1-3-16- Faithful Listening

1The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

2One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

7Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

8A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:1-10)

Thoughts: Eli, the high priest, had sons who were priests but who forced the people to give them more and more.  God said that he would "raise up a faithful priest who would do according to what is in my heart and mind."  In other words, a priest who would listen and be faithful to what he heard.   It was no accident that God spoke to Samuel audibly and that Eli knew about it.  God was trying to teach Samuel to be a faithful listener.  He wants us to do the same thing.  God doesn't have to speak audibly to get us to be faithful listeners.  He has spoken in His Word.
     Samuel's correct response to God's call was "speak Lord, for your servant is listening."  We would do well to memorize this.  Be in a listening position for God in your life.  Listen to His voice so that we might be faithful to Him and to what we hear.  God is not silent.  He speaks- sometimes through the Word.  When we are listening we are placing our selves on God's frequency.  Samuel said God should speak because he was listening.  But Samuel also added that he was God's servant- ready to do what God told him he should do.  It does no good to hear the voice of God or an angel if we are not willing to respond.  Mary also said to the angel, "I am the Lord's servant.  May it be to me as you have said."  Faithful listening means being willing to do God's will.  

Thoughts: Lord, speak so that we might listen and be faithful to you.