#3 Heard By God

1 Samuel 3 NKJV

1 Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. 2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, 3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, 4 that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” 5 So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down. 6 Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.) 8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” 11 Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. 14 And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” 15 So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. 16 Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” He answered, “Here I am.” 17 And he said, “What is the word that the Lord spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that He said to you.” 18 Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him.” 19 So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord. 21 Then the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

INTRO

Although God had spoken directly and audibly with Moses and Joshua, his word became rare during the 3 centuries of rule by judges.

Difficult times where the Lord was not speaking - V1b “and the word of the Lord was rare in those days”

The spiritual leaders were corrupt, and God’s people weren’t obeying His law anyways, so why should God say anything new to them? It was a tragic day in the nation of Israel when the living God no longer sent His people signs and prophetic messages.

Why is this happening? Look at the attitude of Eli’s sons. They either refused to listen to God or allowed greed to get in the way of any communication with Him.

The silence of God was the judgment of God.

Psalm 74:9 NKJV

9 We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet; Nor is there any among us who knows how long.

Ezekiel 7:26 NKJV

26 Disaster will come upon disaster, And rumor will be upon rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet; But the law will perish from the priest, And counsel from the elders.

But God was about to change the situation and speak His precious Word to a young boy who would listen and obey.

Samuel was probably 12 yeas old when the Lord spoke to him one night as he lay in the tabernacle.

Attentive Ear (Sanctity)

1 Samuel 3:2–4 NKJV

2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, 3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, 4 that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!”

A godly life can develop in spite of ungodly influences surrounding it. So it was with Moses in Egypt, Daniel in Babylon, and our Lord in Nazareth.

Samuel was not isolated, but he was separated.

He belonged to the Lord. Daily, he was in contact with sin, and yet he was not contaminated by it.

The Lord spoke to Samuel 4 times - first 3 he thought is was Eli calling him.

One of the mark of a faithful servant is an attentive ear and an immediate response.

Listening and responding (obeying) is vital in a relationship with God.

Although God does not always use the sound of a human voice, he always speaks clearly through His Word.

To receive his messages, we must be ready to listen and to act upon what he tells us. Like Samuel be ready to say “here I am” when God calls you to action;

Submitted to Authority (Authority)

1 Samuel 3:8–9 NKJV

8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Even though Eli was not the most godly example or mentor, young Samuel submitted to his authority. We submit to mans’s authority “for the Lord’s sake”

1 Peter 2:13–18 NKJV

13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.

For we serve God not men. We trust Him to protect us and work out His will even in the lives of ungodly people.

Samuel obeyed Eli, went back to his sleeping place, and waited for the voice to come again. This time God spoke the boy’s name twice. “ Samuel, Samuel..” V10

1 Samuel 3:10 NKJV

10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

Not only that, the Lord came and stood near Samuel as He spoke to him. This experience wasn’t a dream or a vision but a manifestation of the presence of the Lord.

Because Samuel was obedient to God and to Eli, he heard the message form the Lord and learned what God planned to do.

Faithful Servant (FIDELITY)

1 Samuel 3:15 NKJV

15 So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision.

Samuel had heard the voice of God and received the message of God, but he still got up early and went to his old tasks.

He opened the doors of the sanctuary so the people could come to sacrifice, and he said nothing to Eli about what God had told him. This shows remarkable maturity on the part of a young boy.

Most youths would have been proud of their experience with the Lord, rushed around delivering the message, and would not have stopped to open doors.

God gave His message to Samuel because He knew Samuel was faithful.

Being faithful in a few small things prepares you for bigger things.

Matthew 25:21 NKJV

21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

The nations would now listen to Samuel’s words, for they knew he was God’s spokesman.

God had chosen Samuel to be the judge, priest, and prophet, so the light of truth would keep burning in Israel.

All the old man could do was to wait patiently for the sword to fall.

2 times we’re told that Samuel grew.

1 Samuel 2:21 NKJV

21 And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the Lord.

1 Samuel 3:19 NKJV

19 So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

but the affirmation is added “the Lord was with him”,

The Lord was against Eli and his sons, but His blessing was upon Samuel and his ministry.

Unlike the other judges, Samuel’s words and influence would reach the entire nation.

The people recognized that God had called Samuel to be a prophet and declare the Word of God and the will of God.

Israel was about to experience a new beginning that would lead to new challenges and dangers as well as new blessing and victories.

Call to Action

Are you ready to listen and obey

Submitted to Authority

Faithful Servant