Speak, for your servant is listening
Notes
Transcript
God listens to his people. And God is close to those who listen to Him.
The boy Samuel from today’s text, the one who would become Israel’s first recognized prophet, received his name because the prayers of his mother were heard by God. In Hebrew, Samuel comes from Shama - “heard of” and “el” which means God. God listened and responded.
The story of his birth is rather extraordinary. In some ways, it was a foreshadow of what was to happen when Jesus came into the world. There are several similarities between the two births and the two men.
To better understand the passage this morning, we need to go back and look at how this young boy ended up in the position to hear from the Lord.
His mother, Hannah, was married to man named Elkanah (L-cana) who also had another wife named Peninnah (Pen-eh-nah). And since we are starting on this new path as a church aligning with a new denomination - I think it is an ideal time to bring back the practice of polygamy. It is biblical! Men - can I get an Amen?
Just kidding…while the ancient practice of polygamy was a cultural reality, it is never shown in a positive light in the Bible. Case in point, the account of Hannah, Peninnah and Elkanah. Peninnah is described as Hannah’s rival, because Hannah was unable to conceive a child and Peninnah had birthed several sons and daughters. Elkanah favored Hannah, which is why Peninnah would constantly irritate her and lord it over her that she produced children and Hannah had not. Another dysfunctional family dynamic described in the Bible.
We are told that every year, as faithful jews, the family would go up to the Tabernacle at Shiloh and present their sacrificially offering. And every year, Hannah would weep and not eat anything.
Being the sensitive husband that he was, one time Elkanah asked Hannah, (this is my translation) “What’s up baby, why you crying? Eat something - am I not all you need? Don’t I mean more than 10 sons?”
Surprisingly, that did not work and still being distressed, after dinner, Hannah went to the tabernacle, fell to her knees and pleaded before the Lord. In her tears, she said, “Lord, if you would remember your servant and give me a son, I will give him back to you to serve you all the days of his life. I will dedicate him to you Lord.”
Meanwhile, as she was crying out to the Lord, the priest on duty was Eli. All we know about Eli at this point in the story is that he had two sons, also priests, who were wicked, self-serving and corrupt. Eli did not honor the integrity of God’s house and discipline his sons accordingly.
Eli is sitting on a stool outside the tabernacle and he sees this woman crying and carrying on and he assumes she had been drinking too much. When he confronts her and Hannah responds:
“No sir!” Hannah replied. “I’m just a very sad woman. I haven’t had any wine or beer but have been pouring out my heart to the Lord. Don’t think your servant is some good-for-nothing woman. This whole time I’ve been praying out of my great worry and trouble!” Eli responded, “Then go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you’ve asked from him.”
God listens to his people. And God is close to those who listen to Him.
God hears Hannah’s prayer and opens her womb. She gives birth to a son - and as mentioned already, names him Samuel because “she asked the Lord for him.”
After the boy is weaned, she fulfills her vow and takes him up to Shiloh and presents him to Eli. He will spend his life, set apart and in service to God.
This is radical obedience that is difficult to fathom. She had longed for a child for so long, to be a mother, and now she willingly takes her young boy and hands him over to God through his priest. It is the same radical obedience we would later see in Jesus’ mother, Mary. The faith to know and follow through with God’s will. She had no doubt that God had given her a child. And she stayed true to her vow.
We even find Hannah breaking out in worship and singing a song, just like Mary would do many centuries later.
The Lord! He brings death, gives life, takes down to the grave, and raises up! The Lord! He makes poor, gives wealth, brings low, but also lifts up high! God raises the poor from the dust, lifts up the needy from the garbage pile. God sits them with officials, gives them the seat of honor! The pillars of the earth belong to the Lord; he set the world on top of them!
God listens to his people. And God is close to those who listen to Him.
The writer of 1 Samuel goes on to contrast the wicked sons of Eli with the set apart son of Hannah.
Eli’s sons took whatever they wanted. They would have sex with the women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.
It is safe to say that these men did not know the Lord. They did not listen to what His Word said - nor did they keep it. They did not possess a righteous fear of the One whom they were called serve. Any priestly prayers they would recite lacked conviction or expectation. Their behavior did not just reflect poorly on them, it effected the whole community.
Their father Eli tried to rebuke them, 1 Sam 2:23-25
1 Samuel 2:23–25 (ESV)
And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad. If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?”
It is not difficult to imagine how the average Israelite viewed the way of God when they would present their finest livestock for sacrifice and have the priests demand the best cuts of meat for themselves first - at times taking it by force. And then to hear of the debauchery of those who serve the Lord.
It think it is not hard to imagine because we see it today whenever a so-called pastor or priest fleeces their flock and lives an extravagant lifestyle or, even worse, is caught committing an egregious sexual sin with those under his care.
While clergy are human and are prone to the same failings as anyone else - if they do not have a healthy fear of the Lord, if they are not listening and drawing close to God through His Word - then there is great danger for the flock entrusted to their care.
It is why Paul writes in Titus 1:7-9 the qualifications of a church elder:
For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Contrasted with the wicked priests, there is young Samuel. Set apart and placed in service under Eli. Obedient to all the priest instructed him to do. Every year, his mother would come up for the family sacrifice and she would bring him a little robe to wear. And in 1 Samuel 2:26 we read…
Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.
Does any know where we hear that phrase again in the Bible? This is the same description we find of Jesus’ childhood.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
God listens to his people. And God is close to those who listen to Him.
The Bible infers that in those days, there were few who were listening to the Lord.
Why do I say that?
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.
Ever wonder why we don’t see more of the miraculous today? Why we don’t hear of many dreams and visions from the Lord?
The question to ask is “Are we listening?”
As a society, it is obvious that we are not. As we have become more and more secular, and have searched for answers to our questions from every source other than THE SOURCE - we are left with silence and confusion.
When I read stories from those serving in the areas of the world where authentic Christianity is thriving, like subsaharan Africa, South Korea, Cuba, the underground churches in China, I often encounter reports of experiences like the ones we read about in the New Testament. Did you know that of the top 20 countries where Christianity is growing the fastest - 11 are Muslim-majority countries. And there are many reports of Jesus visiting Muslims in their dreams and pointing them to the truth.
One article from the Lausanne Movement reports this:
For decades, a well-documented phenomenon has been occurring in the Muslim world—men and women who, without knowledge of the gospel, or contact among Christians in their community, have experienced dreams and visions of Jesus Christ. The reports of these supernatural occurrences often come from “closed countries” where there is no preaching of the good news and where converting to Christianity can invoke the death sentence. But these are more than just dreams. Setting them apart is the intense reality of the experience and the surrender of one’s heart and mind to Christ in the wake of the dream. A common denominator appears to be that the dreams come to those who are seeking—as best they can—to know and please God.
God listens to his people. And God is close to those who listen to Him.
I’m not saying we don’t see the miraculous happen - we do. Our cancer prayer warriors received a good report this week of someone who they had been praying for - this woman went in to have a tumor removed and the procedure was cancelled - no tumor found.
God listens to his people. And God is close to those who listen to Him.
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
At a time when the word of the Lord was rare, God spoke to Samuel.
The Lord called him by name.
Samuel had not heard from the Lord before and understandably thought that Eli was calling him. As he approached the priest, ol’ Eli would say, “I didn’t call you - go back to bed.”
Three times this goes on and finally the light bulb goes off for the elderly priest. Samuel is hearing somebody call and it is Eli.
Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Samuel does so and he encounters the Lord. We are actually told that
1 Sam 3:10
1 Samuel 3:10 (ESV)
the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
This seems to be what is referred to as a Christophany - an appearance or non-physical manifestation of Christ. The Lord shared with Samuel that he was about to do something that would get all the people buzzing. What is not said, but later plays out is that Eli’s sons are killed and the Ark of the Covenant is captured by the Philistines.
What matters at the moment is that the Lord spoke to Samuel and the people recognized him to be a prophet.
And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
God used prophets, like Samuel, to get people’s attention and help them listen.
Why? God listens to his people. And God is close to those who listen to Him.
We don’t have many prophets today - we have something greater: the Holy Spirit living inside all who believe. God still listens to his people and he is extremely close to those who seek him and listen to His words.
The Spirit of God speaks to us: reminds us of God’s Work, instructs us in the ways of God, intercedes for us - and all we have to do is stay plugged in - seeking God with all our heart, praying and listening.
How’s your prayer life church? Is it where you want it to be? Do you need to make a change?
One last reminder:
God listens to his people. And God is close to those who listen to Him.
Amen.
