Your Servant is Listening

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (ESV)
 
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.
 
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 
 
Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
 
And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
 
And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
 
And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
 
 
Reflection
 
"Listen" was the word God gave me for 2023. It was my Connect Group goal to really  listen to God and to others, and for good reason! If you know me, you know I love people and I love to talk, and - SURPRISE! - those things spilled over into my spiritual life. My days were full of prayers. I’d pour out my heart to God, but then I'd go on my way without thinking for a moment that He might have something to say back.
Samuel is the opposite. He is all about listening, and the only thing he has to say to whomever is calling him is that he’s ready. The passage even tells us that the Lord had not yet been revealed to Samuel (verse 7), so Samuel knew OF God but didn’t even have a relationship with Him yet. And yet he listened. And kept listening. He wasn’t multi-tasking, attempting to cram one last thing into an already over-packed day. His mind and his surroundings were quiet. Eli, the priest, didn’t get it at first; it took him three times to figure out God was speaking while young Samuel was eager and waiting. And I would argue that when it comes to responding to God, there is no such thing as being too eager.
Even when I have “good listening days,” I still can’t describe myself as eager. I thank God for being willing to listen and speak to us, but then I go quite a stretch rattling on again. But Samuel’s example -  this scripture at this moment in my life - is what I need. It is no accident that this devotion topic was assigned to me. It actually caused me to panic a bit, wondering how I was going to write about something I am so bad at myself!
But this is where God works best, in our shortcomings and struggles. Even though we are a few weeks into a new series at church, in many ways, we're not. We left off in the last series at Pentecost, and the way to get closer to God begins at Pentecost. We cannot do the things He asks of us alone; we need the Holy Spirit’s help for what my study Bible calls “patterned living.” God knew this when He created us. We are made in His image, and we have His power inside of us! So there is hope for us yappers yet! I, too, can become a Samuel. Samuel had a calling on his life, but so do you and I. Like Samuel, let us be servants ready to listen.


Action Steps

1. Verse 1 of this passage tells us: “The word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.” Stop and think about what a sad sentence that is. In Samuel’s time, all of the outward conditions had to be just right for God’s presence to interact with His people. But because of Jesus, all that matters for us now is the condition of our hearts. Are you eager? Are you ready? Are you willing? Perhaps it is time to get quiet and truly answer those questions before the Lord. Then ask the Holy Spirit for His help in whatever He reveals!

2. How beautiful it is that God continues to call Samuel even after he didn’t answer the first time. As my wise friend Julie once said, if we miss the bus, God ALWAYS pulls the bus back around when our hearts are pure and willing to genuinely hear from Him. Praise God right now for His grace and His willingness to use unready people like us!


Prayer
  
Dear Lord, thank You for Your word and for stories like Samuel’s. We know You include them for correction and reproof and for simply showing us how to draw closer to You. Thank You for this church and its leaders who want this for us, too. We are so grateful that You always want more for us, and we ask Your help in being ready to listen when You call. Amen.