Hearing From God
1 Sam 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
Samuel, the boy child, ministered unto the LORD, he did the duties of the house of God. He was faithful before the Lord. The historian Josephus said that he was 12 years old at this time, not a toddler.
1 Cor 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
The word of the LORD was scarce, not heard much from, in those days. In chapter two, God spoke through a prophet, He spoke judgment to the house of Eli. Perhaps God was not heard from, because the people were in sin and not seeking His voice.
2 Chr 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
1 Sam 3:2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
Age, had caused Eli to be dim of vision, he was also tired. He was also dim in his spiritual vision. Years of indulgence had made God appear distant to him. Age should make you more mature in the Lord.
1 Sam 3:3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
There was a light, it was in the temple where the ark of God was. This has a natural meaning, a natural light to see by. It also was referring in the spiritual, to the light of God's presence in the ark of the covenant.
Exo 27:20 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.
The duty of the priest was to keep oil in the lamp, so that the light would not go out. Remember the parable of the virgins? Some had let the oil run out. The oil is God's Holy Spirit in our lives. We as priests of God must keep the light burning and be filled with the oil of the Spirit.
1 Sam 3:4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
1 Sam 3:5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
The young Samuel heard a voice, he being alone with Eli, thought that it was Eli calling.
1 Sam 3:6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
A second time, Samuel is called.
1 Sam 3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
Samuel had never heard from the LORD, nor had he studied scriptures with understanding. Some do not see after studying. Several times I have talked with atheists who have read the Bible through, yet without understanding. They assumed that the Bible was just a book, written by men, they missed God, he was not yet revealed to them.
This was God calling Samuel to salvation. We all must respond to the voice of God's Spirit and through hearing the gospel we are saved.
Psa 95:8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
What is the age of accountability to God? When Israel turned back to wander in the wilderness because of unbelief, only those who were under twenty years of age were allowed to live and go into the Promised Land.
1 Sam 3:8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
The light had not completely gone out in Eli. The Lord will speak through his ministers and give them understanding. Eli perceived, he understood, he discerned that it was the voice of God. If God is calling, you must respond.
1 Sam 3:9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
We must learn to hear when God speaks and then to respond.
Isaiah heard the LORD, and became a prophet
Isa 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here [am] I; send me.
Saul heard and became Paul, the apostle
Act 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Each responded and were used mightily of the LORD.
1 Sam 3:10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
The last two calls to Samuel were for service. Samuel will be the first prophet and become the judge of Israel. With Samuel, it is the end of the period of judges. God will speak through his prophets and Israel will have kings.
1 Sam 3:11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
The Lord speaks serious things to the boy Samuel, confirming the words of the prophet. Samuel would hear and speak from God, he would be a prophet of God. When the LORD says something, it will be done. God's word is true.
Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
1 Sam 3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
1 Sam 3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
1 Sam 3:14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
A prophet has a responsibility to speak what is heard from God. They are not to change the message or sugar coat it. God said that it would be a message that would cause both ears to tingle. This is not itching ears of a false message but the tingle or ring of something powerful, as a loud noise causes the ears to ring.
Eli refused to correct his son's who were priest's in God's Holy Tabernacle. They were having sex openly with the women, as the pagans did who worshipped false gods. Their sin went unpunished by Eli, but God would punish. The descendents of Eli would be cursed, not having long lives.
1 Sam 3:15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.
Samuel was a young man and loyal to Eli. He did not want to put a bad picture in Eli's mind, but, it was of the LORD.
1 Sam 3:16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
1 Sam 3:17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
Eli wanted the truth, even placing a curse on Samuel if he refused to speak the truth.
Jesus spoke of the holiness of God's word.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
1 Sam 3:18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
Samuel spoke every word and Eli accepted it with grace, without complaining. Is not God a just God? When we are accused by others, God knows all. I will accept the judgment of a Holy God, especially abiding in Jesus, his blood covers me.
1 Sam 3:19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
Samuel was one of the first of the great prophets, others would follow: Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, ...
1 Sam 3:20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
This was the beginning of his prophetic ministry, all knew of Samuel as the prophet of God.
1 Sam 3:21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
The LORD was made known by his faithful prophet. Is the Lord being revealed by us? How was he revealed? By His word. Every believer must learn the word of God, then they will know God's voice and share the message of God with others. All know John 3:16, the gospel message to be shared with all people. Jesus is the forgiveness of sins and the breaking of curses. In him is eternal life.
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