Introduction
In the Old Testament, God frequently spoke directly to His people. He talked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3); He personally warned Noah of the flood that was coming and provided instructions to build an ark (Genesis 6); He spoke to Abraham on multiple occasions, calling him out of idolatry and sending him to a new land (Genesis 12), testing his faith (Genesis 22), confirming his covenant (Genesis 15); and He called Moses to lead Israel from a burning bush (Exodus 3); and here, in the text before us, the Lord not only spoke but even stood before Samuel in the middle of the night. And the natural question that many people ask is: why doesn’t God do that anymore today?
We may ask: “Has God abandoned His way of call? Or has He forgotten His style of doing things? Are we doing something wrong? Do we need more flashing lights and musical instruments and emotional praise music and more inspiring, motivational, visionary preaching to get God to loosen up? Coud it be that maybe God is speaking but no one is listening. If we believe that in the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son (Heb. 1:1-2).
Beloved, God is speaking. The question is: are we listening?
Since technology has given us more ways to communicate than ever before, there are very few excuses for us to be “out of touch”.
In the account before us, the Lord not only spoke but even stood before Samuel in the middle of the night. And the natural question that many people ask is: why doesn’t God do that anymore today?
Perhaps God is speaking but the question is: are we listening?
Malady
More often, if we don’t hear what someone is saying it’s because we don’t want to hear it. It’s called selective hearing. Whether it’s ignoring emails, screening phone calls and texts, or simply putting headphones in and cutting ourselves off from the world – we all practice selective hearing, even when we know we shouldn’t. And it’s not a new phenomenon –
Text
Israel, in Samuel’s time, had a severe case of it. It wasn’t that God wasn’t speaking; they still had the Law given to Moses and the promises given to Abraham, but neither those tasked with preaching it nor those tasked with listening were doing their job. The problem started with Eli and his sons, Hophni and Phineas, the priests of the LORD (1 Samuel 1:3). Instead of preaching and teaching God’s Word to the people of Israel, as they were called to do, his sons used their office to fatten their own bellies and satisfy their own fleshly desires. Any different today?!
Example
For example: God had instructed His priests to receive their portion of the sacrificial offerings only after it had been offered to the Lord (Leviticus 7:29-36; 1 Samuel 2:12-17), but Eli’s sons robbed the people by demanding their portion first, sometimes by threat of force. They were also notorious for sleeping with the women who served at the tabernacle (1Sam. 2:22).
Worst of all, they refused to listen to anyone who tried to correct their sinful ways, they refused to repent (1 Samuel 2:25). Ohiwa…!
Malady
What do you do when you’re trying to talk to someone and you can tell they’re not listening? Parents, what do you do after the 9th and 10th times you’ve told your grown up children to clean up their rooms?
Often, when we know someone is not listening, we react by refusing to speak. And that’s how God decided to treat Israel. They had stopped listening, so He stopped speaking. That’s what it means when it says in those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. God was giving Israel the silent treatment. God wanted to speak to His people, to lead them, discipline them, forgive them, comfort them but because they refused to listen God refused to speak. It was the worst judgment possible.
Illustration
What do you do when you’re trying to talk to someone and you can tell they’re not listening? How many times will you try to get the attention of your spouse in the house during a soccer game or Telenover drama on TV before you give up?
In the account from First Samuel, Samuel says to the Lord, “Speak, for your servant hears.” Samuel tells God to speak and God does because He has something for Samuel to hear. So also, we listen because He has something He wants us to hear. We hear His voice because He speaks the truth in a world of lies. We hear His Word because it transforms our lives. We hear His calls to repentance. When God calls us to repent, we need to hear Him.
Reflection
We don’t listen just to hear His warnings, we listen to hear His Word of grace. Israel, His special nation, wasn’t listening, but He still loved them. Samuel would be God’s servant to remind them of His purpose for them. He would guide and love them because they were His chosen people. Listen and you will hear His promises.
Gospel
God speaks His Word of grace to you. He speaks forgiveness to you. The true story of His Son’s crucifixion for you. Hear the true and miraculous story of His Son’s resurrection for you. Hear His Word and hear that you’re forgiven. Hear His Word of forgiveness, right this very second.
Conclusion
And this is no small thing, something unimportant, or some minor detail. It’s the most crucial thing you’ll ever hear. Yes, your sin. Yes, you starve yourself spiritually by not hearing His Word as you should. Yet, the Word is spoken to you. It calls you to acknowledge your hunger and then be fed by God Himself. Hear Him, His Word of comfort and peace. Hear the Word of hope that permeates the Scripture. Hear the Word that literally changes you; that gives you faith, leads you to repentance, and forgives all your sins. Hear the Word that’s unlike any other spoken or written words in the history of the world because it is the Word of the Lord, the word that gives life and gives more abundantly!
Amen