1 Samuel 3:7-11 (NKJV)
7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.)
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears [listens].”
11 Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.
Speak Lord, for Your servant listens. Is that your attitude? Are you listening for the will of the Lord? Samuel was the son of Hannah, a women who prayed to God for the blessing of a son as she was barren. She promised that, if God gave her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord. Samuel was a disciple of Eli, the Head Priest at the Temple, at this time because Hannah kept her promise. And God spoke to Samuel. The important part was that Samuel heard God! God speaks to many but few hear His words. Do you hear God’s words? If you hear Him, how do you answer? If you are like me, you probably ignore what you hear hoping it will go away. Here is a news flash. It will not go away. God will continue to call and He will become progressively more persistent. His word will not be thwarted!
It was Eli who understood that the Lord was calling. Eli had probably never heard the call himself. Eli was not the best person because he had ignored the corruption of his sons and had fallen away from the Lord. And yet, Eli was the one who recognized the Lord’s call to Samuel. Samuel was to be a Prophet of the Lord God of Israel. Samuel did not yet “know” the Lord but that was about to change. God decided to reveal Himself to Samuel because He wanted to do a new thing in Israel. One of those things was to overthrow the leadership of the corrupt Eli and family. But there were other things to which He would call Samuel. Samuel was the Prophet who would anoint David as King and be a powerful voice to Israel. It would be good for you to read 1 & 2 Samuel and see how the Lord worked in the lives of His people. God always blesses the obedient.
Do you hear God’s calls in quiet little ways but try to ignore them? Are there things you know God wants you to do but you are afraid of what others will think? Do you think you should listen to God or man? I have come to a place in my Spiritual Life where I care about what God thinks. It is more important to do what God asks because it always works out best. When you follow God’s plan for your life, it will yield blessing upon blessing. 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV) 9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” Listening to God and following His lead makes all things possible. It is the blessed life we all want. The Lord longs to bless us in ways we cannot even imagine. Following His Word will give us the opportunity to live in those blessings. Do you live in the fruit of the Spirit? Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) says 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. How would you like to have all these things? I would be happy with self-control. You can if you will follow the Lord. When He calls, say “speak Lord, for Your servant listens!”
Lord, help us to hear and obey Your call. The world drowns out Your call these days. Teach us to cut through the noise and hear the clarion call to Your ways. Strengthen us to be able to follow You rather than the world. Bless us with Your leading so we might do what is right in Your eyes rather than our own. Help us to please You rather than ourselves. In Your name we pray! Amen!