Bible Study: Listen and Wait for God's Voice

This Bible study is based upon 1 Samuel 16:6-7.

After Saul failed as Israel’s first King, God sent the prophet Samuel to appoint the new King. This verse describes Samuel’s first reaction and God’s immediate correction.

“When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, ‘Surely, the LORD’s anointed is before Him.’ But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:6-7

Let’s explore these verses.

First of all, God sent Samuel to show him who the next king would be. But instead of waiting for God’s approval, Samuel looked on his own. His first reaction was that Eliab was God’s choice! Good thing he didn’t say that to him! It’s amazing how many times we look—me specifically—and think, “Oh, this must be the LORD! Just look at it!” oops—sometimes, probably much of the time, it isn’t. Like I said, it’s a good thing Samuel didn’t speak right away! Otherwise—

1. It would have been disobedient and presumptuous

2. it certainly would have caused family strife when Samuel realized David was actually the chosen one

3. they would have another terrible king b/c God said, “I have rejected him” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Don’t speak presumptuously! Proverbs discusses this:

• “A fool’s mouth is his ruin” (Proverbs 18:7 ESV)
• “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 29:20 ESV)

I don’t know about you, but I am sure glad Samuel used wisdom and did not speak too soon. Have you ever assumed that you knew the right thing to do, but after you acted, you realized it was the wrong thing? Make sure to listen for God’s voice before you speak!

The second noticeable thing in this passage is that God interrupted Samuel’s thoughts! If he could hear God speak the opposite of his thoughts, Samuel truly must have been yielded to the LORD. I want to be so yielded to God that my own thoughts do not even surface when I am seeking direction or confirmation. It would be so nice to be free from worldly opinions in my own head!

Embarrassment is a sign of pride. I wonder if in this circumstance Samuel felt embarrassed when God corrected him. Even if Samuel did not speak aloud these presumptuous thoughts that Samuel had out loud, if it were me, I would have been tempted to feel embarrassed. Was Samuel humble enough to just take correction and move on? Apparently so, because after this passage, Samuel rightfully examines each of Jesse’s sons (except David, of course!), and then determines they have no business being King according to the Word of the Lord.

As I read this passage, I was amused at God’s reaction: He first pointed out what Samuel did—“Do not look at his appearance…” (1 Samuel 16:7). Oops! Samuel had no where to hide! He had assumed incorrectly by looking merely at outward appearances.

More specifically, the LORD said,

• ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature’ (1 Samuel 16:7).

When I read this, I remember that Saul, the previous king, was known for his height:

• 1 Samuel 10:23 “When he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward."

I wonder if Samuel automatically expected God’s 2^nd choice for a king to resemble the first choice (Saul). Maybe when the LORD said this he was specifically correcting Samuel’s automatic assumptions that God would do the same thing as the first time.

And how many of us do the same thing! For example, do you ever expect God to speak the same way, or expect Him to give you what He gave before?

In the New Testament Jesus and the disciples healed differently almost every time! Perhaps the LORD was trying to increase intimacy between Samuel and Himself. We too must wait for His choice, His decision, and His action instead of assuming He will do what He did last time. I think of Sarah and Abraham. Sarah expected the wrong thing! So she did the wrong thing and tried to make God's promise happen in her time--using her own methods.

It’s really amazing how many lessons can be gleaned from just two verses in the Bible! When you are listening for God, do not assume you know His answer. Wait for His voice before you act.