Then 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. 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, 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, that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!”
1 Samuel 3:1-4
For centuries God had rarely visited His people with revelation. Notice the words in our text, “the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.” Are we widely hearing the Word of God today or are we hearing men’s opinion of the Bible as they try to manipulate people?
Now God had one, in Samuel, to whom He could entrust His message. He called the young lad Samuel. However, Samuel was still a child and even though he heard the voice of God, he needed the guidance of the elderly priest, Eli, for he did not know that he was hearing the voice of God calling him. There is wisdom in this if the younger generation will hear it.
When God called Samuel’s name, he thought it was the elderly Eli calling his name from another room. Three times he heard the voice speak his name and three times he thought it was Eli, but then, Eli realized that God was calling Samuel and advised as to what he should do. Kind of speaks of God’s persistence, don’t you think?
What would you do if you heard an audible voice call your name and that voice turned out to be the voice of God? What are you going to do when God speaks into your spirit and gives you directions about certain things in your life? Will you listen and obey? Or will you shrug it off as your imagination? What about the times when He speaks to you through His Word, the Bible? Or when a messenger from God speaks? Will you ignore it? Will your pride or arrogance cause you to refuse the message?
Friend, when God speaks, it is always wise to take heed and obey. The fourth time, at the prompting of Eli, Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” Are you listening for the voice of the Lord? Or are you ignoring what He has already told you? Just asking. If you hear your name called and there is no one else around you might want to answer, “Speak Lord, I’m listening.” Don’t run from the voice of God, run to it. Amen, amen and amen.
