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Objective

In this lesson we’ll discover how Samuel learned to hear God’s voice clearly and speak His truth boldly, teaching us important principles for our own spiritual walk.

Key Verse

1 Samuel 3:19: So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

Introduction

Samuel stands at one of the most important turning points in Israel’s history. He can be thought of as both the first of the prophets and the last of the judges. While God had given prophecies to men and women before Samuel—including Enoch, Noah, Moses, and Deborah—with Samuel we see the beginning of the office of prophet as a distinct calling in Israel. He lived in that important time of change before the kings, connecting the time of the judges with the monarchy that would follow.

Samuel was called by God at one of the darkest times in Israel’s history. The priesthood was corrupt, the people had turned away from God, and the word of the Lord was rare in those days. Yet in the middle of this spiritual darkness, God raised up a faithful servant who would bring His Word to an entire generation.

1 Samuel 3:1: In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

Despite these hard times, Samuel became a powerful voice for God. By the end of his life, all Israel recognized him as a true prophet of the Lord.

1 Samuel 3:19-21: The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

The story of Samuel actually begins before his birth, reminding us of an important truth: many of the great heroes of the Bible had godly parents who prepared the way for their children’s faith. Think about Moses, whose mother bravely hid him and then raised him to know his true identity. Consider Samson, whose parents carefully followed God’s instructions for raising a Nazirite. Remember John the Baptist, whose parents Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous before God. This pattern teaches us something important—sometimes our greatest influence for God’s kingdom is in how we raise and teach the next generation.

2 Timothy 1:5: I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

In this lesson, we’ll explore how God prepared and used Samuel as His servant, focusing on two important qualities that marked his life and should mark ours:

• Samuel knew when to listen to God
• Samuel knew when to speak for God

Knowing When to Listen

Every servant of God must learn to hear His voice. This is not optional for those who want to follow Christ—it’s necessary. Jesus Himself taught that His sheep recognize His voice and follow Him.

John 10:27: My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

But how do we learn to hear God’s voice? Samuel’s story gives us powerful insights into this important skill. (Notebook Moment: When was the last time you felt you truly heard God speaking to you? What made you confident it was His voice?)

Samuel’s mother Hannah was a godly woman who suffered deeply because she had no children. In her pain, she poured out her heart to God, making a remarkable promise. If God would give her a son, she would give him completely to the Lord’s service as a Nazirite—someone set apart for God from birth.

1 Samuel 1:11: And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

God answered Hannah’s prayer, and when Samuel was still very young—probably around three years old—she brought him to live in the house of Eli the priest. There, from his earliest memories, Samuel learned to serve in God’s house. The Scripture tells us something beautiful about his childhood:

1 Samuel 2:26: And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.

Samuel’s ministry truly began the night he learned to listen to God’s voice. The story of God calling young Samuel is one of the most touching accounts in all of Scripture, and it teaches us several important lessons about hearing from God.

1 Samuel 3:1-14 tells us the whole story. Young Samuel was lying down in the temple when he heard someone calling his name. Three times he ran to Eli, thinking the old priest needed him. But it wasn’t Eli calling—it was the Lord Himself. What’s remarkable is that Eli, despite his failures as a priest and father, still remembered what it was like to hear God’s voice.

1 Samuel 3:8: Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy.

This teaches us our first lesson: sometimes we need the wisdom of mature believers to help us recognize when God is speaking to us. Even though Eli had his problems, he could still guide Samuel in this important moment.

Second, we learn that God always speaks to us first. He starts the conversation. We don’t have to beg God to talk to us—He wants to communicate with His children.

1 Samuel 3:7: Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

Think about how God called Moses from the burning bush, or how Jesus called Saul on the road to Damascus. In each case, God spoke first:

Exodus 3:4: When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”

Acts 9:4: He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Third, we learn that it is a servant’s duty to listen to their master. When Samuel finally understood that God was calling him, he responded with complete readiness:

1 Samuel 3:10: The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

But here’s something important we need to understand: God speaks to us in different ways. For Samuel, God spoke directly with an audible voice—a rare and special experience even in biblical times. But God doesn’t always speak this way. Sometimes God’s voice comes as what Elijah discovered—a “still small voice” or a gentle whisper that speaks to our hearts.

1 Kings 19:12: After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

Sometimes God speaks to us through other people—through a sermon, a conversation with a friend, or wise counsel from a mature believer. Sometimes He speaks through circumstances, opening and closing doors in ways that make His will clear. But most importantly and most regularly, God speaks to us through His Word by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:12-13: What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.

The Holy Spirit takes the written Word of God and makes it alive and personal to our hearts. This is why regular Bible reading and meditation are so important—they train our spiritual ears to recognize God’s voice.

Samuel never forgot this lesson of listening to God. Years later, when he was old and the people demanded a king like the other nations, Samuel’s first response wasn’t to give his opinion or to make a decision based on his experience. Instead, he turned to God in prayer.

1 Samuel 8:6-9: But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

Notice the balance here: God told Samuel to listen to the people, but only after Samuel had first listened to God. We should listen to others, seek wise counsel, and consider different views. But we should do this only after we have first sought God’s voice. We will know what to say and how to respond only when we’ve listened to God first.

The sad story of King Saul provides a powerful contrast to Samuel’s listening heart. Samuel served as a spiritual father to Saul, but Saul failed as a leader because he did not listen to God’s Word the way Samuel did. God gave Saul clear instructions about destroying the Amalekites:

1 Samuel 15:1-3: Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one the Lord sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the Lord. This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them.'”

But Saul didn’t fully obey. He kept the best of the sheep and cattle, and he spared the king. When Samuel confronted him, Saul first tried to justify his actions, claiming he had saved the animals for sacrifices to God. But finally, he admitted the real problem:

1 Samuel 15:24: Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.”

Saul listened to the people instead of listening to God. This single failure cost him his kingdom. (Notebook Moment: Are there areas in your life where you’re tempted to listen to popular opinion or peer pressure instead of God’s clear Word? What would it look like to choose God’s voice instead?)

Knowing When to Speak

Learning to listen to God is only half of our calling. We must also learn when and how to speak God’s truth to others. Samuel learned this lesson early in his life, and it wasn’t easy.

After God spoke to young Samuel that first night, He gave him a difficult message to deliver. God revealed that He was about to judge Eli’s house because of the sins of his sons and Eli’s failure to stop them. Imagine being a young boy, probably no more than twelve years old, and having to deliver such a serious message to the priest who had raised you!

1 Samuel 3:15-18: Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “Here I am.” “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”

This early experience taught Samuel that speaking God’s truth requires courage. Sometimes God’s message is difficult to deliver. Sometimes it confronts sin and calls for repentance. But God’s servants must be faithful to speak His truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.

God honored Samuel’s faithfulness in both listening and speaking:

1 Samuel 3:19-21: The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

What a remarkable statement—God let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground! When we speak what God has truly given us to say, our words carry divine authority and power. They accomplish God’s purposes.

Samuel learned to be bold in speaking God’s truth throughout his life. He confronted sin without fear, whether in Eli the priest or later in King Saul. When Saul disobeyed God’s command about the Amalekites, Samuel didn’t hesitate to deliver God’s judgment:

1 Samuel 15:16: “Enough!” Samuel said to Saul. “Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.”

There are times when every Christian must speak God’s truth boldly, especially when confronting sin. This doesn’t mean we become harsh or judgmental, but it does mean we care enough about God’s holiness and people’s spiritual welfare to speak the truth in love.

The apostles followed Samuel’s example of bold truth-telling. When Ananias and Sapphira lied to the church about their offering, Peter confronted them directly:

Acts 5:3-4: Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

But here’s what we must remember: the goal of speaking God’s truth is always restoration, not condemnation. We should always seek first to bring a wandering believer back to repentance and forgiveness. Jesus gives us the pattern for how to do this with wisdom and love:

Matthew 18:15-17: If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t teach us to spread news about people’s sins or to shame them publicly. Instead, He shows us a process that protects people’s dignity while still addressing sin seriously. The church is to be a place of love, grace, and forgiveness. But it is also called to be holy.

2 Corinthians 7:1: Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

One final example from Samuel’s life beautifully shows the balance between listening and speaking. God called Samuel to anoint the next king of Israel. Samuel was sent to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem.

1 Samuel 16:1: The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

Notice that God didn’t tell Samuel everything right away. He told him to go to Jesse’s house, but He didn’t immediately reveal which son would be king. Samuel had to listen carefully, step by step. When he saw Jesse’s eldest son, Eliab, Samuel thought surely this impressive young man must be God’s choice.

1 Samuel 16:6-7: When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Seven of Jesse’s sons passed before Samuel, but God rejected them all. Finally, Samuel asked if there were any other sons. Jesse mentioned his youngest, David, who was out tending sheep. When David arrived, God spoke clearly:

1 Samuel 16:12: So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

It’s good that Samuel didn’t speak too soon! If he had followed his first impression, he would have anointed Eliab and missed God’s true choice. (Notebook Moment: How often do we speak or act before we’ve fully heard from God? What situations in your life right now require you to wait and listen more carefully before speaking or acting?)

Conclusion

Samuel’s life teaches us deep lessons about walking with God. From his childhood in the temple to his final days, he showed us what it means to be a faithful servant who both listens to God’s voice and speaks His truth boldly.

What does the life and ministry of Samuel teach us about our own Christian lives?

First, we must always listen to God before we speak or act. Whether through His Word, His Spirit, or His guidance through circumstances, God wants to communicate with us. We need to develop quiet times, practice spiritual disciplines, and learn to recognize His voice among all the other voices competing for our attention.

Second, our standards should be established by God’s Word and not by the world. Saul’s downfall came because he feared people more than he feared God. Samuel never made that mistake. He remained anchored in God’s truth regardless of popular opinion or political pressure.

Third, we should be bold in speaking God’s truth, but always with the goal of restoration and healing. Truth without love becomes harsh legalism. Love without truth becomes empty sentimentality. Like Samuel, we need both—the courage to speak truth and the heart to seek restoration.

Most importantly, Samuel’s life shows us the power of faithful perseverance. Samuel remained faithful to God’s voice and mission until his death, even when disappointed by Israel’s rejection of God as their king and the spiritual failures of both Saul and the nation. The Scripture simply records: “Samuel died, and all the Israelites assembled and mourned for him” (1 Samuel 25:1). His life shows us the value of continuing in obedience and steadfast prayer, regardless of what happens around us. Even when the people he served disappointed him, even when the kings he anointed failed, Samuel never stopped listening to God and speaking His truth.

This kind of faithfulness doesn’t come from our own strength—it comes from maintaining that vital connection with God that Samuel learned as a young boy in the temple. When we, like Samuel, learn to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening,” and then faithfully share what God has shown us, we too can have a ministry where none of our words fall to the ground. In a world full of competing voices and conflicting messages, God is still looking for people like Samuel—servants who know when to listen and when to speak.

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