GOD SPEAKS TO HIS PEOPLE

PROCLAMATION

“Now Samuel did not know The Lord, neither was the word of The Lord yet revealed to him.  And The Lord called Samuel again a third time.  He arose and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here am I; for thou didst call me.’  And Eli perceived that The Lord had called the child.  Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He call thee, thou shalt say, ‘Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth.  So Samuel went and lay down in his place.  And The Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, ‘Samuel, Samuel.’  Then Samuel answered, ‘Speak; for Thy servant heareth.’ ”  1 Samuel 3:7-10 (KJV) 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  The young boy, Samuel, was being raised up in the temple by Eli, the priest. (Samuel 3:1)  His mother, Hannah, had given him to Eli to keep her vow to The Lord God for giving her a son. (Samuel 1:24-28)  Samuel was being trained in the temple but he did not know The Lord God for himself.  That is why he got up from his resting place and ran to Eli three times because he thought that the priest was calling him. (1 Samuel 3:2-8)  Eli finally realized that The Lord God was calling Samuel so Eli told him to answer The Lord the next time that He calls him.  When The Lord called Samuel again, he answered Him. (1 Samuel 3:8-10)  The Lord told Samuel what He was going to do in Israel and to the house of Eli. (1 Samuel 3:11-14)  The next morning Eli called Samuel and questioned him regarding what The Lord had told him and Samuel told him everything. (1 Samuel 3:15-18)  Samuel grew and The Lord was with him.  All of Israel recognized Samuel as a prophet of The Lord. (1 Samuel 3:19-21)  

APPLICATION

Everyone cannot hear the voice of The Lord God.  Some people hear only a noise, (Acts 9:7) or a sound like thunder, (Exodus 19:16) but nothing which they can understand.  Those who hear the voice of The Lord and obey it will be blessed. (Deuteronomy 28:2 and 30:10)  There are times when The Lord God speaks in “a still small voice” to His people. (1 Kings 19:12-13)  At times the voice of The Lord is powerful. (Psalms 29:4-5)  The voice of God can create something out of nothing. (Genesis 1:1-30)  At other times His voice can be soft and gentle.  Jesus, The Christ, said that His sheep know His voice and follow Him. (John 10:27)  As a believer we need to listen carefully for our call, answer it, and then get busy doing whatever it is that The Lord has for us to do.  He also speaks to us today through His Holy Word so read it prayerfully.  Woe be unto them who hear the voice of The Lord and understand it but do not hearken unto it. (Deuteronomy 28:62 and 1 Samuel 12:15)