AUDIO PODCAST

SUMMARY

Here are the key points about the phrase from 1 Samuel 3:1:

• The Scarcity of God’s Word: The phrase “The word of the Lord was rare (or scarce) in those days; there was no widespread revelation” from 1 Samuel 3:1 reflects more than the absence of words. The Hebrew word dābār (ָּדָבר) refers to something substantive, like God’s will, purpose, or decree. Its scarcity indicates a spiritual drift by believers and a lack of divine engagement and revelation.
• It’s not that God is not speaking, it’s that we are not listening to hear.
• If we lose that connection, there is always a way back to hearing again.
• The Bible is a divine record of what God has said, and through it, God continues to speak to those who have “eyes to see, and ears to hear” (Luke 8:13-15)
• The Significance of God’s Word: The Hebrew word yāqār (ָיָקר), translated as “scarce” or “rare,” also means “precious,” “valuable,” or “costly.” This suggests that God’s word, when revealed, was profoundly significant and treasured. The cost of obtaining God’s word is measured in time and attention.
• Spiritual State and Revelation: The scarcity of God’s word in Samuel’s time reflected the people’s spiritual state. They had drifted from God, hindering the flow of divine revelation. God’s voice wasn’t heard because His people weren’t listening.
• Faith and Hearing God’s Word: Faith comes by hearing God’s word (Romans 10:17). Faith is not just intellectual agreement but arises when the written word (logos) becomes a personal, living voice (rhēma) through the work of the Holy Spirit.
• The Foundation of Faith: The Hebrew word ‘aman (ָאַמן), the root of emunah (faith), means “to support,” “to make firm,” or “to confirm.” Faith is built on hearing and trusting God’s word.
• Lo-Debar and Mephibosheth: The story of Mephibosheth illustrates the consequences of being in a place without God’s word. Lo-debar (לֹא-ֶדַבר) means “no word“ or “no pasture.” It symbolizes a lack of communication or direction, representing spiritual desolation when one is far from God’s word.
• Hearing God Today: The “word of the Lord” can still be scarce today because many are not listening. The Bible is abundant and accessible, but its power is unlocked when people actively engage with it.
• Creating Space for God’s Voice: People are reminded of the importance of making room for God’s voice. This can be achieved through prayer, meditation on Scripture, or a willingness to respond like Samuel, saying, “Here I am.”
• Spiritual Wilderness: The concept of a spiritual wilderness, or midbar in Hebrew, is introduced. It symbolizes a place where God’s word is scarce and there is spiritual dryness and separation from divine revelation. Spiritual wildernesses in us, lead to desolation without in relationships, life, purpose etc.
• Samuel’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of making room for God’s voice. As in Samuel’s time, spiritual barrenness can be reversed when we create space for God to speak and respond with readiness to act on His word.
• Practical suggestions for engaging with God’s word, such as reading with a pen in hand to underline important phrases and jot down questions, reflecting on passages, journaling thoughts and prayers, taking walks in nature, and participating in discussions with other believers. They emphasize the importance of listening for God’s voice in everyday life and recognizing that He can speak through various means, whether directly, through personal Bible study or through songs, conversations, sermons or even challenging situations.

A LESSON FROM SAMUEL’S STORY

In 1 Samuel 3:1, we encounter a striking statement:

“The word of the Lord was rare (or scarce) in those days; there was no widespread revelation.”

The Hebrew word translated as “word” is dābār (דָּבָר), and carries rich meaning, referring to spoken words. It signifies something substantive—a communication that carries weight and authority. In the context of this passage, dābār Yahweh (דְּבַר יְהוָה) points to divine communication: God’s revealed will and His direct interaction with His people.

Not only does God’s dabar word contain the instruction, but it also carries the power to fulfill the very commands it imparts.

The scarcity of the dābār in Samuel’s time speaks to more than the absence of words—it highlights a lack of active spiritual seeking in the nation and consequently a famine of divine engagement and revelation. Spiritual practice, after all, is a dialogue. And while we think we are waiting for God to speak, the truth be told, it is Him waiting for us to hear His voice and open the door to this divine dialogue. As Revelation 3:20 makes clear,

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.“

God was not communicating openly with His people, not because He wasn’t and isn’t always available, but because their hearts were far from Him. They were focus on other things Luke 8:14). Without the dābār of the Lord, the people lacked of Israel lacked guidance, vision, and spiritual sustenance. And if we do what they do, or shall I say, if we continue to do what they did, we will too.

Additionally, the Hebrew root of dābār (ד־ב־ר) carries the connotation of “order” or “arrangement,” as in arranging words to create meaning or organizing events according to a purpose. This root emphasizes that God’s word is not random; it is intentional, creative, and authoritative. When God speaks, His words bring order out of chaos (Genesis 1:3) , establish His plans (Isaiah 55:11), heals, rescues and restores (Psalm 107:20). Dabar is creative power and divine purpose flowing out into the world. It is the active voice of God shaping reality. Thus, the scarcity of the dābār in Samuel’s day signified not only a lack of the purposeful power of God but consequently, a void of divine order, direction, and deliverance among the people.

Additionally, the Hebrew word translated as “scarce” or “rare” is yāqār (יָקָר), meaning “precious,” “valuable,” or “costly.” This implies not just a lack of abundance but a profound significance when it did appear. In Samuel’s time, the scarcity of God’s word was both a reflection of the people’s spiritual condition and a symptom of a broader issue: God’s voice was not being heard because His people were not listening—a spiritual practice.

When we consider the meaning of yāqār (יָקָר)—translated as “scarce,” “precious,” or “costly“—it reveals an important truth about the dābār (word) of God: there is a cost involved in obtaining it. This cost isn’t measured in silver or gold, but in something far more valuable—our time and attention.

The context in which Samuel lived reveals a nation of Israel in spiritual decline, and devoid of understanding. The corruption of Eli’s sons, who abused their priestly positions and engaged in sexual immorality, had led to a moral decay within the nation. Without righteous leadership, the people had distanced themselves from God, leading to a period of spiritual silence, neglect and societal unraveling.

A century and a half later, the situation in Israel, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 15, had worsened. The words of the prophet Azariah to King Asa reflect a dire reality:

“Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD [the eternal (one) ] is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a priest to instruct them, and without the law. But in their distress, they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought Him, and He was found by them. In those days there was no safety for travelers, because the residents of the lands had many conflicts.” (2 Chronicles 15:2-5)

Without hearts attuned to God’s voice, divine revelation had all but vanished, and the silence was deafening, and they ended up paying a different cost—endless wars, distress and lack of safety. It turns out that we will pay either way, whether we choose to actively “listen” to God or ignore actively ignore Him. Rather than questioning why we are not hearing His voice more often, we should instead ask why He is not hearing ours more frequently. This shift in perspective calls us to a deeper, more abiding relationship in prayer, where we seek communion with God rather than simply rattling off a list of requests, as if approaching a celestial vending machine.

Yet, this silence was not to last forever. God’s intervention began when He called Samuel—a young boy in a spiritually barren environment—to serve as a prophet, reintroducing His voice to a nation desperate for direction. And why all of a sudden? Because, “in their distress, they turned to the Eternal one.” That means they began to pray and seek Him again. This scarcity of God’s word reveals a crucial truth: without God and His life sustaining word, we are completely unraveled and desolate.

God’s word brings order, and like rain to a desert, it has the power to make dry lands bloom once again. As Isaiah 55:10-11 declares:

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

This passage beautifully illustrates how God’s word, like rain, has the power to transform barren places, causing them to flourish and fulfil His purposes. The silence that once plagued Israel was not the end; God’s word would return, bringing life, direction, and restoration.

SSPIRITUAL WILDERNESS AND THE LACK OF GOD’S WORD

The word midbar (מִדְבָּר), meaning desert or wilderness, not only refers to a physical barren place but also carries spiritual significance. It derives from the root dbr (our root for dabar), which relates to speech or communication. The wilderness, in this sense, symbolizes a place where God’s word is scarce, a place of spiritual dryness and separation from divine revelation like a garden without a seed (Luke 8). Without the word of God not only desolate within, but also desolate without. As 3 John 1:2 declares,

“Beloved, I desire that in every way you will prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.”

When God’s word—whether written or spoken—is absent from our lives, leaving us without His guidance, correction, or revelation, we risk entering a midbar experience: a spiritual wilderness marked by dryness and disconnection. We find ourselves lost, wandering without purpose or direction.

Just as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years due to their disobedience and lack of trust in God, rebelling against His word and despising the heavenly manna, we, too, can experience a spiritual wilderness when we neglect the vital communication of God’s word.

“But now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” (Numbers 11:6)

Manna symbolized God’s word—a heavenly provision given daily to sustain and guide His people. It was a physical representation of His voice, calling them to trust and depend on Him. Yet, when the Israelites rejected it, they rejected not only His provision but His communication and care. Similarly, neglecting God’s word today leaves us spiritually malnourished, depriving us of the life and direction that come from hearing His voice.

If God’s word is all you have, God’s word is all you need.

The desert is not just a place of barrenness, but also a place of spiritual training. However, it is also a place where God longs to meet us, speak to us, and lead us back to Himself if we are willing to listen.

LO-DEBAR AND MEPHIBOSHETH: A PLACE OF SILENCE AND RESTORATION

The story of Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, further illustrates the consequences of being in a place without God’s word. After the fall of Saul’s house, Mephibosheth was hidden away in a place called Lo-debar (לֹא-דֶבַר), which means “no word“ or “no pasture“. This place, whose name itself signifies a lack of communication or direction, became the hiding place for Mephibosheth, a man left in obscurity and silence.

If all you have is silence and emptiness around you, then silence and emptiness is all you need. It is in the silence free from distraction that God’s voice becomes clear.

Lo-debar represents more than just a geographic location; it is a powerful spiritual metaphor. In Lo-debar, Mephibosheth lived without hope, without the guidance or promise of a king’s word. It’s as though he existed in a wilderness, cut off from the kingdom and from the rich promises that should have been his as the descendant of Saul. This mirrors the spiritual desolation we face when we are far from God’s word—when we live separated from His voice and the life it brings.

Yet, just as Mephibosheth’s story changes when King David calls for him to be brought out of Lo-debar and restored to the king’s table, we, too, are called out of the spiritual wilderness. God desires to speak to us, to bring us from places of dryness into His presence, where His word nourishes and restores us. David’s act of kindness towards Mephibosheth is a beautiful picture of God’s grace. No matter how far we’ve gone or how long we’ve been in the wilderness, God is always willing to speak and restore us to our rightful place.

THE HOLY SPIRIT: OUR TEACHER, REMINDER, AND GUIDE TO HEARING GOD’S VOICE

The Holy Spirit’s role in our lives goes far beyond mere guidance—He teaches us all things and reminds us of everything Jesus has said (John 14:26). He takes the written word of God and makes it relevant to us, to where we are, to what we are dealing with, and to where He wants us to go. The holy Spirit is our very own Bible Study Buddy (1 John 2:27).

Through the Holy Spirit, God’s Word becomes more than just text on a page—it comes alive in our hearts. The Spirit opens our ears to hear, not only the written Word but also the living Word (rhema), making it personal and relevant to our current situations. As we abide in prayer, listening for God’s voice, we will discern His will and direction in every circumstance. As John 14:26 reminds us,

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

In moments of doubt or difficulty, the Holy Spirit reminds us of God’s promises, bringing His Word to mind when we need it most. It’s like a gentle nudge, reminding us of what we’ve learned and often speaking a word of comfort or conviction that leads us back to truth.

As we cultivate a listening heart and abiding spiritual practice, we become more attuned to God’s voice, strengthening our faith as we hear His Word with greater clarity. By teaching us and reminding us of His truths, the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to walk in obedience, confident that we are hearing and responding to God’s guidance in our lives.

FROM HEARING TO FAITH

Romans 10:17 connects Samuel’s story to our spiritual lives today. Faith doesn’t come by reading about what God has said—it comes when we hear Him speak directly to us through His Word or in prayer. The Bible is a divine record of what God has said, and through it, God continues to speak, for HE doesn’t change (Hebrews 13:8). As Samuel’s story demonstrates, however, hearing God’s word requires a heart ready to listen.

The connection between hearing and faith is embedded in the etymology of the Hebrew word ‘aman’ (אָמַן), the root of the word faith (emunah). ‘Aman’ means “to support,” “to make firm,” or “to confirm”—in short, “agreement.” In its earliest usage, it suggests trust built on a reliable foundation. Faith, then, begins with hearing God’s word and responding to it with agreement, just as Samuel did when he said,

“Speak, Lord, for your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:10).

The first truth we must agree with God about is our profound need to prioritize and actively engage in listening prayer—a sacred pause where we attune our hearts to His voice and make space for His word to guide us.

THE WORD IS STILL SCARCE

In a sense, the “word of the Lord” remains “scarce” today—not because God is silent, but because many are not listening. Others do not understand what has been said and recorded for our benefit in the bible.

The constant bombardment of the world—the relentless noise of distractions, demands, and desires—drowns out the subtle yet powerful voice of God. In the clamour of modern life, we are often so consumed with external stimuli that we fail to attune our hearts to His still, small voice. The world’s cacophony seeks to occupy our minds, leaving little room for the quiet, transformative whisper of God’s word, which calls us to pause, reflect, and listen.

However, when we find ourselves succumbing to spiritual drift, unable to hear God’s voice as clearly as we desire, we can always begin anew—fan the spark into a flame—by immersing ourselves in personal Bible study. Through the pages of Scripture, we can reawaken our hearts and realign our spirits, allowing His word to once again guide and transform us.

We make the mistake of treating the Bible like a dry text book instead of a living love letter. The Bible, as the written record of the word of God, is abundant and accessible, but its power is unlocked only when we engage with it actively, allowing God to speak into our lives. As Jesus declares in Luke 8:13-15,

“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.” (Matthew 13:13-15)

Spirituality isn’t a passive process; it requires hearing coming to Jesus, opening a dialogue and listening for his voice actively, receiving it with an open heart, and acting on it.

When the logos (written word) becomes a rhēma (personal revelation), it sparks faith. The Bible is not merely a historical account of God’s actions; it is a living voice waiting to be heard. Samuel’s story reminds us of the importance of creating space for that voice—whether through prayer, meditation on Scripture, or a willingness to respond like Samuel, saying, “Here I am, I’m listening.”

In closing, just as the word of the Lord called Samuel out of spiritual barrenness, it calls us out of complacency today. Faith comes not by passively observing what God has done but by actively listening to what He is saying now.

In summary, it is not that God is silent but that we fail to hear Him. And we fail to hear Him because we are not actively listening. Listening is a spiritual discipline, one that requires deliberate intention and practice to attune our hearts to His voice. God’s word, it turns out, is only scarce for those who are not listening.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• How does the scarcity of God’s word in Samuel’s time relate to our current spiritual condition?
• How can we create our own Lo-debar situation even when we have our own Bible?
• How does actively engaging with God’s word lead to a deeper faith?
• How does the constant bombardment of the world—the relentless noise of distractions, demands, and desires—drown out the subtle yet powerful voice of God?
• How does the Bible’s message transition from a “logos” (written word) to a “rhema” (personal revelation) in individual lives?
• What are the consequences of neglecting to hear God’s voice?
• What practical steps can be taken to cultivate a listening heart and foster a deeper relationship with God?
• How can we create space for God’s voice in our lives today?