1 Samuel 3:5-9 Willingness

 ”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.” (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. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. He ran to Eli: Samuel was an obedient boy. He was wrong in thinking Eli spoke to him, but he was right in what he did. Samuel came to Eli quickly because he knew Eli was blind and might need help.

b. And the LORD called yet again: When speaking to us, God almost always confirms His word again and again. It is generally wrong to do something dramatic in response to a single “inner voice” from the LORD. If God speaks He will confirm, and often in a variety of ways.

c. Samuel did not yet know the LORD: Samuel was a godly and obedient boy, serving God wonderfully. Still, he had not yet given his heart to the LORD. Even children raised in a godly home must be converted by the Spirit of God.

d. Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears: Eli gave Samuel wise counsel. Eli told Samuel to:

· Make himself available for God to speak (Go, lie down).

· Not be presumptuous about God speaking (if He calls you).

· Respond to the word of God (Speak, LORD).

· Humble himself before God and His word (Your servant hears).

e. Speak, LORD: We must hear from God. The preacher may speak, our parents may speak, our friends may speak, our teachers may speak, those on the radio or television may speak. That is all fine, but their voices mean nothing for eternity unless God speaks through them. (Guzik)

I’ve heard it preached, just because you come to our church doesn’t mean you have salvation and are going to heaven! A good pastor knows he is preaching to the living and to the dead!

We all need the advice of Eli and the willingness of Samuel.

We must be willing to lie down and be still.

If He calls you, 

We must be willing to say, speak Lord.

We must be willing to humble ourselves and say your servant hears.

May we have the willingness of the blind man, who heard Jesus passing by in the crowd and his faith when he cried out loud, Jesus son of David have mercy on me!

Blessings