Speak, Lord
“Speak, Lord." Famous words from a famous prophet. But Samuel was just a boy when he first heard the Voice calling. And Samuel was still new to his calling. He had not known what God's voice sounded like yet. It was still fresh.
But he learned quickly some very important points: 1) When God speaks, you might misunderstand where it's coming from, you might not see and think differently. Samuel thought it was Eli, the priest.
But, of course, Eli discerned, after 3 times of Samuel harkening, that there was a voice speaking, and to Samuel He was calling!
Another important point to remember is this: 2) When God speaks, we might be surprised by what He says and be tempted to resist. See, Samuel was just a boy. He didn't want to stir up trouble. He was afraid to tell the old man that doom for him was comin'-- and on-the-double! So, it's not easy to obey the Lord sometimes. But better to obey than sacrifice, and that's true for anyone, any time.
And, one more thing before I conclude: 3) Samuel was a person just like me and you. He heard God's voice as an example to us! It shows us that God does speak and wants to communicate with even the smallest among us!
Now, his life story was Old Testament, which had its limitations. WE are in the NEW where everyone gets an invitation! An invitation to come close to the God who made us and wants to come close to us and yes -- even speak to us!
Oh, what an amazing time we live in! Access to the inner court! Because of Jesus and His sacrifice we can walk in and fellowship. And we, too, can hear His voice! We don't have to go through Old Testament procedures! We are cleansed and forgiven! Do we understand what we have been given?
So, if you hear His voice today, do what the scriptures say: Don't harden your heart. Let it soften in His hand. Why resist love when He is here to help you? He is the One who understands.
Samuel was just a boy when He heard the voice of God. But no matter what your age, God can speak to you -- whoever you are.
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Now the boy Samuel was attending to the service of the LORD under the supervision of Eli. The word of the LORD was rare and precious in those days; visions [that is, new revelations of divine truth] were not widespread.
Yet it happened at that time, as Eli was lying down in his own place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well). and the [oil] 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, that the LORD called Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.” He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call you; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. Then the LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know [or personally experience] the LORD, and the word of the LORD was not yet revealed [directly] to him. So the LORD called Samuel a third time. And he stood and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli understood that it was the LORD [who was] calling the boy. So Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and it shall be that if He calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Then the LORD came and stood and called as at the previous times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” The LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will ring. On that day I will carry out against Eli everything that I have spoken concerning his house (family), from beginning to end. Now I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the sinful behavior which he knew [was happening], because his sons were bringing a curse on themselves [dishonoring and blaspheming God] and he did not rebuke them. Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the sinful behavior of Eli’s house (family) shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”
So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the LORD’S house. But Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he answered, “Here I am.” Then Eli said, “What is it that He said to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do the same to you, and more also, if you hide from me anything of all that He said to you.” So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. And Eli said, “It is the LORD; may He do what seems good to Him.”
Now Samuel grew; and the LORD was with him and He let none of his words fail [to be fulfilled]. [Josh 23:14] And all Israel from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south] knew that Samuel was appointed as a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD continued to appear in Shiloh, for the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
1 Samuel 3:1-21 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/1sa.3.1-21.AMP
Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obedience to the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed [is better] than the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:22 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/1sa.15.22.AMP
Therefore, believers, since we have confidence and full freedom to enter the Holy Place [the place where God dwells] by [means of] the blood of Jesus, by this new and living way which He initiated and opened for us through the veil [as in the Holy of Holies], that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great and wonderful Priest [Who rules] over the house of God, let us approach [God] with a true and sincere heart in unqualified assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word]; and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.
Hebrews 10:19-25 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/heb.10.19-25.AMP
“…TODAY [while there is still opportunity] IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEART, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME [in the rebellion in the desert at Meribah].” [Ps 95:7, 8] For who were they who heard and yet provoked Him [with rebellious acts]? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies were scattered in the desert? And to whom did He swear [an oath] that they would not enter His rest, but to those who disobeyed [those who would not listen to His word]? So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest—the promised land] because of unbelief and an unwillingness to trust in God. [Num 14:1-35]
Hebrews 3:15-19 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/heb.3.15-19.AMP
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