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There is a big difference from really knowing the Lord and knowing about him.

There is a difference from knowing what God's standards are, to understanding God's heart.

And what I take away from this is that I cannot assume that just because my children grow up in the church, know HOW to worship, know HOW to live Christ-like, or know a lot ABOUT the Lord, I can never be satisfied until I hear them say,

"Dad...I really feel like I'm getting to know the Lord...like for real!"

So much depends on this kind of knowledge of God.

Samuel grew up in the temple. He was raised by a priest. He knew about God and his standards for living and worship, but he did not yet "KNOW" the Lord. And because he did not yet "KNOW" the Lord, he couldn't respond to the word of the Lord.

With this said, we know theologically that the Lord literally speaks to us through the scriptures. But how many times do people find themselves putting the cart before the horse? How many people want to hear from God without having placed themselves in position to "KNOW" God?

Philippians 4:7-11
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.