Listening To God In The Darkness

Synopsis     1Sam 2:36-3:10     8/14/2018

Eli was the high priest over Israel. During his tenure, God did not reveal much to the people. Samuel, who was only a boy, served before the Lord under Eli’s direction. Eli was old and had become blind.

Once, late at night, while both Eli and Samuel slept, God called to Samuel. But Samuel had never before heard the Lord speak. For this reason, he mistook the voice for Eli’s voice. So, he rose and reported to Eli, who dismissed him. Samuel made this mistake twice more. Then, Eli realized that God was calling Samuel. So, Eli instructed Samuel how to respond to God’s voice.

Samuel Hears God in the Darkness

In the deep, dark of night at the Tent of Meeting, everyone was asleep. And the lamp of God was about to burn out. And everything was quiet. It wasn’t really peaceful, just no one speaking.

The blind priest heard nothing. But the boy Samuel heard his name being called. Oddly enough, the blind priest knew what to do – even if he, himself, was unable to do it.

And so, Samuel learned to hear the voice of God. He learned to hear Him speaking. And he would never forget. He would never forget the voice. And, he would never forget how he heard it.

Listening to God in the Darkness 

It is in the darkness and stillness that we become candidates to hear God. Yes, God’s is a still small voice. But mostly the problem is a really dense ear.

“Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear,^* slow to speak, slow to wrath” James 1:19