God Calling
This is my reflection that went out electronically in St. Timothy's e-ministry.
I love this call story of Samuel. What particularly impresses me is that he was just a child. God can minister through children? You betcha! In the verses that follow this lesson, God uses Samuel to deliver bad news to Eli about the fate of Eli’s grown children and what will happen to Israel.
First Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-10
1Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.
2At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3the 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. 4Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” 5and 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. 6The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up 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.” 7Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
2At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3the 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. 4Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” 5and 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. 6The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up 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.” 7Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
I love this call story of Samuel. What particularly impresses me is that he was just a child. God can minister through children? You betcha! In the verses that follow this lesson, God uses Samuel to deliver bad news to Eli about the fate of Eli’s grown children and what will happen to Israel.
How did Samuel find himself living at God’s house? His mother, Hannah, in thanksgiving to God for giving her a child, brought him there. She had committed the boy to God’s service. Samuel became a prophet and judge of Israel. He was the final judge because the people wanted a king instead.
We may or may not hear God’s voice in an audible fashion the way Samuel did. However, if we quiet our hearts and minds, God will speak to us. It may be through a passage of scripture, through a friend, through circumstances or any other numerous ways. Sometimes there’s just an impression we may get. That can be God’s voice for us.
May the attitude of our hearts be, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
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