Speak Lord…
A bit of background for today's first lesson. At the time of our first reading, the Israelites were in a state of moral decline. The judges who had led them previously had sadly passed away, and the Israelites had turned to their old ways of idol worship. The people were crying out for a king, but God had intended for them to be led by Him alone. So it’s very much a time of flux and the people are crying out consciously and subconsciously for some stable leadership. Today I still think we yearn for good, solid, stable, leadership at all sorts of levels and in every organisation. Stability, continuity and wisdom seem to be in short supply.
When our story opens Samuel is serving in the temple under the guidance of the high priest Eli. One night, while he is sleeping, God calls out to him three times. Samuel, not yet aware that it is the Lord calling him, goes to Eli, thinking it is him who called him. Eli then realises that it is the Lord calling Samuel, and instructs him how to respond. From this point on, Samuel becomes a prophet of God, and God uses him to deliver important messages to the Israelites.
In ancient Israel, Prophets were called by God to deliver His message to the people. They were used to warn the Israelites of impending judgment and to call them to repentance. They also had the role of foretelling future events, and often God would reveal to them the hidden things. Prophets were very handy people to have around.
In the past, the folk had the great prophets Abraham, Isaac and Moses but these folk aren’t around any more.
Against this rather sombre moral and political background enters the prophet Samuel although once again God (in his wicked sense of humour and to teach us some humility) calls a little lad.
The call of Samuel has many salutary lessons for us.
First, we all need an Eli in our lives. Someone who we can go to when God interrupts us with his love. When we have been prodded and nudged just a little off-kilter we are disturbed and disquieted. The really good news is that they don’t necessarily have to have a clerical collar around their neck. Some of the finest ‘Eli’s’ I know are faithful lay people. Also remember that it took Eli no less than three goes to figure out what exactly was going on. Notice also that Eli simply points Samuel in the right direction. He doesn’t need to be privy to the conversation between Samuel and God. Eli just gives Samuel some direction in order for the future to be fruitful.
Secondly, Samuel's call is our call. We too carve out some time just to be with God. To read our Bibles, to come to the altar and be attentive to what God is saying to us. Our time is precious and spending time with God will mean not spending time doing something else. It’s that unpopular word ‘sacrifice’.
And when you have made the sacrifice and you are listening, then what is it that God is saying to you and then, if you are really brave… ask yourself ‘How am I responding?’
Thirdly, you are also an Eli. Your vocation should you choose to accept it is to help others cultivate their relationship with God and as lay people you are often far better placed to do this than us 'priesty' people. People expect clergy to say these sorts of things, but when it comes from the lips of lay people, it is often far more potent because of its unexpectedness. And you can do it. I have seen you do it and I have rejoiced. You can and you do help others to hear and recognise God’s voice.
Now in our story, Samuel went back to bed on the third occasion and simply waited. Often we think we are waiting on God. Waiting for him to forgive, waiting for him to act, waiting for him to fill our shopping order, waiting for him to do something... anything. Waiting for Him to explain Himself. And all that is normal and healthy and true and understandable. But what if the opposite is also true? What if God is waiting for us? Waiting for us to be still and listen. Waiting for us to stop playing with our frivolous distractions. Waiting for us to listen. Waiting for us to stop procrastinating and turn again to Him. Still, he waits.
Finally my brothers and sisters
Look out! God is trying to get your attention. Are you ready? And if you are, then maybe your prayer should simply be … ‘Speak Lord your servant is listening’. If you’re anything like me you will find this is a hard prayer to pray for 2 reasons
- We are too preoccupied and too rushed. We don’t have the presence of mind to listen.
- We don’t actually want to hear what He has to say. What he has to say to us makes us squirm.
Even if we don’t want to listen, when we simply just can’t be fagged; we can still want to have the desire to listen.
If you dare…
Speak Lord... your servant is listening.