“Can You Hear Me
Now?”
1 Samuel 3:1-19
In
the early days of cell phones it was not uncommon to see people wandering
around and holding their phones up to the sky and asking the all-important
question, “Can you hear me now?” Everyone who has ever used a cell phone have
found themselves in dead zones where the signal does not reach, or on the edge
where we can hear a word or two and then only static, or you are talking when
you are driving down the road suddenly something blocks your signal and
interrupts the message. We’ve all asked
that question, “Can you hear me now?” We are so used to this modern convenience
now we become very frustrated when we are cut off from instant communication
with anyone in the world.
Even God
seems to ask that question “Can you hear me now” because sometimes we’re stuck
in a dead zone and will not hear, and sometimes we’re on the edge and can
barely understand. Sometimes something
suddenly interrupts the message. Hearing
the voice of God is not always easy and we don’t feel connected to the Lord.
This
morning we’ll try to open up this line of communication, so it is important we
begin with prayer.
Lord, long
ago you spoke loudly to Moses through a burning bush, but you also spoke to a young
disciple like Timothy, through lessons learned at his mother’s knee. You spoke to Noah through a great flood, to
Jonah in the belly of a whale and to Elijah with a “still small voice”. Peter and James and John heard your voice of
glory on the Mount of Transfiguration, but Balaam heard it through a donkey. You speak to us in many and various
ways. Lord let us hear through your
Word, your Spirit, and through our life experiences we pray. Amen.
Samuel was
a miracle baby born to a woman named Hannah who was to put it delicately well
along in years. She had long ago given
up any hope of having a child, but after years of prayer finally received the
answer she wanted. In gratitude she
dedicated her firstborn and only son to God.
She did this in a very tangible way.
When Samuel was hold enough she took him to serve in the temple at
Shiloh. He couldn’t do much. Sweep the
floor and act as a go-for Eli. There he
grew under the tutelage of this priest. The Bible says, “The boy Samuel
continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with the
people.”[2]
When he was about twelve years old
according to Jewish tradition, the Bible says he “was lying down within the
Temple of the Lord, where the Ark of the Covenant was.” It was the middle of
the night when then the Lord called, “Samuel”.
Samuel ran to where his mentor Eli and said, “Here I am”, because he
assumed it was Eli who called him. But, Eli said, I never called you.” I’m
guessing his words were a little more forceful. I’m thinking he said, “Boy, go
back to bed and don’t call me again until morning.” So, Samuel did.
God called Samuel a second time and
Samuel did the same thing. He went to Eli’s room and asked him what he wanted.
Again, Eli said, “Boy, you’re just dreaming.
Leave me alone.”
Now, why the confusion? Why does Samuel not recognize the voice of
God or Eli understand what’s going on?
The first
verse in this chapter tells us. “The word of the Lord was rare in those days
and there was no frequent vision.”[3] So, expectations were low. Many had long ago concluded God was not there
or did not care, or was out there somewhere, but God is not here and not now.
Remember, we’re still in the period
of the judges. Israel was more like
colonial America before we got together a formed a nation. The twelve tribes, like Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts and Virginia were separate states coming together only when an
outside threat emerged like the Philistines or King George.
This was an era best described by
the verse that says, “and all people did that which was right in their own
eyes.”[4] Folks still worshiped and prayed, because
people will always do that, but they preferred a do-it-yourself religion where
God becomes only a servant to satisfy our wants and desires. They did not look
to God for any guidance or direction.
They turned from the Ten Commandments and started following their own
ideas about what is right or wrong, good or evil.
I can’t think of a better verse to
describe the way Americans think about God.
I think many people today “do what is right in their own eyes.” They have long ago given up on the Bible or
the Church to help form their ethic or morality. They are not sure that the government or the
legal system has anything to say about it and if they find a law inconvenient
have no problems ignoring it. Most make
their right or wrong decisions based on how they feel at a particular moment or
where their friends stand or what a favorite celebrity might say. Truth is in
the eye of the beholder and God has nothing to do with it.
It’s that way now. It was that way then, so “A word from the
Lord or a vision” was rare and infrequent, because people were not listening.
Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever tried to tell someone something
over and over but they just don’t want to hear it? Maybe you’ve told a friend or a loved one,
“you ought to quit smoking or drinking or eating too much because it’s bad for
you”, but they don’t listen. They don’t want to hear it. After a while you stop talking about it because
you figure what’s the use? That
evidently is what God had been doing, “so a Word from the Lord was rare”, but
it was not gone. God still spoke.
Samuel was hearing. He just needed help understanding. He was
only 12 after all. It was Eli who finally figured out on God’s third try who
was talking he helped Samuel discern this call.
This is something Presbyterians do
particularly well. We know this is a
group process. We know that others can
help us understand our faith and our call.
That’s why we have a Committee on Preparation for Ministry and why
Sessions are encouraged to examine inquirers to determine if the call is real
or just wishful thinking. We recognize
from scripture that there are prophets and then there are false prophets who
just want a job that gives them position and prestige and power or love and
acceptance. So, we on the committee spend
a lot of time and energy, much prayer and reflection on the question of who is
really being called by God.
It is not easy. The stakes are high
because someone who is not really called can do terrible damage to a
church. Faith can be eroded and watered
down. Sometimes the Bible says, “like
sheep we can be led astray” and that’s why we have a Committee on Ministry.[5] Sometimes, difficult decisions must be made.
Those who are older, who’ve been
around the block, who’ve been there and done that can provide guidance and
nurture and direction to those just beginning their faith journey. That’s why Sunday School teachers are so important.
In Samuel and Eli we see two
visions for ministry, both are incomplete without the other. They need each
other because youth need direction, wisdom and knowledge. These who are older need the enthusiasm and
energy of the young. Experience can help channel enthusiasm and enthusiasm can
inspire experience.
Samuel understood that. After he finally discerned God’s voice, he
received his first call and it was not one he would have chosen. The Lord said,
“Behold I am going to do something that will make the ears of anyone who hears
it tingle.”[6] How about that for a message. What preacher doesn’t want to make the ears
of the congregation tingle? What was the message?
God told Samuel that Eli’s sons
were not going to inherit the family business.
They would not become prophets or priests because Eli had been a
permissive father. He let his boys
flaunt and ignore God’s Word. They had gone too far in their blasphemy and
wayward living, so God chose Samuel to tell his mentor Eli judgment would
follow and he would become Eli’s successor.
Samuel wrestled with this hard word
all night. He did not want to hurt Eli’s
feelings. He did not want to criticize
the man who had taught him so much, but his choice was clear. He could obey God – or not. He could be faithful to this call – or
not. He didn’t even want to think about
the “or not”, so the next morning he told Eli what God had told him.
Eli, to his credit, did not become
defensive. He did not accuse Samuel of trying to undermine his authority. He did not challenge Samuel’s call. He did not tell him he was too young to know
anything about anything. He did not
criticize his interpretation of the Word.
What did he say? “It is the Lord;
let him do what seems good to him.”[7]
That’s faith with meat on it - to
receive a difficult word from the Lord and accept it. We all gravitate to the positive words of
hope we find in scripture and avoid the warning and the judgment. We all look to the Bible for confirmation of
what we already believe and look quickly away anything that challenges those
beliefs. We highlight verses we like or
underline with a red pencil.
We all proof-text. We see what we want to see and hear what we
want to hear. Our experience and culture, the way were raised and the church
into which we were born grind the lenses through which we look at scripture and
at the world. The Apostle Paul speaking to his time and our said, “For the time
is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears
they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and
will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.”[8] It takes real courage and faith to take off the
rose-colored glasses and see what God has really revealed and it takes even
greater humility to change your mind and say “I was wrong.” In my experience – it is a rare thing. It is why Jesus said “not everyone will have
eyes to see and ears to hear”.[9]
Even
Jesus knew how hard it can be to say, “Here am I” when God calls, "Here I
am." At the end of his forty day temptation in the wilderness, he said,
"Here I am, torn by temptations of power and ambition." At the tomb
of Lazarus, he said, "Here I am, broken and weeping." At the Mount of
Olives, he said, "Here I am, wanting this cup of suffering and death to
pass from me." Even on the cross during the worst nightmare of all--he was
torn, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" But at the very
end he was at one with the Father, at peace. Picture him there praying that old
Jewish prayer that a child would say the last thing before dropping off to
sleep, "Into thy hands I commit my spirit." "Here I am, Lord. I
am yours completely and fully."
This story ends with an
affirmation, “As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and let none of his
words fell to the ground.”[10] The message moved. “God’s word did not return empty but
accomplished his purpose.”[11]
God’s Word will always accomplish
its purpose. His words will not fall
down to the ground, unless of course we let them.
Faith and ministry
and mission also require double vision.
It looks back and asks the question “How have you heard the voice of God
in the past?” Was it through the prayers of a faithful mother or grandmother? Was it through the voice of a preacher that
said just what you needed to hear on a day you really needed to hear it? Maybe it came through a song the choir sang? Maybe you heard it through a Sunday School
teacher who gave time and attention and love.
Maybe a verse popped out of scripture and you knew God is there and the
Lord does care. It’s important to
remember that from time to time.
It is also important to listen right now. “Is
God calling you?” Maybe God is asking
through the ministry of a good friend or Pastor, “Can you hear me now?” Maybe God is speaking through our Church. Maybe he is speaking to you through music and
art, through an article in a newspaper or through a verse in the Bible that
prompts your heart to burn within you.[12] There are countless ways that God may use and
so ask, “Can you hear me now?”
Well, can you?
Let us pray:
I am thine O Lord, I have heard thy
voice, and it told thy love to me; but I long to rise in the arms of faith and
be closer drawn to thee. Consecrate me
now to thy service Lord, by the power of grace divine; let my soul look up with
a st3eadfast hope, and my will be lost in thine. Draw me nearer blessed Lord to the cross
where thou hast died, Draw me nearer blessed Lord, to thy precious bleeding
side. Amen
[1] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1344723/How-suffer-withdrawal-symptoms-like-drug-addicts-kept-away-tech-gadgets.html
[2] 1 Samuel
2:26
[3] 1 Samuel
3:1
[4] Judges
17:6
[5] 1 Peter
2:25
[6] 1 Samuel
3:11
[7] 1 Samuel
3:18
[8] 2
Timothy 4:3
[9] Mark
8:18
[10] 1 Samuel
3:19, 4:1
[11] Isaiah
55:11
[12] Luke
24:32
No comments:
Post a Comment