14.) December 12, 2020 Samuel 1 Sam 3: 4-10
The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli answered. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep. Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But he answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.” Samuel did not yet recognize the LORD, since the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and stood there, calling out as before: Samuel, Samuel! Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
(Samuel learned to listen to God and became a great prophet)
God spoke to me often once I learned to listen. I then prophesied what the Lord commanded, even though sometimes the message was unwelcome. When the people begged to have a king like other nations, I tried to talk them out of it. I worried that a king would abuse his power to the ruination of Israel. But in the end, God told me to let them have their king, Saul. God judged it was time to give them what they asked for. As you know, it was less than successful. But I listened to God and did as was requested.
Thought: Do I listen for you, God, am I willing to answer your call?