:11, (NIV)
The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine through the land — not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.
1 Samuel 3:1b-2, (NIV)
In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.
1 Samuel 3:3,
The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
1 Samuel 3:4-12, (NIV)
Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down. Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.
Psalm 25:14, (MSG)
God-friendship is for God-worshipers; They are the ones he confides in.
1. Repentance
1 Samuel 2:31, (NIV)
For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them.
1 Samuel 2:22, (NIV)
Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
1 Samuel 2:29, (NIV)
Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling?
1 Samuel 2:30, (NIV)
But now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.
2. Position yourself close to God
1 Samuel 3:3b, (NIV)
Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
3. Serve in the house of God
1 Samuel 3:1a,
The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli's direction.
4. Listen for God’s voice
5. When God calls respond eagerly
1 Samuel 3:4-10, (NIV)
Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down. Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
6. When God speaks obey Him
1 Samuel 16:1-2,
The LORD said to Samuel... “Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king." But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me." The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'”
7. Read and study God’s Word
1 Samuel 3:21, (NIV)
The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
Romans 10:17, (NKJV)
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Psalm 119:105, (ESV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
