Kingdom and Chaos
1st Samuel 3 – Samuel Hears God
January 20, 2019
1 Samuel 3:1-10 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. 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 temple 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 The Lord called Samuel a third time, 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."
‘That God speaks is the basic reality of biblical Faith.’ - Eugene Peterson
Genesis 1 – God creates the world by speaking.
Revelation 22 – God reminds us, “I am coming soon.”
We can hear God when He speaks.
1. The word of the Lord is sometimes rare.
v.1 - In those days the word of the Lord was rare.
What do we do when God is silent?
What was the last thing God told us to do? Do that until we hear something different.
James 1:22 NIV
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:27 NIV
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
2. The word of the Lord is always personal.
v. 4 – “Then the Lord called Samuel …”
3. The word of the Lord is revealed.
v.7 - The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him
1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Come, Holy Spirit
4. The word of the Lord requires help from others.
v.8b - Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy.
5. The word of the Lord is heard by listeners.
v.10 - Speak, for your servant is listening.
We’ll never hear God unless we first get to know God.
The Table:
John 10:27 NIV
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
