How does Samuel's experience relate to Jesus' teachings on listening in John 10:27? Samuel’s First Encounter with God’s Voice • 1 Samuel 3:10—“Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for Your servant is listening.’” • Young Samuel was serving in the tabernacle, ready to minister yet unfamiliar with the Lord’s voice (3:7). • Eli’s counsel—“Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening’” (3:9)—set Samuel on a path of lifelong responsiveness. Jesus’ Call to His Sheep • John 10:27—“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” • Jesus pictures Himself as the Shepherd whose voice is distinct and recognizable to His own (10:4–5). • Listening isn’t passive: hearing leads directly to following. Key Parallels Between Samuel 3 and John 10:27 • Initiative from God – The LORD calls Samuel; the Shepherd speaks first to His sheep. • Recognition through relationship – Samuel learns the LORD’s identity; the sheep already belong to the Shepherd and therefore know His voice. • Response of obedience – Samuel’s “Speak…Your servant is listening” mirrors the sheep who “follow Me.” • Lifelong pattern – Samuel grows and the LORD “let none of his words fall to the ground” (1 Samuel 3:19). – Jesus promises eternal security to those who keep listening (John 10:28). Scriptures That Echo the Theme • Isaiah 55:3—“Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, that your soul may live.” • Romans 10:17—“So faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” • James 1:22—“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Practical Takeaways • Cultivate availability: like Samuel, position your heart to say, “Speak, Lord.” • Test every voice against Scripture; the Shepherd’s words never contradict His written Word (2 Timothy 3:16). • Move from hearing to action—obedience confirms genuine listening. • Expect growth: consistent response to the Lord’s voice deepens intimacy and discernment (Hebrews 5:14). |
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