"SPEAK, LORD; FOR THY SERVANT HEARETH"

1 Samuel 3:1

A. SETTING OF OUR TEXT
  1. When God had to by-pass his minister:
    1. Eli had been informed of the misconduct of his sons.
    2. They were sinning against the Lord in a way which affected the office of their father.
    3. Visions and revelations ceased in Israel.
  2. God chose to use the son of Hannah to bring the message of God to Eli and his house:
B. SAMUEL, AN EXAMPLE OF TRUE PIETY
  1. Had an open ear for the call of duty:
    1. Let our young people take notice - "Here am I" - 1 Sam. 3:4 "Here am I" - verse 6 "Here am I; for thou didst call me" - verse 8
    2. Never once did he become disobedient to what he believed to be his duty, night or day.
  2. He was ever ready to perform the duty given to him, which at times was very difficult, as in the case of Eli and his family:
    1. That is ever a mark of true piety - Gen. 18:17; 22:1-12; 26:5
    2. Not to obey the voice of the Lord kept Moses and Aaron out of the promised land.
    3. This testimony of the piety of Samuel should challenge every one of our young people: "And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground . . . And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord." - 1 Sam. 3:19, 20 Let this truth sink deeply into all our hearts.
  3. The word of the Lord was precious (rare) in those days; there was no open vision: 1 Sam. 3:1
    1. This shows that the sin of a member of the church affects the family and the church - Josh. 7:1-22
    2. That when the ministers of God fail to perform their paternal duties in the home, it reflects upon the cause of God in general.
    3. It shows further that obedience to God's law and revelation go hand in hand; that when we disobey the law of God, He will withhold His revelation.
    4. Also, that even that which may be in harmony with God's will, will become a dead and useless form when we fail to do the will of God - 2 Tim. 3:5; 1 Sam. 4:4, 10; Isa. 59:1-4; 29:13
C. "SPEAK, LORD; FOR THY SERVANT HEARETH"
  1. Today this prayer is spoken in the reverse: "Hear, Lord, for thy servant speaketh": EXAMPLES -
    1. Luke 18:11, 12
    2. Matt. 6:5
    3. Isa. 5:20, 21
  2. The prayer of Samuel reveals:
    1. An open mind for light and truth - Acts 17:11, 12; 16:30, 31
    2. Willingness to abandon our own ways and accept God's ways - Acts 9:6; 26:19
    3. Obeying the voice of the Lord at any cost - Gen. 22:1-12; Acts 21:13
  3. Is this our daily prayer?
    1. Do we begin the day that way?
    2. And what does the Lord know about the truthfulness of our prayers?


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