Devotions
Rev Gav
Voice
1 Samuel 3.1–10, 19–20
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” ’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’
As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.
Reflect
God called Samuel to be a true prophet of Israel, bypassing the spiritually corrupt Eli (who had ignored the wickedness of his sons Hophni and Phinehas). But why call out in the night three times? Yes, there is something about the number three being a divine seal of approval, but the whole scene feels like one of those time-compressed montages in a film where, over many years, the young apprentice learns the ways of the master. The point is that it takes time to learn how to recognise God’s voice.
As Christians, we have a direct line to God, but it does take time to learn to recognise God’s voice amongst the many competing voices that surround us. Just as we learn to recognise a human voice, so that when we hear it on the phone we immediately know who it is, so we can learn God’s voice.
The more time we spend trying to discern God’s voice, the better we get at it, and this is why older Christians seem so wise! It is not that they know more, have a better understanding of the Bible, or are any more devout; it is simply that they are more adept at recognising God’s voice and are sensitive to the ways of the Holy Spirit.
Now, we use the phrase ‘hearing God’s voice’ but it is rarely ‘words’ that we hear. It is more like attuning oneself or spiritually aligning oneself with God such that our hearts and minds resonate with God’s will and purpose. We become ‘moved’ or ‘prompted’ through a deeper sense of knowing, and we interpret this in our minds through words and pictures.
Just as when a note is played on a piano, a hammer hits a string, and the sound waves cause other strings to also resonate and sound, so it is with God and us. God plays the notes and, if we are tuned correctly, we resonate too.
So how do we learn to hear God’s voice? Well, that’s the million dollar question and the answer is too long for a short daily devotion, suffice to say, it takes patience, discernment, stillness and quietness, openness, and experimentation! At the end of the day, we are forming and developing a relationship with God and, like all relationships, it takes time.
God longs to communicate with us and is infinitely patient, ready to speak as soon as we are ready to listen. And if you have given little time to listening to God, the good news is that you can pick things up wherever you left off.
Pray
Holy God
Please fill me with
your Holy Spirit and
help me to hear your voice.
Please speak to me
and teach me your ways,
that I may align
my will with yours.
May our relationship
grow and flourish
that I too may
become wise.
This day and forever.
and then