I Samuel 3:1-10 (NRSV)
Read I Samuel 3:1-10 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 3Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. Verse 2At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; Verse 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. Verse 4Then the Lord called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" Verse 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. Verse 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." Verse 7Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. Verse 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. Verse 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. Verse 10Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
Devotion
God’s call was not unique to Samuel. Unique perhaps in the way it happened – in the Temple, late at night, while Samuel was about to go to sleep - but not unique in that it came from the Lord, and certainly not unique in that it required a listening and a trusting response.
Every time God calls someone, He calls them to a life of faith. Our calling is to serve Him in whatever way we’ve been called. But we can’t serve faithfully until we’ve first listened carefully to what He’s said.
Samuel’s words are instructive for us. As we open ourselves to hearing God’s Word, He comes to us and calls us to a life of faith. But we need to listen before we respond. We need to hear and understand before we step out and obey. Could it be that the Church’s greatest need today is to listen to God’s voice? Could it be that our greatest need is to clearly hear what He’s saying to us?
Prayer
Lord God, as you called young Samuel to be your servant, and as he responded with listening ears and a servant heart, so give to us ears that hear your voice and hearts ready to serve. Amen.