Can You Hear Me Now?
1 Samuel 3: 1-10
INTRODUCTION
Do any of you remember the commercials that came out a few years ago where the Verizon guy walked around checking the strength of the signal on his cell phone?
He kept asking the question, “Can you hear me now?” Obviously, the point of the commercial was to emphasize just how good Verizon’s signal strength was for their cell phones.
Well here’s a question for you.
How good is your signal strength when it comes to hearing from God?
Do you have an open line of communication with God? Or are there dead spots? If you were to rate your communication with God, how many bars would you give it? Two bars? Three bars? Four bars?
If God was trying to get through to you, would he be able to say, “Can you hear me now? Good!”
TRANSITION
In the Old Testament there’s a story about a boy named Samuel. He had a
The significant role of Samuel in the history of Israel is often overlooked. He was born at a time when spiritually Israel was still in in a deep descent away from the things of God. The nation was at that time weak and vulnerable to the attacks of her enemies. And when the voice of God was heard — which was rare…the people preferred to ignore it and do their own thing.
One of the most notable verses of scripture on this matter is found at the end of the book of Judges…which says,
“In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.”
Judges 21:25 (NLT)
It might help you to think of the end of the book of Judges and the beginning of the book of 1 Samuel together, because they are pretty seamless in the story they tell.
MESSAGE
As the story of 1 Samuel begins — Samuel’s mother was barren and without a child. She prayed and asked God to give her a child and he did. Her response to God’s goodness was to give Samuel back to God to serve along side the priest Eli. Samuel’s environment at the Tabernacle had both positive and negative aspects about it. It was positive in that he was able to serve God’s people with the High Priest and learn from him. But, it was negative in that he was also exposed to Eli’s two godless and immoral sons.
In those years it became clear to everyone in Israel that Samuel was uniquely chosen as God’s man. As he would grow and mature — God would use him to speak to the people as a prophet…and lead them as a Judge (Israel’s last judge). It’s clear in looking back over their history, that Samuel was the key man in holding Israel together during this final season before they would be given a King.
But before he was the judge and the prophet — he was a young man who was living in the Tabernacle of God with the Priest Eli and his family. It was here that God made His presence known and changed Samuel’s life. This part of his story is told in 1 Samuel 3. If you will turn there and let’s read together.
1 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon. 2 One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle[a] near the Ark of God. 4 Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” 5 He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did. 6 Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!” Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.” 7 Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. 8 So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. 10 And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (NLT)
This passage in 1 Samuel marks the transition from a time when Israel was not hearing from God to a time when God’s word came freely to all of Israel. So the nation of Israel was in a time of spiritual darkness. The priesthood was corrupt. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes. There was no word from God. And it was in this context that God called Samuel.
On that ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is one of Michelangelo’s greatest works. Along with many other frescoes — his paintings painting and depiction Adam and God is probably one of the most well known. This painting portrays (along with other theological thoughts), the idea that all Adam had to do was lift a finger and he could touch the hand of God. Michelangelo sought to convey the idea that God was never far away — and in fact, that He is always close. And what’s so wonderful, is that this is actually the teaching of Scripture. And it’s this idea that is at the core of the message I’ve been called to proclaim.
Yet…there are times, when I wish God would make Himself more obvious and present in my life.
Sometimes when I seek to feel God’s presence or hear His voice it’s more difficult than at other times.
Sometimes like Adam (in Michelangelo’s picture), I lift a finger; and sometimes do more than that — all in an effort to sense the closeness of God, and He just doesn’t seem that near.
And so, this paradox of God’s omnipotence and His abiding presence around me, and within me — and yet the reality that there seems to be a distance I sometimes feel at times just raises some questions within me.
Questions like:
- “Why is it that at sometimes I just feel God’s presence stronger in my life than at other times?”
- When it is so easy to “see” God all around me — at least in nature…and yet it seems that sometimes it’s so hard to feel God’s presence – especially when I need Him the most?
- And why is it that at times when I seek God’s voice — I sometimes only hear the silence of the moment?
Well, it was St. John of the Cross (a 16th century Spanish Priest) who wrote that often when we first become a Christian, that God fills us with a deep desire to seek after Him. And that when that happens, we want to read the Scriptures, and we’re eager to pray, and we’re also filled with the desire to share our faith with others as we seek to find ways to serve God and His church.
John of the Cross described the beginning of our Christian walk as sort of enthusiastic gift from God to get us moving in the right direction; sort of a spiritual starter kit. Well, John of the Cross went on to say that after a while, this initial eagerness may wear off some. Or perhaps, God takes away the props so that we can begin to grow in true devotion to Him…in a way that makes us strong enough to carry on in faith — even when we aren’t experiencing the buzz of newness of life in Jesus.
Well, I’m not sure if I completely agree with John of the Cross. But there are times when I feel God more than others…and yet, His promise to you and me is that He is always with us.
Listen to the words of Jesus concerning His closeness to us. He said in John 15:
“4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.”
He said again in Matthew 28:20,
“…be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
So what are some of the things we can take away from this passage? Let me share several with you.
1) God Wants To Speak To Us.
God did not just create the world and walk away. God desires to speak to us and to have a relationship with us.
Jesus said in John 10,
God has always taken the initiative in speaking to man. We just need to learn to listen for His voice.
2) Sometimes It’s Difficult To Hear What God Is Saying.
- Sometimes we’re like Samuel: we don’t hear very well because we need instruction.
Samuel did not recognize God’s voice until Eli explained it to him.
- Sometimes we’re like Eli: we do not hear from God because we are spiritually sluggish.
Remember, it took Eli three times to figure out what was going on.
- But sometimes we’re like Eli’s sons: who had closed their ears to God’s word and were disobedient.
You can’t expect to hear from God when you are covering up your ears. God wants to speak to us, but sometimes we don’t hear very well.
3) God Speaks In A Variety of Ways.
Sometimes God speaks to us through His Spirit.
Sometimes God speaks to us through His people (those around us).
But God always speaks to us through His Word.
Most people in the Bible received God’s word through a prophet who was used by God.
Today we live in an age where we are blessed to receive God’s Word directly and readily through the Bible, His written word. We need to come to God’s word with reverence and expectation, saying like Samuel, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening,” and then let God apply his word to our hearts and minds.
4) God Is Always Patient With Us.
I love the way God keeps coming back to Samuel in this passage. Four times God came — and called Samuel’s name before Samuel finally got it!
God is remarkably loving and patient.
If you approach the Bible with a sincere and listening heart, God will speak to you through his word. You may not get it all the first time, but keep coming back.
And the greatest reason for His presence, His closeness, and His call in our lives is because He want’s to draw us close to himself? He longs to pull us in closer to Himself. Because, His desire is that you and I would grow in our faith — and in our walk with Him!
There’s a few very significant statements about Samuel’s life that I think reflect why God used Him the way he did. And they’re found just prior to this encounter in chapter 3. If you will, look at these with me. Because they define God’s desire in you and me too.
The first comes in 1 Samuel 2:11. Here we’re told:
“And the boy served the Lord, by assisting Eli the priest…” (2:11)
He served the Lord. He didn’t just show up — or look the part. He authentically served the Lord. This is a verse of total surrender.
Again in verse 18 we’re told:
“But Samuel, though he was only a boy, served the Lord…” (2:18)
Again, he served the Lord…and there wasn’t anything that functioned as an excuse in his life. Not even his age kept him from giving his life to God.
In chapter 3 we’re told again in verse 1:
“…the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli…” (3:1)
And finally, in verse 18 of chapter 3, the Bible tells us:
“As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.” (3:18)
Again and again, we see this declaration of an authentic life given to God. And it wasn’t just in the beginning of his life. This verse tells us from the beginning to the end — Samuel followed hard after God.
Well, there’s one more brief passage that speaks to this reality that Samuel walked with God. And it comes at what was to be the end of His ministry career as God’s Judge for the people…because God was finally giving the people the king they wanted.
It’s in chapter 12 (1 Samuel 12 and verse 1). Here all the people of Israel had gathered and the Bible tells us:
1 “Then Samuel addressed all Israel: “I have done as you asked and given you a king. 2 Your king is now your leader. I stand here before you—an old, gray-haired man—and my sons serve you. I have served as your leader from the time I was a boy to this very day. 3 Now testify against me in the presence of the Lord and before his anointed one. Whose ox or donkey have I stolen? Have I ever cheated any of you? Have I ever oppressed you? Have I ever taken a bribe and perverted justice? Tell me and I will make right whatever I have done wrong.” 4 “No,” they replied, “you have never cheated or oppressed us, and you have never taken even a single bribe.” 5 “The Lord and his anointed one are my witnesses today,” Samuel declared, “that my hands are clean.” “Yes, he is a witness,” they replied.”
1 Samuel 12:1-5 (NLT)
As Samuel was stepping aside as the nation’s leader, he reflected on his time in service and asked the people to do a quick character check of him. And their response — as was God’s, was that Samuel was a man who acted justly and served God with all his heart.
And folks, that’s really the bottom line for us.
God longs for you and me (just as he did Samuel) to fill his closeness, to hear and respond to His voice, and to always walk with Him. Serving Him!
CLOSING:
And so, as we close today, I want to invite you to join with me at the altars down front.
And if you’ve been distant to God — or unresponsive to His voice in your own life…then take some time to draw close to Him again.
And if you’ve been serving God — but have felt like you’re in one of those dry seasons and need to be revitalized with a fresh outpouring of God’s presence in you. Then I want to pray for you and ask God to make His presence known today in a new and lasting way.
When you find Waldo there is a sense of joy and accomplishment. In fact, developing the capacity to track him down is part of the point of the book. If it were too easy – if every page consisted just of a giant picture of Waldo‟s face – no one would ever buy the book. The difficulty of the task is what increases the power of discernment. The author said he hides Waldo so children can learn to “be aware of what‟s going on around them. I‟d like them to see wonder in places it might not have occurred to them.”
In the first pages of the Waldo books he is easy to find. Later on, he‟s hidden but the other occupants of the page are giants and sea monsters, so Waldo still stands out. Then we come to pages like this one in which he is harder to find. It takes work and demands patience. Did you find him? He‟s near the table in the upper left hand quarter of the picture.
Every day, every moment of your life is like another page in a book. And God is there, the Scriptures assure us – on every single page. But the ease with which God may be found varies from one page to the next. Brother Lawrence wrote, “God has various ways of drawing us to him, but sometimes he hides himself.” Let‟s explore the Waldo factor.
During some periods of our spiritual life we fall into a kind of maintenance mode. Life becomes routine. These are times when there are no major gains but no major crises, no overwhelming problems…in general we feel comfortable.
Our involvement in the life of the church during these times can become rather mechanical. We may feel as if we‟re in a spiritual rut; if we‟re honest, we‟re a little bored. We don‟t feel terribly connected to God in these times. When problems arise, our instinctive response is to worry rather than pray. When we wake in the morning our first thoughts are more apt to go toward the burden of all we have to do rather than the excitement of God‟s promise to partner with us.
In these times Waldo is still present on these pages of our lives. We can find him if we remember to look. But we‟re not apt to notice him. Our attention is elsewhere. And sometimes we fail to find Waldo precisely because he looks so ordinary.
There is a story of just such a time recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures. The story describes the condition of Israel in the waning days of the era of the judges. Many of the challenges that made the people aware of their dependence on god are behind them. Pharaoh is long since defeated, the Ten Commandments and Mount Sinai are old news, and manna is a collector’s item.