On the way to my wedding rehearsal, my car broke down in the middle of the road. We brought it to an older mechanic who worked in his front yard, but he was no longer able to do the work himself. Instead, he would tell his grandson what to do and explain each step, even though he could not always see it. But the most impressive thing he did was diagnose the problem simply by listening to the sound the car made when we tried to start it.

Being able to listen is a great skill for a mechanic, but it is also crucial for followers of God. We know that we must follow God in obedience, but how can we obey if we do not hear His instruction? Responding well to God requires first being able to discern His voice. The prophet Samuel had to learn to recognize God’s voice before he could share God’s message. Samuel’s prophetic call in 1 Samuel 3 reveals six truths about hearing from God.

1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own 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, and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 And the LORD called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” 11 Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” 15 Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16 But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” 17 And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.” 19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. 21 And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD. – 1 Samuel 3

  1. There is a need to hear from God

At this time, Israel did not have a human king because they were supposed to be united under God’s commands. Instead, everyone followed their own hearts into sin and it is rare to hear God’s voice. We are lost if we are not hearing from our God.

  1. There must be a desire to hear from God

People did not hear God’s voice because they were not listening to God. God is ready to speak to His people, but we must be ready to listen and obey.

  1. There is a posture for hearing from God

Samuel was ready to hear from God because he was already focused on God. We can position ourselves to hear from God by humbly and expectantly spending time alone with Him.

  1. There are multiple ways in which God speaks

God spoke audibly to Samuel, but there are many other ways He reveals Himself to us. He has spoken through Scripture and revealed Himself in Jesus, and as Christians today, we have His Spirit to guide us every day.

  1. There are barriers to hearing from God

There are ways we better listen to God, but there are also ways we can block out His voice. Embracing sin and failing to prioritize time with God will make it much harder to discern His guidance in our lives.

  1. There has to be a practice of hearing

Samuel’s development into a respected prophet was a long process of listening to God. How well we hear God depends on how well we intentionally listen and learn how He speaks to us.

Obedience to God is a crucial part of the Christian life. But in order to follow God, we must first learn how to listen to Him so we can hear His instruction.

 

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