Speak To Me In The Stillness Of My Heart

SPEAK TO ME IN THE STILLNESS OF MY HEART

By Picky Airi

Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-11

Do you have time to listen?

There are times in our lives that we so often talk too much. Imagine there are two people communicating, and only one person is doing all the talking, never trying to listen. In any culture there are always basic protocols (rules) of communication. For example, when we meet a wantok, we shake hands first as a sign of greeting or sometimes say a simple hello before anything. Then after the initial gestures, we start to verbally communicate.  

Communication in any relationship flourishes if it is a two way thing; we talk and the other party listens and then we listen while the other party talks. Communication break-down doesn’t necessarily mean we never talk to each other at all; it can mean that one person is doing all the talking and never has time to listen to the other party.

1Sam 3:10 Then the LORD came and stood nearby, calling as he had previously done, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel replied, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening!” The LORD said to Samuel, “Look! I am about to do something in Israel; …”

When Samuel was called by the LORD, he thought that Eli was calling him so he ran to Eli and said “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli said, “I didn’t call you, my son. Go back and lie down.” (v5) Notice that this happened three times and by that time, Eli had realized that it was the LORD who was calling Samuel.

Speak Your Servant is listening

Now the Bible tells us that Samuel was a young boy serving the LORD under Eli’s supervision. This means that Samuel was only accustomed to Eli’s voice and call. He worked every day under Eli and if it was someone’s call that he would listen to, it was Eli. Like Samuel, we are already used to the voices that we hear every day. It may be our job, school, market, or the little things we always do every day to keep us busy. It could be our parent’s voice that we are so used to.

When Eli realized it was God calling Samuel, he instructed Samuel in verse 9, “Go back and lie down. When he calls you, say, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.” This was someone who was a Priest and had experienced God’s voice and call telling Samuel exactly what to do. Samuel did not yet know the LORD; the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

I believe, these very words that Eli told Samuel to say and do are resounding to us tonight. “Go back and lie down. When he calls you, say, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.” It is in the stillness of our heart and meditation upon His Word that the LORD will speak to us. We should be ready to listen.

It is my belief that to have a healthy, effective and strong relationship with Christ, we need to exercise good communication. God wants us to talk to Him but more importantly, He wants us to listen to Him too.

I thank God that Samuel was called Samuel because Hannah asked the LORD for him (1 Sam 1:20). Samuel grew to listen to the LORD. Job 33:14 ​​​​​​​“For God speaks, the first time in one way, ​​​​​​the second time in another, ​​​​​​though a person does not perceive it.

Be ready & willing to listen.

Amen

photo credit: Walmart - White Rose/Be Still My Heart via photopin (license)