"YOUR SERVANT HEARS!"

1 Samuel 3:10-14;20                         (ESV)
"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."

"20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD."



Samuel was "set apart" by GOD from before ice was born for the purpose of glorifying HIM.  The mother of Samuel, Hannah, had been unable to conceive, for the LORD had closed her womb (1 Samuel 1:5).  She prayed to GOD that if HE gave her a son, she would give him to the LORD, and so it was!  Samson was born and Hannah remembered her vow to the LORD.  As soon as Samson was weaned, he was carried to the temple and he began serving the LORD under Eli, the priest.

The sons of the priest Eli were not Godly men (1 Samuel 2:12) and did not know, nor fear, the LORD!  Just because Eli was the priest did not extrapolate to his sons following GOD.  Everybody loves talking about how GOD is a loving GOD, but it seems no one wants to discuss GOD being a Holy, just GOD WHO judges sin, and rather harshly at times!   When GOD declares HIS patience is waning, a wise person might show a little remorse?  But the sons of Eli didn't even flinch!

1 Samuel 3:1 says that "...the word of the LORD was rare in those days. .".  As a matter of fact, Samuel had yet to develop his Spiritual hearing (1 Samuel 3:7) and HE couldn't discern who was calling out to him when GOD was speaking to him.  In verse 10 though, Samuel says "Speak, for "YOUR SERVANT HEARS" because Eli had told him to respond this way.

GOD did speak and HIS Words did not prove to be good news for the sons of Eli.  In 1 Samuel 4:17 Eli was told "He who brought the news answered and said, "Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured." Eli heard the news and then he  fell dead!

When GOD has had enough, someone who hears the voice of GOD better be telling people what GOD is saying!  From 1 Samuel 3:1 we know GOD's voice wasn't known by many in these days.  Samuel told Eli what was about to happen and he said "It is the LORD. Let HIM do what seems good to HIM!"  When GOD's servant says "YOUR SERVANT HEARS", it might be prudent to listen AND HEED the warning he is hearing!  If you cannot hear GOD, who do you trust to relay messages from HIM?  As for me, I elect to say "YOUR SERVANT HEARS" and obeys!!!