Are You Listening?
1 Samuel 3:1–10
1 Samuel 3:1–10 (NIV)
1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.
3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
4 Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.”
5 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.
6 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.”
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
8 A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” 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.
9 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.
10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
1st God Speaks
1 Samuel 3:1 (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.
2nd If God isn’t speaking something is wrong
1 Samuel 14:37–38 (NIV)
37 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.
38 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.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.
3rd God speaks to those who are positioned to listen
1 Samuel 3:1b–2 (NIV)
In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.
ESV: "his own place."
1 Samuel 3:3 (NIV)
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.
Lesson: If your walk with God becomes more about personal preference than a passionate pursuit of God’s presence, you will lose your ability to hear God’s voice.
1 Samuel 3:3 (NIV)
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 (NIV)
Then the LORD called Samuel.
4th God speaks to those who want to hear Him
1 Samuel 3:10 (NIV)
The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
Psalm 25:14 (MSG)
God-friendship is for God-worshipers; They are the ones he confides in.
