I’m sure that every Sunday School age child has heard the
story of the boy Samuel hearing the voice of the Lord. The story is prefaced by making us aware of
the scarcity of God’s revelation to the nation. We read “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.” (1 Samuel 3:1, ESV). I am reminded of the Proverb
29:18. As opposed to most organizational
misappropriations this verse, it is intended to communicate the notion that
where there is no vision (better: revelation) the people live unbridled lives.
The positive side is that obedience is a blessing. Where the Word of God does not rule, anarchy
does.
How might a situation like that come to pass? The narrative links “the iniquity of Eli’s
house” to the context. The Septuagint
reads: “his sons blasphemed God”. Such a
behavior was worthy of capital punishment (Leviticus
24:11-16, 23). Eli is included in
God’s condemnation because he failed to intervene and deal with his sons.
The story of Samuel’s struggle with knowing how to respond
to this nighttime voice was really about the fact that “Samuel did not yet
know the Lord, and the word of the
Lord had not yet been revealed to
him.” (1 Samuel 3:7, ESV). This should not surprise us because the New
Testament affirms that “long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to
our fathers by the prophets.”[1] It would be important for young Samuel to know
the voice of God. Should we anticipate
hearing God’s audible voice in our human ears?
No. The New Testament is equally
clear that “in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”[2] Through
the progress of revelation Jesus has communicated truth through the Apostles (John
14:26) who wrote the New Testament for our edification. As someone has
said, “If you want God to speak to you, read your Bible.”
When Eli demanded to know what God had said, the young
Samuel relented. The judgment of God was
clear and irrevocable. Eli’s response is interesting. “It is the Lord. Let him do what seems good to him”
(1 Samuel 3:18b, ESV). There is a humble acceptance of God’s ruling.
Jesus made it very clear that “when he has brought out
all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his
voice.” (John 10:4, ESV). God is not
somehow encumbered in a way that He cannot speak audibly to His Church
today. However, the occurrence of it is
highly doubtful and extremely rare if at all.
God, in these days, speaks via the Incarnate Word through the Inspired
Word. We know it’s God’s voice because it is in full agreement and harmony with
holy Scripture (2
Timothy 3:16-17).
Clearly sin can muffle and stifle the voice of God in His
Word. Sin robs the joy of reading God’s
Word. Sin dulls the senses perverting
the interpretation. Handwritten in the cover
of his Bible, John Bunyan wrote these words: “Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.” “Therefore, put away all
filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word,
which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21, ESV).
Those who are born of the Spirit; those who deal with sin in
their lives; those who spiritually ingest God’s Word on a regular basis, will
find not only an increasing hunger for His Word, but a key discernment that
recognizes His Voice amid the confusing voices of our society.
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