Hearing God

Now 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!”  I Samuel 3:1-4

Hearing God is not hard to do if you can discern who is speaking. There are three voices: yours, the devil's, and God's. Distinguishing your voice and the devil's is the hardest because he knows you. God knows you better, but you have to learn and discern who is speaking!

Samuel was one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament, but he also had to learn to hear God. Samuel's mother, Hannah, dedicated Samuel to the Lord and sent him to live with the priest Eli and minister before the Lord. One night God spoke to Samuel, and he said, "Here I am," so he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am!"

The third time that God called, Eli finally discerned that God was calling Samuel, so Eli told him to answer God and say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears." God then spoke to Samuel and told him what would happen to the priesthood of Eli and his corrupt sons.

So, he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down. Then the LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” I Samuel 3:5-6

SAMUEL GROWS IN THE LORD

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy. I Samuel 3:7-8

A prophet cannot prophesy unless he hears God, and Samuel quickly learned, having been spoken to as a young boy. The first message God gave him was the destruction of Eli's priesthood and the death of his sons, which Samuel faithfully delivered to the old priest.

This was the sign of a true prophet, one who speaks truth and never compromises the word God gives! Sadly, there aren't many today; that's not to say there are some, but most just spew out peace and safety and the blessings of God and never speak the truth when the truth hurts!

Samuel grew to be one of Israel's greatest prophets who called Saul to be king and also David, Israel's greatest leader. He was respected by men and continued to speak truth even after his death. We would do well to learn from Samuel's ability to hear and discern the word of God!

So, Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD. Then the LORD appeared again in Shiloh. For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. I Samuel 3:19-21

ELIJAH LEARNS TO LISTEN

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” I Kings 19:1-2

Elijah was a mighty man of God who performed signs, wonders, and great miracles before the Lord, and he defeated the prophets of Baal, which enraged Jezebel, and she vowed to take his life! After a great victory and a miracle calling down fire from heaven, Elijah ran and hid in a cave.

You may be a mighty man like Elijah, but if you can't discern God's voice, the enemy will defeat you, and like one of the strongest men on the planet, Samson, it could kill you! Samson's character and knowledge of God never caught up to his great strength.

God told Elijah to go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, and He proceeded to show him what His voice sounded like. It wasn't in the wind, it wasn't in the earthquake, and it wasn't in the fire; it was a still small voice only for those who listen carefully.

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. I Kings 19:11-12

Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ