The Bible Courseනියැදිය

Samuel, the voice and the vision – hear the word of the Lord

Reflect:

Leaders influence. Leaders change things. In the world of sport or business, the right leader can turn the tide for teams or organisations.

The final verse of Judges highlights the desperate need for leadership in Israel:

‘In those days, there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.’

To turn the tide, God needed to appoint the right leader.

Enter Samuel.

What does Samuel do when God speaks?

Ministering under the priest Eli, Samuel learns to hear the word of the Lord. During those days, the Bible records that a word from the Lord was rare, so it’s no wonder that Samuel initially failed to see what was going on.

Eli instructed Samuel to respond to the voice by saying, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ Samuel learned the practice of listening to the voice of God; this would go on to shape his life and leadership. In order to lead with integrity and renew Israel as a nation, he’d need the voice of God directing and strengthening him.

God was calling Samuel to a giant-sized task. He was calling him to be the servant priest of Israel, a faithful prophet of God, and judge for the people. He was to be the new leader that would turn the tide for Israel.

What can we learn from Samuel’s example today?

Samuel had real spiritual authority because he’d learnt to listen to the voice of God. Have we learnt to do the same today? We have grown accustomed to leaders without integrity, but God wants to raise up leaders who are not like the leaders of this world. He wants leaders who turn the tide – not shaped by the world but shaping the world around them.

Do we have lives and rhythms that are set to ‘hear the word of the Lord?’

Samuel finishes by sharing words from God to Eli. How does his example apply to us today?

First Samuel listened. Then he spoke, faithfully, hiding nothing from Eli despite the word being tough to bear (verse 18). In a world that desperately needs to hear the word of the Lord, have we chosen to hide out of fear? Let’s rediscover true integrity by first listening and then speaking the truth with love.

Respond

Hearing the voice of God starts with us stopping and listening. Spend five minutes of today being still and silent.