         |
|
Recognizing God’s Voice 1 Samuel 3:1-10 |
May 28, 2006 Pastor Tom Marcum |
It was just about 5 years ago that I participated in a yearlong program, sponsored by our local Chamber of Commerce. The program is called, Leadership Petaluma and its designed to give participants an inside look at the wide diversity of interests and forces that give the city of Petaluma its distinct identity and to train participants to become more effective civic leaders. So, for instance…
--On History Day we examined Petaluma’s rich and colorful past.
--Business Day gave us an up close look at the varied business forces driving Petaluma’s economy.
--On Ag day we focused on both the historic and present role of the agricultural industry.
--Political Day took us into City Hall where we had an opportunity to dialogue with a number of our elected leaders.
There was Tourism Day, Law Enforcement Day, Arts Day, Education Day, Quality of Life Day and so forth. All in all, it was a great experience that provided us a wide range of insights into the nature of the various influences that shape our community. And one of the things that I found particularly interesting was that, aside from those times when I brought it up, there was no mention whatsoever of the church as a vital ingredient in a healthy community. There was no mention of the various churches of our community as forces of influence contributing to our community.
No, wait, I have to take that back. There was one mention of the importance of the church. On History Day our facilitator told us that the Catholic Church downtown was a fine example of the rich and historic architecture that can be found in Petaluma.
The voices of business, agriculture, politics, education, the arts, tourism, healthcare, law enforcement, leisure and entertainment…all of these voices can be clearly heard all over this community. The question I would ask is—Who’s going to make God’s voice known in our community?
Who’s going to help the people in our community…the people within our spheres of influence…who’s going to help them discern the voice of God in the midst of all the other voices out there? It’s an important question for us to ask for this reason—the consequences of not hearing God’s voice are too great to be left to chance.
As I look back across the years of my life and identify those things for which I am most grateful, way up at the top of that list are the names of all of those people who helped me hear the voice of God. Those people who helped me recognize God’s voice in the midst of all of the other voices competing for my attention. I can hardly imagine how different my life would be today had it not been for their help. At each of those times when I was struggling to hear God’s voice there was always someone who would step forward to help me find my way back to God’s word; to help me see my situation from God’s perspective; to help me hear God’s voice in the midst of the confusion.
Have there been people like that in your life, as well? Folks, it’s my conviction that God has given us that very same role within our community; within our spheres of influence, wherever they might be. I believe with all my heart that God has called those of us who know His voice to help others learn to recognize His voice.
One of the most ominous statements in the Bible is found in the third chapter of 1 Samuel. Describing the condition of the times it says, “In those days the word of the Lord was rare…” More ominous still is the realization that those words accurately describe our times as well.
It’s not that God has abandoned us. God continues to seek us. Continues to draw us to Himself. Continues to make Himself known to us. But there are so many other voices competing for our attention…and the attention of those around us…that it is oftentimes difficult to discern His voice.
Which brings us to our text and we’ll begin with 1 Samuel 3:1, which says,
“The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.”
The bleak situation described here comes at a time when Israel was lacking a strong, nationally recognized godly leader. What’s more, the leaders they had were often terribly flawed and the effect on the people was disastrous. They were worshiping false gods, they were neglecting God’s commands and they were engaging in all kinds of immorality.
Yet, in the midst of all of this bleakness and corruption God speaks and calls out a new leader for whom He has great plans. The young man’s name is Samuel. And Samuel’s future as a servant of God is being shaped and molded by the influence of a faithful old priest named Eli. Eli will help Samuel learn how to listen for and recognize the voice of God.
Returning to the text, let’s read verses 2-10:
“One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The 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. Then the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 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.
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.”
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
The Lord called Samuel a third time, 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. 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.
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
God called out to Samuel but Samuel didn’t realize that it was God’s voice that he was hearing. Samuel needed someone to teach him how to recognize the voice of God and God gave that assignment to Eli. God used Eli, a man who had been listening to God for years, to build Samuel into a man who would do the same. And the example of this old priest helping this young man learn to hear God’s voice provides us a valuable lesson. It’s a lesson that we’ve all heard before but can never hear too often, namely, that the most effective way to teach is by personal example. Verbal instruction is valuable. But it is not nearly as powerful as the teaching we do by example.
Eli’s instructions to Samuel were surely helpful. But it was the living example of this old priest’s unwavering, day after day faithfulness to God, at a time when “the word of the Lord was rare,” that surely made the biggest impact on Samuel. And the same thing is true of the people that God desires to teach and build up through our influence today. If we want the people within our spheres of influence…whether its in our home, our church or our community…to learn to recognize God’s voice when they hear it, we can’t just tell them about God…we need to give them a glimpse of God through the way we live.
One of the unexpected challenges I encountered at my mom’s memorial service 2 weeks ago was in trying to attach a name to a whole host of vaguely familiar faces that I had not seen in 20, 30, in some cases even 40 years. My afternoon was filled with questions like these:
--“Tommy, do you remember me? I taught you when you were in ‘Beginners.’”
--“Tommy, do you remember me? I taught you when you were in ‘Primaries.’”
The last thing I needed at my mom’s memorial service was a memory test. But do you know what amazed me? One by one, slowly but surely, as I looked into the faces of these now very senior citizens, I remembered their names. Every one of them.
Mrs. Butler, Mrs. Butcher, Mrs. Krause. Mr. Moody. I don’t remember even one of the Bible stories they taught me. I have no recollection of the content of any of their Sunday School lessons. What I do remember is that they were always there. Faithfully. Week after week.
As a young boy I went to those classes with a very clear goal in mind—I was there to keep myself and my friends entertained. That was my goal. Consequently, my teachers constantly had to ask me to stop talking and routinely had to separate me from my partners in crime. I did everything I could to disrupt their lesson plans. I look back and realize that they must have been thoroughly exasperated by my lack of attention. And week after week they came back. Sunday morning. Sunday night. Wednesday night. Mission programs. Choir rehearsals. Summer Camp. Winter Camp. Vacation Bible School. They kept coming back. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year.
Nothing I did could deter them from being faithful in their call to help me learn to recognize the voice of God. Their words have long since escaped my memory. But their example is permanently etched into my mind. And I am so grateful because they gave me a glimpse of God at a time when “the word of the Lord was rare.” And, because of their faithfulness, the day finally came when I said, “Speak Lord for your servant is listening.” And I’ve continued to say it ever since.
I want to offer a word of encouragement to those of you who are faithfully serving the Lord in some form of ministry here at PVBC…
…teaching Sunday School;
…leading a Home Group;
…working in AWANA;
…working in MOPS;
…leading a children’s choir;
…teaching a mid-week, small group Bible Study;
…working with the youth group on Sunday or Wednesday evening;
…going out on short-term mission trips;
…distributing food to the poor at our Mobile Food Pantry or through the Petaluma Kitchen;
…offering your musical gifts through the praise team;
…or any of the other ministry opportunities that are available to you here.
At some point in time you heard God’s voice calling you to serve Him in some way, you said, “Yes,” and now there are people on the receiving end of your faithful service.
--You may wonder sometimes if your effort is in vain. I want you to know that it’s not.
--You may wonder sometimes if your small act of faithfulness is making a difference. I want to assure you that it is.
--You may wonder sometimes if anyone would even notice if you just walked away. I want you to know that they would.
You might not see the results immediately and those you’re blessing will not remember everything that you said or did. But they’ll remember you. They’ll remember your example. And they’ll remember that you were faithful. And from time to time you will be blessed to discover that someone you touched through your faithfulness is now saying, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
What would you be willing to do to help someone hear God’s voice…maybe for the very first time?
Would you be willing to call Pastor Steve and say, “Is there some way that I could help you with the Youth Ministry?”
Would you be willing to call Pastor Neil and say, “Is there some way that I could help you with the Music Ministry?”
Would you be willing to call Pastor Gary and say, “Is there some way that I could help you with the Senior Adult Ministry?”
Would you be willing to see Pastor Larry…today…and say, “Is there some way that I could help you with Vacation Bible School…which starts in 3 weeks?”
And once you’ve started serving, would you be willing to be faithful, even if???
Have you heard God’s voice calling you to service? If so, what would you be willing to do?
© Copyright 2006 Pastor Tom Marcum