Speak Lord
My Bible reading plan has me in 1 Samuel and as I re-read chapter 3, I was once again amazed at God’s way among men. Verse one sets the scene, “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.”
The context gives us an idea as to why the Word was rare…the men who were supposed to be speaking to God and for God were wicked. But Derek Thomas said there is what we might call selective deafness. “There’s plenty of the Word of God, it’s just that you don’t hear it.”
It is still rare today…not in terms of availability…we have more opportunities to read and hear the Word than any generation since the Creation of man. But there was a young man, his name was Samuel, and God spoke to him.
In verses 2-10 we find Samuel lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. And God called to Samuel and verse 3 says he ran to Eli and said “Here I am!” This happened two time and both times Eli said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” But on the third time, verse 10 says, “And the LORD came and stood,” this is the first time we hear that God came and stood, but for the first time we also see God calling Samuel’s name twice, “Samuel! Samuel!” and this time, on Eli’s advice, he responded, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
This wasn’t a dream…God came and stood…this was the manifest presence of God in the Temple. What was rare in Isreal was about to be common in Samuel’s life. Verse 21 says, “And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.”
Here is the thing…first, Samuel was in a position to hear God. He was “ministering to the LORD.” Are you serving God in His Church? Are you using your gifts?
Second, Samuel was in a time of quiet, lying down in the temple, when God spoke. We aren’t able to go to the Tabernacle as Samuel did, but we are Temples of the Holy Spirit. I’m afraid the business of the world and all the noise that comes with it drowns out the voice of God. Get alone, be still, and listen.
Third, when Samuel was properly instructed, he answered and simply said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” Try to sit alone before God, quietly meditating on the Word, and praying that prayer, and then listen as you read the Word and as you pray.
Finally, the man who ministered to God, the man who got quiet, the man who listened, is the man who broke the drought of hearing God. He was used in a mighty way simply by being in God’s presence and listening to Him.
The context gives us an idea as to why the Word was rare…the men who were supposed to be speaking to God and for God were wicked. But Derek Thomas said there is what we might call selective deafness. “There’s plenty of the Word of God, it’s just that you don’t hear it.”
It is still rare today…not in terms of availability…we have more opportunities to read and hear the Word than any generation since the Creation of man. But there was a young man, his name was Samuel, and God spoke to him.
In verses 2-10 we find Samuel lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. And God called to Samuel and verse 3 says he ran to Eli and said “Here I am!” This happened two time and both times Eli said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” But on the third time, verse 10 says, “And the LORD came and stood,” this is the first time we hear that God came and stood, but for the first time we also see God calling Samuel’s name twice, “Samuel! Samuel!” and this time, on Eli’s advice, he responded, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
This wasn’t a dream…God came and stood…this was the manifest presence of God in the Temple. What was rare in Isreal was about to be common in Samuel’s life. Verse 21 says, “And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.”
Here is the thing…first, Samuel was in a position to hear God. He was “ministering to the LORD.” Are you serving God in His Church? Are you using your gifts?
Second, Samuel was in a time of quiet, lying down in the temple, when God spoke. We aren’t able to go to the Tabernacle as Samuel did, but we are Temples of the Holy Spirit. I’m afraid the business of the world and all the noise that comes with it drowns out the voice of God. Get alone, be still, and listen.
Third, when Samuel was properly instructed, he answered and simply said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” Try to sit alone before God, quietly meditating on the Word, and praying that prayer, and then listen as you read the Word and as you pray.
Finally, the man who ministered to God, the man who got quiet, the man who listened, is the man who broke the drought of hearing God. He was used in a mighty way simply by being in God’s presence and listening to Him.
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