Deeper Reflection
FROM A YOUNG AGE, SAMUEL LEARNT TO BE ATTENTIVE to the voice of God and the Word of God (vv.1-10). After initial guidance by Eli the priest, Samuel grew through walking with God and becoming familiar with His presence (vv.19-20). Over time, God spoke to Samuel and to the people of Israel through him, and God established Samuel’s ministry.Learning to discern God’s voice is a process. Initially, like Samuel, we may not realise that the Lord is speaking to us. We may miss hearing God calling us to service, or revealing insights to situations around us, or guiding us in particular actions to take. So long as we learn from our mistakes, God will give us further opportunities. We learn by making continual efforts to put ourselves in a position of attentiveness to hear from God through His Word and by His Spirit. The words “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears” (v.9) are not a prayer formula, but rather reflect the posture of a heart of attentiveness. This presupposes that the worshipper wants to hear from God, is submitted to His will and committed to act upon what He would say. A person who is prayerful with an attentive heart to God will certainly hear from Him and, very importantly, obey what He says. All of us are on a journey – some people are ahead of us with more experience of hearing and serving the Lord, others are behind us. Let us help one another and all grow in discerning God’s voice and doing God’s will. Whatever the Lord says to us, we will do.