A long time ago there was a commercial that emphasized who to hush and listen to intently with a response to do what this company said concerning our financial investments.  It made such an impact on the populace at that time that the phrase, “Shh, it’s E.F. Hutton, “when he talks, people listen!” was used often in jokes among us.  If a trusted leader, for instance, walked into the room, people were prompted to hush and hear what he/she had to say. “Shh, when he/she talks; people listen,” be quiet!”

Among other beloved mentors in my life, Randy’s dad, my father-in-law was someone I would stop talking long enough to lean in and listen to when he spoke.  Travis was a quiet, Godly man who talked less and listened more.  He was very observant of what was going on around him without others noticing, but I did.  He thought deeply before he spoke.  So, when he spoke, I listened.  His words were concise, brief, and filled with wisdom over criticism.  I loved Travis because he accepted me into his family without judgement but with encouragement for our days ahead in our marriage.

We are drawn to those who are wise, loving, kind, and compassionate.  Why?  Because all these traits come from God who created us in His own image.  When we love and trust God, we will hush and lean in to hear all He has to say with obedient hearts. 

The following passage is a beautiful moment when the boy Samuel is beckoned by God at a time most were not listening to God.  Eli, his mentor taught Samuel to respond to God with; “Here I am, speak Lord for your servant is listening.”

God still speaks and seeks our full focus and attention—what is our response?

1 Samuel 3

The Lord Calls Samuel

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

² One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. ³ The 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. ⁴ Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” ⁵ And 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.

⁶ Again 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.”

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

⁸ A 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. ⁹ 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.

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

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

¹¹ And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. ¹² At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. ¹³ For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. ¹⁴ Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”

¹⁵ Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, ¹⁶ but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”

Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

¹⁷ “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” ¹⁸ So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”

¹⁹ The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. ²⁰ And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. ²¹ The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God’s hand was on Samuel from birth, through his years of adolescence of training by Eli, for God’s purpose and plan in becoming a prophet.  God’s design is for Samuel to speak on His behalf in ways that everyone will stop, listen, with trust what He says through His servant.  Eli has given Samuel that exact right response: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”  Then focused Samul hears all God has to say in silence before Him.  I am reminded of the Psalmist’s words from God; “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46) When God speaks, we must hush and listen!

A prophet is not trusted until what he says happens!  In Samuel’s case; what God said through him happened quickly and concisely.  Eli’s sons committed detestable sins against God, defying all that is holy in sacrifice and worship, in all that God told them to be and do as priests, therefore God dealt with them. Eli’s sons’ hearts were far from God’s heart. They only wanted to profit from their position as priests.

God gives His prophets His power to speak His words.  The prophets of God are called to deliver all that God has to say—the good news and the bad news. Although the boy Samuel was fearful to tell Eli all that God had to say; Eli was wise enough to encourage the boy to tell all regardless.  Eli probably had some idea of what was going to happen to his sons who were out of control.

Contempt, arrogance, and disobedience marked the lives of Eli’s sons. Eli dealt with them poorly by ignoring their sins as he didn’t seem to know what to do or didn’t want to do it. But God did. These major factors contributed to the bleak spiritual climate during Samuel’s childhood. For three centuries no prophet had spoken God’s word until Samuel was chosen.

God honors and wants to use people, such as Samuel, who honor him. But those who arrogantly disobey, such as Eli’s sons, God will judge. God will not fail to keep His promises to His People for our good and His glory.  God is not finished with us, yet. God will finish the work He began in and through us who believe, love, trust, and obey Him wholeheartedly.  God is faithful—even when we are not.  God’s will be done.

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…” 2 Chronicles 16:9  God knows our hearts!

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 God knows who truly believe and serve Him.

God has created each one of us with purpose! God does not hide His purpose or will from us; He shows us exactly what it is, sometimes in the middle of doing other things, as we serve Him.  Count on it.  When God speaks, stop and listen.

It is God’s delight and desire to be in all the details of our lives.  God use our everyday life to equips us with opportunities to fulfill His purpose while perfecting His will in us as we listen, trust and obey Him.  God wants us to excel in ways that give Him glory so others will know Him, too!  

We can be sure of one thing: God will make us good at something. This is God’s principle expressed through His Son, Jesus who lived, died, and rose again to save us:

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”—Paul to the church, Ephesians 4:11-16

All for God’s glory and His good in and for us!

So, what is our response?  “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” Trust and obey, for there’s no other way…

Lord,

I just want to linger and listen to you this morning. Focus my thoughts until your desires become mine.  Teach me your Word with how to walk in your ways for you are God. I love you. I am yours. And I am listening.

In Jesus Name, Amen