When God Speaks #

1 Samuel 3:1-10

Introduction

Last week we considered the barrenness of Hannah, and discontentment that plagues our society today. Today, we are going to learn about God speaking to us!

I will never forget, I was in college, and working with kids in Jr. Church. A couple of the boys needed to go to the bathroom, so we walked to the main bathroom. When we got in there, there was a speaker in the bathroom, and you could hear the preacher in the main auditorium over the sound system. All of the boys got quiet and the preacher over the speaker was clear. One of those boys blurted out, “God is that you?” to the voice he heard over the speaker. I will never forget that boy asking that in the bathroom that day. The reality is God does want to speak to you, but he doesn’t speak today with an audible voice to use. He has given us all we need to know in his Word!

In Bible times they didn’t have the completed Word of God, and God did communicate to them through visions, sometimes audible voices, sometimes visit through a heavenly being, sometimes speaking through a prophet. You think, that would be awesome… but in reality, you heard from God less than we do today! WE are greatly privileged to have His Word!

I. Sons of Eli (1 Samuel 2:12) #

A. Inconsistency of Eli (1 Sam 1:15-16) #

• Son of Belial is someone of extreme wickedness!
    ◦ Hannah associated being drunken as a son of Belial!

1 Samuel 1:15–16 - “15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.”

• When you see the sins of others, and overlook your own children’s sins… you have a problem!
    ◦ Eli was quick to condemn others for sin, but did nothing of his own children’s sin!

B. Iniquity of Hophni & Phineas (1 Sam 2:12) #

i. Offerings of God (1 Sam 2:12-17) #

• God has always provided for the priest families through the offerings.
• The same principle is carried through to the NT!

1 Timothy 5:17-18 - “17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”

    ◦ I do not speak from a position of want. God has blessed me, taken care of me, and I thank our church which does take care of us! Thank you! – It is the right thing to do.
• They were abusive, taking more than they should have! (1 Sam 2:15-16)

ii. Cause men to abhor God’s offering! (1 Sam 2:17) #

• This was wicked! 

“Nothing brings a greater reproach upon religion than ministers’ covetousness, sensuality, and imperiousness.” - Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 385.

C. Immorality of Hophni & Phineas (1 Sam 2:22-25) #

i. They were sleeping around! #

• As if it were not bad enough they caused men to despise God’s offering… perverse!

ii. Sexual intimacy is reserved for marriage! #

Heb. 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

• Adultery is sexual intimacy with a married person that you are not married to.
• Fornication is sexual intimacy with unmarried person.

Ephesians 5:3 - “3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;”

• Both are condemned in the NT!

D. Indictment against Eli (1 Sam 2:27-29, 31, 34) #

• God sent his prophet to let Eli know he was wrong!

II. Silence from God #

A. Isolation from God! #

i. “there was no open vision” – God simply was not speaking to them! #

• With the wickedness that was going on among the leadership and priests of Israel, it is no wonder God didn’t speak to Israel. 
• God is not in the habit of wasting words, and those who do not listen, don’t get addressed!

ii. “precious” #

• Lack – not much of it. Gold is valued because there is little of it!
• Loved – because of the appreciation of who it comes from!

Psalm 119:47 - “47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.” Psalm 119:97 - “97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.”

B. Importance of faithfulness! #

• God was not speaking to Israel, there was wickedness in the religious leadership….
• Samuel didn’t use this as an excuse… many people see others do wrong, and excuse themselves. Not Samuel! He was a man of character!

III. Speaking to Samuel #

A. Intrepidness of Samuel (1 Sam 2:17-18) #

Intrepid – characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, endurance • I don’t know what kind of pressure Hophni and Phineas put on Samuel, but at the very least, they were a terrible example to him! • Perhaps they did pressure him, or picked on him, because he was a ‘goody two-shoes’

i. Stand for the LORD when no one else does! #

B. Industriousness of Samuel (1 Sam 3:1) #

1 Samuel 2:18 - “18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.”

i. Eli laid down (1 Sam 3:2) #

• Because of his age
    ◦ This is not sin, as we age, we simply are not able to do as much!
• Because of the wickedness of his sons, Eli was probably often wearied.
    ◦ Sin will wear you down, destroy your desire to serve.
• Eli was probably often resting in his room, with no motivation to continue. 

ii. Samuel, was on beckon call (1 Sam 3:5) #

• It seemed normal for Eli to call for Samuel, Samuel, with a great servants heart, RAN 

C. Interest in Listening (1 Sam 3:10) #

Matthew 11:15 - “15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

i. When God speaks… listen! ii. When God speaks… obey