Discerning The Word of the Lord

The boy Samuel served the Lord in Eli’s presence. In those days the word of the Lord was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread.
1 Samuel 3:1

Now Samuel had not yet experienced the Lord, because the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
1 Samuel 3:7

Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let nothing he said prove false. All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a confirmed prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, because there He revealed Himself to Samuel by His word.  And Samuel’s words came to all Israel.
1 Samuel 3:19-4:1

Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: “I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” So Samuel became angry and cried out to the Lord all night.
1 Samuel 15:10,11

Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?

Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king.

Saul answered Samuel, “I have sinned. I have transgressed the Lord’s command and your words. Because I was afraid of the people, I obeyed them. Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the Lord.”

Samuel replied to Saul, “I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
1 Samuel 15:22-26      (from Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © Holman Bible Publishers.)

The phrase “the word of the LORD” is used in these passages as if it is something of substance, that could be the power in a battery or some stuff in a box. The word, “word” (Strongs Hebrew #1697 is translated many different ways in the 1441 times it appears in the Old Testament. From “acts” to “words” to “things” to “questions” and more. It is “words” in 1 Samuel 4:1 regarding Samuel’s words, which were heard in all Israel.

When it spoke of the word of Yahweh, it became powerful and influential. It was rare, but it became revealed to Samuel. Yahweh Himself was revealed to Samuel by it. When Saul rejected it, He was rejected by it. When he was disconnected from it, Samuel was disconnected from him. Samuel never visited Saul again, until Saul used witchcraft to raise him from Sheol.

The word of Yahweh is available to us. It is at work to influence and empower us. It is in Scriptures. It is sometimes among the words of unbelievers (John 11:50-52). The Pharisees had His words memorized, but could not use them to recognize His Word when He stood before them and spoke to them. They rejected His Word.

His word holds your future. It makes you able to access the future that Yahweh desires for you. Don’t reject it.