READ: 1 Samuel 3 (Focus vs. 3–10)
MEMORY VERSE
“Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
1 Samuel 3:10
BACKGROUND
I received a phone call from an unknown number. Often, I let those calls go to voicemail, but this time I picked up. The random caller asked politely if I had just a minute for him to share a short Bible passage.
He quoted Revelation 21:3–5 about how God “will wipe every tear from their eyes.” He talked about Jesus, how he was our assurance and hope. I told him I already know Jesus as my personal Savior.
But the caller wasn’t aiming to “witness” to me. Instead, he simply asked if he could pray with me. And he did, asking God to give me encouragement and strength.
That call reminded me of another “call” in Scripture—God called out to the young boy Samuel in the middle of the night (1 Samuel 3:4–10).
Three times Samuel heard the voice, thinking it was the elderly priest Eli. The final time, following Eli’s instruction, Samuel realized that God was calling him: “Speak, for your servant is listening” (v. 10).
Likewise, through our days and nights, God may be speaking to us. We need to “pick up,” which might mean spending more time in His presence and listening for His voice.
I then thought of “the call” in another way. What if we sometimes are the messenger of God’s words to someone else? We might feel we have no way of helping others. But as God guides us, we could phone a friend and ask, “Would it be okay if I just prayed with you today?”
By: Kenneth Petersen
INSIGHT
Eli was a priest in Israel and, as such, a valuable mentor to young Samuel. Unfortunately, Eli’s struggles as a dad are pictured in the failings of his sons Hophni and Phinehas.
These men followed in their father’s footsteps as priests but defiled the sacrifices (1 Samuel 2:12–17) and even engaged in sexual acts with women at the very gate of the tabernacle—Israel’s tent of meeting and primary place of worship (v. 22).
Verse 12 describes them as “scoundrels” and verse 17 adds that “this sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight.”
So severe was their activity that a “man of God” later came to Eli and chastened him for honoring his sons more than God, pronouncing a verdict of judgment upon the house of Eli (vv. 27–36).
By: Bill Crowder
APPLICATION
What message of encouragement did someone recently share with you? Who might be encouraged by a phone call from you?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“…The voice of God is not a prophetic gift. The voice of God is connected with the presence of God. The stronger God’s presence in my life, the clearer the voice of God is…” Andrey Shapoval
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“…through our days and nights, God may be speaking to (calling) us. We need to “pick up,” which might mean spending more time in His presence and listening for His voice.”
PRAYER
“Dear God, prompt me to think of others whom I can encourage with Your wisdom.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“SPEAK LORD” Tamela Mann
Here I am again on unsure ground
Made a move once before
On my own, it was wrong,
I fell down
Lord, You know how hard it was
When you picked me up
And I learned to be still
And wait on Your word
Lord, please bestow on me
A word from Thee
Lord, speak to me
Lord, please bestow on me
A word from Thee
Lord, won’t You please speak to me
With an anxious heart
For the finish line
Tryin’ to fight a battle
You know it’s not yours,
It’s the Lord’s
In those times I’m reminded
That I’m on the winning side
If You speak, surely victory is mine
Lord, please bestow on me
A word from Thee
Lord, speak to me
Lord, please bestow on me
A word from Thee
Lord, won’t You please speak
Would you speak a word
a word of peace over me
I know things will change;
Lord, speak…
Lord, won’t You please
Lord, won’t You please speak
Lord, please bestow on me
A word from Thee…
A word from You, Lord, yeah
Lord, I wanna hear it
Lord, I wanna hear
A word from You, Lord
Oh, speak Lord
Speak Lord, speak Lord
Speak
Speak
Speak Lord…
Speak Lord…
READING THROUGH THE ENTIRE BIBLE THIS YEAR (DAILY)
I Samuel 19-21
Luke 11:29-54
