July 9, 2006

Forgotten Lives - Samuel

A Word from the Lord

I Samuel 3:1-10

Opening Words: There are sixty-six books in the Bible, thirty-nine in the Old Testament. The New Testament is dominated by Jesus, himself, our Lord and Savior. The Old Testament consists of a variety of lives. Each one played a small part in God’s plan for the salvation of the world. Most of those lives are forgotten. So what I would like to do this summer is take some time and look at those forgotten lives. I have called this thirteen part sermon series Forgotten Lives.

This weekend we look at the life of Samuel. According to the great historian Josephus, Samuel was twelve years old when God spoke to him. At first Samuel does not recognize God’s voice because the word of the Lord was rare in those days. The reason was spiritual. The whole land of Israel was caught in a spiritual funk so God was silent. Many believe America is in a spiritual funk in our time. It appears to me that the church, herself, in America is in a spiritual funk. That explains why the mainline Protestant church is in her present state, a state of decline. What we need is what Samuel’s generation needed, a word from God. It is that issue that is at the very heart of this week’s message. Samuel teaches us to create an environment so God can speak to us. This is my question for you today. Why is a word from the Lord so rare? Let me call this message A Word from the Lord.

Introduction

I love the story of Franklin Roosevelt, who often endured long receiving lines at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said. One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. To each person who passed down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." The guests responded with phrases like, "Marvelous! Keep up the good work. We are proud of you. God bless you, sir." It was not till the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Nonplussed, the ambassador leaned over and whispered, "I'm sure she had it coming." Calvin Coolidge once said, “No man ever listened himself out of a job.” Samuel knew how to listen.

We are in the third chapter of First Samuel. The people of Israel have settled back into a lax lifestyle. Their attitude toward God and His vision for them as a nation had become indifferent. Their leader, the high priest, Eli was old. Unless something happens the reigns of leadership will be passed to his two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas. The only bright spot in the whole story is a boy named Samuel. His name means “asked of God.” He had been entrusted to Eli a decade earlier by his mother, Hannah. In time the tables turn. It is Samuel who now cares for the old man’s needs. It is to Samuel that God ends his period of silence.

Why did God speak to Samuel? Why didn’t God speak to the old priest? Why didn’t God speak to Eli’s sons, who were in the prime of their lives? Perhaps a better question is why doesn’t God speak to us today? I say the same prayer every week. “Dear Father, we have grown weary of human voices and human opinions. Father, what we really want is word from you.” Why did God speak to Samuel? Why is a word from the Lord so rare?

Body

Today, I want to look at three qualities that Samuel had in his life that made him attractive to God. The Almighty spoke to Samuel because he had these three qualities. Perhaps, God isn’t speaking to our society because we lack these three qualities. Each one of these qualities in Samuel’s life begins with the letter O. So if you are ready for these three qualities say, “Amen!” Why is a word from the Lord so rare?

OTHERS

The first word is the word OTHERS. God speaks to those people who are concerned about other people. God is frustrated with people who live for themselves. It is hard to see God when your eyes are fixed on yourself. Samuel illustrates that fact for us. Why did Samuel assume the voice of God was Eli? There are two reasons. First, this was the first time God had spoken to him. He did not know God’s voice. Second, a large part of Samuel’s life was caring for the aging Eli. He didn’t just live for himself. He lived for others and he heard a word from the Lord.

It was about noon today that our mission team returned from Grafton, West Virginia. Twelve of our youth and three adults participated in a work camp sponsored by Group magazine. This is the ninth year that we have participated in such a camp. Every year they return home the scene is the same. They get out of the cars and act like they have returned from war. They are limping and tired. They are a mess and then something special happens. They begin to tell me about the week. They tell me about the funny things that happened. (You had to be there I guess.) They tell me about the people they met in their small work group from around the country and they tell me about the people they helped. One was an old poor widow. One was a young woman with cancer. One was a crippled man. They all live in below standard housing and they all appreciated the help. The youth tell me stories of hardship and work. They tell me those stories with a smile and they end by saying, “you should have been there!” It is the same of all the mission trips both local and international. There is something about walking in some else’s shoes that changes you. When you get your ears off of the details of your life it changes you. How much time do you spend worrying about a stranger? Why is a word from the Lord so rare? Perhaps, one of the reasons is we spend so much time worrying about ourselves? Samuel was concerned about Eli. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

OPPORTUNITY

The second word is the word OPPORTUNITY. God speaks to people who put themselves in a position to hear from Him. Samuel positioned himself to hear God speak to him. Do you remember the story? God spoke to Samuel three times before Eli discerned God’s voice. The old priest instructed the boy to go back to bed and wait on the Lord. If the Lord speaks again then say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” In other words, Samuel positioned himself to receive God’s word. When was the last time you positioned yourself for a word from the Lord?

We live busy fast paced lives. I was raised not to waste time and I don’t. However, sometimes I worry I am misusing my time. Can I tell you a little secret about myself? I am not the greatest sleeper in the world. Several times a week I wake up in the middle of the night. I don’t think about the sins I have committed in the past. I think about the things I need to do the next day. I need to write some letters. I need to make some many phone calls. I need to go to the hospital and a nursing home. There is always a home visit to be made. I need to get ready for a certain meeting. I need to spend some time with my family. In the middle of the night I plan my activities for the next day. Am I the only one? Can I make a confession? In all the middle of the night planning sessions I have never intentionally included time for God. Have you ever intentionally included time for God in your busy days? Samuel positioned himself. He made time for God. Why is a word from the Lord so rare? Perhaps, one of the reasons is we don’t give God an opportunity to speak to us? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Obedient

The third word is the word OBEDIENT. Maybe the word should be disobedient? Let me say this clearly. God does speak to us! One of the ways is the Bible. That is why the Bible is so wonderful. The Bible is filled with God’s word and contains wonderful models for holy living. The problem is the way we view the Bible. Most people read the Bible like they are at a garage sale. They select only the parts that are pleasing to them and reject the rest. Samuel said in verse ten, “Speak your servant is listening.” In other words, Samuel was open to God’s word and God’s leading. God’s vision for the word became the top priority in his life. Can the same thing be said about you?

A new pastor was called to serve at the local church. Let us just call him Bill Johnson. On the Sunday of his arrival the congregation gathered excitedly and expectantly. Everyone was suitably impressed afterward. "My, how well he spoke" remarked one. "A superb sermon to be sure. If he keeps this up we’re in for a treat" remarked another. Keep it up the new pastor did. For the following week he preached exactly the same sermon. The people were puzzled, but generously surmised that it had probably been too busy a week to prepare a new sermon, what with moving into a new house and meeting all the people. Yet he preached the original sermon the following week as well, and the week after that. The people were very concerned, and the church leadership decided it was time to confront their new pastor, Bill Johnson. They met him after the service and asked whether he had any other sermons or whether he planned to preach the same one for his entire ministry. "I certainly hope not" said Pastor Johnson. "I plan to begin a new one when you start putting into practice the first."

All the spiritual disciplines mean nothing if we are not open to God’s word for us. Preaching and Bible study mean nothing as long as our opinions are more important than God’s word. Preaching and Bible study are not entertainment. They are God’s word to you. Do you really care what God has to say to you? Peter T. Forsythe was right when he said, "The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master". Why is a word from the Lord so rare? Perhaps, one of the reasons is we really don’t care what God has to say? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” Let me end with a simple story.

Conclusion

A police officer in a small town stopped a motorist who was speeding down Main Street. "But officer," the man began, "I can explain..." "Just be quiet," snapped the officer. "I'm going to let you cool your heels in jail until the chief gets back." "But, officer, I just wanted to say...," "And I said to keep quiet! You're going to jail!" A few hours later the officer looked in on his prisoner and said, "Lucky for you that the chief's at his daughter's wedding. He'll be in a good mood when he gets back." "Don't count on it," answered the fellow in the cell. "I'm the groom."

Could that be our story? God is trying to tell us something that is very important but we just refuse to listen! We are not listening to God because we are too concerned about ourselves. We are not listening to God because we are not giving God the opportunity to speak. We are not listening to God because we are not open to God. Why is a word from the Lord so rare? The question may be wrong! Perhaps, this should be the question. Why don’t you listen for God’s word’s to you? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”