The Most Important Voice

Introduction

It’s a small world — video

Do you like that song?

Music is a big thing for most people — we all have our favorite styles and certain songs that really speak to us or pick us up

What about those songs drive you crazy? You get a line or two stuck in your head and it just keeps cycling. They call this kind of music “earworms.” — it’s a real thing that can’t be explained. It just happens

What would be an example of a song like that — one of those that get in your head and won’t quit?

Whoomp, there it is / Mission Impossible theme / What does the fox say? / Who let the dogs out? / You’ve got to move it, move it / If I were you, I would wanna be like me / The wheels on the bus go round and round / My bologna has a first name… / It’s a small world after all

We live with many sounds — television, all kinds of technology that we stream all kinds of stuff on — cars and trucks driving by, airplanes overhead, the washer and dryer, and…once in a while, we get to listen to absolute silence.

The most important sounds we hear are voices

The most important voices for me belong to my wife, my children and grandchildren — then there are the voices of others in my family and, of course, my friends.

NARRATIVE

There was a Hebrew man, Elkanah — who had two wives (not the best situation…but there you have it). Peninnah, who had several sons and daughters - and Hannah, who was not able to have children

Every year Elkanah and his family went to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord at the temple. Elkanah always gave Hannah the best of everything because she was his favorite and he felt bad for her.

Peninnah often made fun of Hannah because she was barren (an invalidating voice) — this went on for years

In 1 Samuel 1, we see Hannah, so desperate to have a son, pleading with the Lord at the Temple. She made a covenant with God that, if He gave her a son, she would give him to the Lord for all the days of his life.

It says she wept bitterly and prayed silently, but her lips were moving.

The priest Eli thought she was drunk and rebuked her — she said, “No, I am deeply troubled! I have been praying here out of my anguish and desperation.”

Eli then said “Go in peace and may God grant you your request”

In due season she had a son, Samuel. When he was weaned, she took him to the temple and left him there in God’s presence and under the care of Eli the priest

Fast forward…Samuel is now 12 years old (or so) — serving in whatever capacity he can at his age

1 Samuel 3:1 ESV

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

PRAYER

What happens when you stop talking to your spouse, kids, friends, or other people you should be able to talk to?

Your relationship is greatly damaged — you can’t be close to someone when you no longer want to converse with them

WHEN YOU’RE FAR FROM GOD, IT’S HARD TO HEAR HIS VOICE (1 Sam 3:1)

1 Samuel 3:1 The Message

The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli’s direction. This was at a time when the revelation of God was rarely heard or seen.

Samuel served God by following Eli’s instructions and his example

...When you are not close God…it’s difficult to hear His voice

You can be far from God even when you spend a lot of time in His house

We know from the history of the Israelites that when they drifted away from Him and lived in sinful and disobedient ways…there were always consequences of some sort

Thus, God’s voice and visions from God were now few and far between

Eli was asleep at the wheel

His two sons, Hophni and Phineas, were evil — they are referred to as scoundrels because they dishonestly mishandled burnt offerings — taking the best for themselves. “The sin was very great in the Lord’s sight (17)”

Eli found out, he rebuked his sons, but they ignored his rebuke

Eli was a good man…but he failed in his responsibility to maintain proper worship at the Lord’s house

...When you are not close God…it’s difficult to hear His voice

God prepares you for His plan despite the absence of His voice at times

Although Eli and Samuel lived close to God’s presence, God was silent

Samuel had been dedicated to the Lord — he was a miracle —

Samuel served the Lord, even though He didn’t know the Lord — Samuel had sincere motives but he didn’t yet understand how to know the Lord

Transition: It is comforting to know that God, in His good time, chooses to break the silence and speak to those who have ears to hear and hearts to obey

WHEN GOD BREAKS HIS SILENCE, MAKE SURE YOU HEAR HIS VOICE (1 Sam 3:2-5)

1 Samuel 3:2–5 ESV

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. 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. Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and 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.

Sometimes we do not recognize His voice (3 times )

God’s voice was foreign to Samuel

He knew a lot about God, the law, and religious practices — He lived and slept near the Ark of the Covenant (the very presence of God), but he didn’t understand

He didn’t know God’s voice because he had not been taught how to recognize it

When God breaks His silence, and He will, make sure you hear His voice...

God will get through to you if you have a willing heart

1 Samuel 2:26 ESV

Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.

In the atmosphere of corrupt and evil practices by Hophni and Phineas God covered Samuel’s heart and prepared him for the day He would call Him to be His prophet and the judge of Isreal

Transition: It’s one thing to hear God’s voice — but listening and acting upon what you hear is imperative

WHEN YOU REALIZE GOD IS SPEAKING, LISTEN AND OBEY (1 Sam 3:6-10)

1 Samuel 3:6–10 ESV

And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

Eli, in his lethargy and blindness, didn’t recognize what was going on until it happened a few times — then he finally realized it had to be God’s voice the boy was hearing

When you are in the right place at the right time, you will hear and recognize God’s voice

Samuel slept near the Ark…He was closer to God than anyone in Israel, literally

It took a while…but because Samuel had an open and compliant heart and because he was close to God’s presence…he finally understood that God was speaking to Him

When you hear and recognize God’s voice, how will you respond?

FINAL CALL - ARE YOU LISTENING?

When you live close to God ,with an open and willing heart, you will hear from Him

When Jesus began to call His disciples, He simply said to them “Follow me!”

There is no way they totally understand what was coming…but they recognized something in His voice, deep within their Spirits…they answered the call…before they really even knew Him

The first time he heard the voice of Jesus, Paul (Saul) was a raging enemy of the Cross…on his way to arrest Christians for blasphemy.

Acts 9:3–6 ESV

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

How can you hear from God?

Stay close to Him every day…keep the torch lit

Serve Him…even when you don’t feel it

Worship Him

Take in His Word…read it, memorize it, study it

Pray the words of Scripture

Pour out your hear to Him each day