Unexpected Truth

The boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

1 Samuel 3:1

Scripture has few starker pictures of spiritual emptiness than of this time when God’s Word rarely came forth to give vision for the present and future. The conversation between God and the people appears silent on God’s end, but perhaps human ears were closed. As religious leaders, Eli and his family were counted on to speak God’s Word, but they were corrupt. Eli’s sons were sinning with women assisting at the temple and profiting from offerings made to God. Eli was turning a blind eye. Surely they didn’t abandon serving God overnight. But with each step away, they less and less sought to hear a Word from the Lord that might call them to account. At some point, maybe God did cease to speak.

When God first called to Samuel, the young boy thought he heard Eli. After Samuel repeatedly came to him, this corrupt man realized Samuel was hearing the nearly forgotten voice of God. Eli can’t have welcomed a Word that surely would condemn him, but he did the right thing. He taught Samuel to respond to God’s voice by saying, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.” When Samuel spoke those words, he heard a Word from God, and it did pronounce doom for Eli and his sons.

This scripture reminds us that “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears” should be our stance toward God. But we may find a lesson in Eli. He had turned away from God’s call, but he knew something Samuel didn’t. He was vital to the emergence of a new prophet. Sometimes unexpected people, even people deep in sin, may have a word of truth to speak. When we don’t listen for God everywhere and from everyone, we may miss something that can change our lives.

God’s peace,

Katie