“Then Eli called Samuel and said, ‘Samuel, my son.’ Samuel answered, ‘Here I am.’” — 1 Samuel 3:16
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned after more than forty years of ministry is this:
Preaching is not nearly as much about speaking as it is about listening.
Long before a sermon is preached, it is born in prayer, in Scripture, and in a heart that quietly says, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.” Before God has a message through us, He first has a message for us.
That truth is illustrated in a humorous story about an elderly husband who promised his wife he’d remember every detail of her ice cream order. An hour later he proudly returned—with a ham sandwich. Looking inside the bag, she sighed and said, “I knew you weren’t listening. I told you I wanted pickles!”
It’s funny because we’ve all experienced the frustration of not being heard. Yet how often do we treat God the same way? We ask Him to speak, but rarely slow down long enough to listen.
When God’s Voice Became Rare
First Samuel opens with a sobering statement:
“The word of the LORD was rare in those days.” (1 Samuel 3:1)
God had not stopped speaking. His people had stopped listening.
Israel still had worship services, sacrifices, and religious leaders, but their hearts had drifted from the Lord. That warning is just as relevant today. Churches can remain busy while believers quietly lose their intimacy with God.
Our generation has more Christian resources than any before it, yet information alone never produces transformation. Spiritual maturity is not measured by how much we know but by how well we know the Shepherd.
Samuel’s Simple Response
He wasn’t a prophet yet. He wasn’t famous. He simply made himself available.
Each time his name was called, Samuel answered,
“Here I am.”
Those words appear throughout Scripture. Abraham said them. Moses said them. Isaiah said them. Samuel joined that remarkable company.
“Here I am” is more than a statement of location.
It is a declaration of surrender.
“Lord, I belong to You. Speak.”
God has always been more interested in availability than ability.
Hearing the Shepherd
Jesus said,
“My sheep hear My voice…and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)
Notice the order.
They hear.
Then they follow.
Following always begins with listening.
I’ve seen this illustrated through my oldest son, who serves as a deputy sheriff and K-9 officer. His police dog works amid sirens, shouting, and confusion, yet he has learned to ignore every competing sound and respond to one voice alone—the voice of his handler.
That relationship wasn’t built overnight. It was developed through trust, consistency, and time together.
The Christian life works the same way.
The more time we spend with Jesus, the more familiar His voice becomes. The more we immerse ourselves in Scripture, the more clearly we recognize His direction.
God Still Speaks
Does God still speak today?
Absolutely.
He speaks through His Word.
“All Scripture is God-breathed…” (2 Timothy 3:16)
He has spoken fully through His Son, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1–2).
The Holy Spirit illuminates Scripture, convicts our hearts, and guides us into truth.
God may also use prayer, wise counsel, and providential circumstances, but every impression must always agree with His written Word.
God never contradicts Himself.
Speaking What God Has Said
Samuel was afraid.
Yet Scripture says,
“Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him.” (1 Samuel 3:18)
Faithfulness isn’t measured by creativity.
It is measured by accuracy.
God does not ask us to invent a message. He asks us to faithfully share His message.
That calling belongs to every believer—not just pastors.
Parents teach their children.
Grandparents encourage grandchildren.
Friends share with friends.
Neighbors point neighbors to Christ.
We are Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), faithfully representing our King with both truth and grace.
Jesus—The Greater Samuel
Samuel points us to Someone greater.
Samuel heard God’s voice.
Jesus is God’s Voice.
Samuel delivered God’s Word.
Jesus is the living Word.
Everything Samuel foreshadowed finds its fulfillment in Christ.
Even Jesus regularly withdrew to pray before He ministered. If the Son of God listened before speaking, how much more should we?
A Daily Prayer
Our world is filled with noise.
Before checking your phone tomorrow morning…
before scrolling through the headlines…
before reading social media…
open God’s Word.
Bow your head.
Pray one simple prayer:
“Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.”
Then stay quiet long enough to hear Him.
Because before God has a message through us,
He first has a message for us.
May our response always be the same as Samuel’s:
“Here I am, Lord.”
