Encouragement

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"SPEAK LORD" (1 Samuel 3:8b-14)

“Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So 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. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family – from beginning to end. For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering’.”

When Eli realized that it was God calling Samuel, he told Samuel what to do, and how to hear from God. It had been a long time since he heard the voice of God but there had been a time in the past when he used to fellowship heart to heart with the Lord. His sons (who were also priests) were sinning against God and the community, and this had come between God and Eli. Chapter 2 tells us how God spoke to him through a prophet, about the evil ways of his sons. When God shows us sin and corruption in our midst, and we do not heed His warnings and His call to prayer or action, the outcome is very serious. Not only does He raise up others who will be faithful to obey Him, but we gradually lose our sensitivity to His voice and the things that concern His heart. (1 Timothy 4:2 talks about a seared conscience, which arises as we continue to ignore or cover up sin). We too would eventually stop speaking to a person who does not respond.

God was taking Samuel to another level of revelation and service but he had to position himself for that step upwards. Up to now he had served the Lord in the flesh - fulfilling all his physical duties in the house of God. From the time he had entered the ministry in the house of God, he had worn a little linen robe sewn by his mother (1 Samuel 2:19) and learnt whatever was required of him in the daily running of the temple. He was diligent and faithful. He also wasted no time in obeying what Eli told him to do, in order to hear the voice of God. We can see from his quickness to awaken and run to Eli even at night that he had an attitude and a heart to serve. These are characteristics God seeks – a teachable spirit and a heart to serve.

Now God was taking Samuel into the dimension of the Spirit. He would begin a journey which would continue through his lifetime as he grew into the powerful prophetic anointing God had decreed for him. But it had to all begin with learning to hear the voice of God. Unless he learnt to discern God’s voice and receive divine direction, there would be no growth in his relationship with God or the ministry God had called him to.

Samuel did what Eli told him to do and lay down in his bed until he heard God’s voice calling to him for the fourth time. We do not know how long he had to wait, but I am sure those minutes or hours felt like an eternity in the darkness of the night. It is not easy for a young boy to be still. (According to the historian Josephus, Samuel is supposed to have been around 12 at the time) Maybe he was a little tense and fearful – after all, this was God Almighty seeking his ear! And as he responded to the voice of God calling his name, and as he opened his heart to receive words from heaven, God spoke to him about the judgment He was going to bring upon Eli and his family. This was not pleasant news for Samuel to get, the first time he heard from God! It was Eli’s responsibility to bring his sons back in line with the Word of God, and he had failed to do what he should have done as a father and a priest. Because there had been no repentance and obedience during the time God gave them grace, now the Lord said that “the guilt of Eli’s house would never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.” This brings home to us the huge responsibility God places upon His servants when He gives them authority over the lives of others – whether in the home, the market place, or the ministries of His kingdom.

God has prophetic messages for us which He wants us to take to the world in which we live. Many of us may hear the voice of God but not recognize it as His voice or respond as He wants us to. Many of us may have (like Eli) heard from God regularly in the past, but lately, have forgotten what it feels like to hear from Him. Many of us may have heard but never really stopped to listen. I believe we can all learn from Samuel. He started right!

1) Samuel lay down - he made his heart and his body quiet and still before the Lord. Many times we make our bodies still but our minds are still racing around the neighborhood or the stock market, or the events of the day! To hear the still small voice of God, we have to consciously ‘tune off’ from other things, and ‘shut down’ every distraction. Of course we can hear from the Lord in the center of a busy airport or while driving the car, but it helps to get away from other people, get alone, and close the door.

2) His heart was open to hear from God - he said 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening'. Not only did he close off other distractions, but he tuned in to the right frequency. We can have our radio on, but we will not hear the channel we want unless we tune in to the correct band width.

3) When God called to him again he listened; he did not attempt to speak – Samuel meant what he said to God – he actually listened. Maybe he was in shock (!), but all the while the Lord gave him the message He had for Samuel, we do not see Samuel saying anything. He just listened. It is very difficult to have a conversation with someone who never listens, even to your responses to their questions! We may sometimes be doing this in our interaction with the Lord. We tell Him we want to hear from Him, but often, we may be so busy speaking out our own feelings, praises or concerns, that we do not give Him a chance to speak! The kingdom needs listeners.

God called to Samuel 3 times, before he recognized (with Eli’s help) that this was God, and stopped to listen. God in His mercy keeps knocking on the door, until we finally realize it is Him and open it wide! I know I get it wrong so many times in terms of hearing and interpretation, or simply stopping to listen because of how rushed life can be; but God has been patient and merciful and is willing to teach those who are willing to learn. He is teaching me!

Finally I feel that just like God took Samuel to another dimension of ministry in the Spirit, He is calling many of us to higher ground. He sees your diligence and faithfulness; He sees your heart to serve. Now He is calling you to enter another level, where you cease from striving and operate in the anointing of the blessed Holy Spirit. God has great things in store for you! May the sweet Spirit of God lift you up as on the wings of an eagle, and swoop up to ever higher and heady levels in Him, as He enables you to hear His voice and do His will.

Minoli Haththotuwa
www.wingslikeeagles.info

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