When wanting direction in life, some Christians long for a “Still small voice” from heaven to instruct them. I am not about to tell you that I know everything about how God imparts wisdom and knowledge to people, but I can assure you that He has given us a Book full of that wisdom and knowledge.
If ever there was a man born for, and according to, the Word of God, it was Samuel. Even before his conception God said of Samuel: “I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul” (1 Samuel 2:35).
His service with the High Priest, Eli, began at a time when “the LORD did not speak directly to people very often. There were very few visions” (1 Samuel 3:1). The reason for God’s silence was the conduct of Eli’s two ungodly sons, Hophni and Phineas, and Eli’s refusal to restrain them. They not only had disdain for the Tabernacle worship, but they were also immoral.
Samuel, on the other hand, was godly. When God spoke, he listened!
First Samuel chapter three tells how the boy Samuel mistook God’s call for that of Eli. On the third call Eli, realising that it must be the call of God, told Samuel what to do. Samuel went back to his bed and, “Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10).
We all long for God to speak into our lives. What better way to prepare ourselves than to pray to the Lord, “Speak, for Your servant is listening”? This must be especially done as we read the scriptures and listen to sermons and classes. We want to discern good from evil, lest the devil calls for compromise, and we go deaf to wisdom.
Jesus offers the best of advice:
“Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more” (Mark 4:24NLT).
John Staiger
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