The Language of Listening

1 Samuel 3:2-9

One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his usual place. Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was located.

Then the LORD called Samuel, and he answered. “Here I am.” He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “I didn’t call you, Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!” Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “I didn’t call, my son,” he replied. “Go back and lie down.”

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord yet been revealed to him.

Once again, for the third time, the LORD called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then, Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. He told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'”

Samuel’s physical position emulates his hearts posture. Resting. A heart at rest reveals availability and accessibility. A heart at rest has chosen to silence the external noise and to listen for the still, small voice.

THEN the Lord called. THEN Eli discerned. THEN. A precise time. Timing is everything. God appoints the when of the timing and the why of the timing.

We are not to wait on the why, we step out on the WHEN.

Samuel had never heard His voice. But Eli had. Not in a long time however, because Eli did not take action at His last word.

If our wants are louder than His will, we become deaf to whisper. 

When we cannot recall the last time we heard His voice, we must return to the last Word, we heard. His anointing is on His last word. His empowerment is within His last word. As we obey His last word, trust and courage are forged, establishing our steps of obedience for His next word. Word by word into deeper trust. Word by word, an invitation into a life of intimacy.

Samuel stepped toward the voice he heard, and Eli redirected him to the voice of The Word.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14

Eli discerned that God was speaking to Samuel and he instructed Samuel on how to proceed. He gave the teachable child, specific directions, just as our Heavenly Father desires to do for us. Our perception pending the posture of our heart. God is sequential. One step leading to the next. Our desire to honor Him fuels the muscle of obedience enabling us to take the next step forward.

It was the appointed time for Samuel to hear, however Eli taught him to listen. Listening must be learned. God could have immediately identified Himself to Samuel. He chose however, to allow Himself to be mistaken for Eli. Mistakes make us aware of our tendency to trust what is familiar. Mistakes, seeped through the heart of humility, can actually heighten our hearing. We learn to listen, differently. Teachably. God was doing a new thing and was making a new move. A moment of intimacy which required Samuel to take a new posture of listening. The final time, Samuel positioned his ear to perceive a different voice and God positioned Himself in a different place.

1 Samuel 3:10 The Lord came, stood there, and called as before, “Samuel, Samuel!”

Samuel was listening for only His voice, and God stood close.

He stood close and revealed His plans. Our Father invites each of us to position our hearts to purposeful living. He stands close, when we are still, and speaks to the listening one. The posture of our heart pivotal to our perception of His Presence. Intentional times of listening invite Him to stand close, increasing our awareness of His love for us and His life in us. Intentional time will yield infinite intimacy.