Speak, For Your Servant Hears:

1 Samuel 3:4–11 NASB95

that the Lord called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.” Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he answered, “I did not call, my son, lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord yet been revealed to him. So the Lord called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that the Lord was calling the boy. And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” The Lord said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

Called By God:

God calls Samuel.

Samuel doesn’t know the voice of the Lord (V.7).

God calls all people:

General call (for all people)

But we don’t listen. Our ears are deaf, our eyes blind, our spirits dead (Ephesians 2:1-2), (Jer. 6:10), (Jer 17,23).

[Ask Kids]: What happens when your parent calls you, but you don’t listen? Are there consequences?

Called By Grace:

God calls Samuel, and Samuel responds, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” (V.10).

God doesn’t have to call Samuel. Samuel was just as messed up as the bad guys… Yet, calling him for his purposes was to God’s glory.

We see this same miracle happen in the Church: (Ephesians 1:4) & Ephesians 1:13).

Effectual calling (for his church)

God calls his church by the power of the gospel, which is accomplished through Christ. (Matt 11:28), (Jn 7:37), (Jn 6:43).

[Ask Kids]: Do you know when your mom or dad calls you specifically? Do they call you by name?

Daily Calling:

Does God’s calling end there?

Christ spoke to us, commanding that we share the gospel.

The Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Word, the Church, and his illumination of sin in our life.

Application:

Pray that God would give us ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart that finds joy in His calling through the gospel.