I'll Be Somewhere Listening
Sermon
Sermons On The First Readings
Series I, Cycle B
Children are very perceptive. When our friend's daughter was small, if she was talking to her father or her mother and she felt that they were not quite tuned in to what she was saying, she would adamantly inform them that they were not listening to her. Sometimes she would take a different approach, especially if they were seated in a chair or on the couch. She would be talking away and realize that they were not giving her their undivided attention. Her approach to handling their inattentiveness was to climb into their laps, cup their faces in her hands, get close to their eyes and inform them in no uncertain terms that they were not listening to her. What she was simply saying by her action was that she wanted their undivided attention. She wanted them to listen to what she had to say.
Admittedly, at times all of us have trouble listening. You are watching your favorite football team on Monday night, and your wife is talking to you about something important that happened to her. As she talks, you mumble, "Uh huh." Finally, in exasperation, she says with tension in her voice, "You are not listening to what I am saying."
When God speaks, do we listen to him? As a boy growing up, my mother taught me an old spiritual that went something like this:
When the Savior calls I will listen
When the Savior calls I will listen
When the Savior calls I will listen
I'll be somewhere listening for my name.
I'll be somewhere listening
I'll be somewhere listening
I'll be somewhere listening for my name.
In our Old Testament Lesson for today, we have some examples of the powerful benefit of listening. This can be seen first of all by ...
The Relinquishment Of Eli
God is present in human history. He is in the beginning and the ending of human affairs. When one looks closely at this story, it is evident that it is a story of endings. Judgment has fallen upon the household of Eli, the priest, because of the conduct of his sons. He will lose everything. How will Eli handle God's judgment upon his life and family?
Eli handles the ending of his career as a national figure with a spirit of relinquishment. His is not fatal resignation to "what will be will be." Instead, his relinquishment is with piety and acquiescence. The relinquishment of Eli is that of obedience to God's greater plan and good. He is a model of faith in the midst of very difficult circumstances. Eli gave up his interests to trust the will of God.
This Old Testament text speaks to us at the very heart of our faith. God's will and purpose in our lives is very often a call to relinquish our plans and our dreams for a higher good. Doing God's will often means the giving up or the laying down of something we wanted to grasp or control.
A pastor friend of mine tells the story of his church organist who was very accomplished. An organist moved to the community from another area of the country and was asked to play the offertory. The guest organist was magnificent. After the worship hour concluded, the regular church organist asked for an appointment with the pastor. When they met together, the organist handed the pastor her resignation. The pastor was shocked and asked her, "Why?" She informed him that the guest organist would be attending the church regularly and that she was a much better organist and would do a better job. The pastor tried to encourage the organist to reconsider. She informed him that her mind was made up because someone else could do the job better. She also advised the pastor that she would now sing in the choir on a regular basis and play the organ as a substitute if needed. There was no bitterness, rancor, or self-serving. She had only a spirit of relinquishment.
Yes, Eli had weaknesses. In spite of these weaknesses, he teaches the Church that much can be accomplished when in faith we relinquish ourselves fully and completely to God. Sometimes God asks us to make very difficult choices. Can we, will we, have Eli's spirit of relinquishment? May it be so.
Eli had a spirit of relinquishment, but it is to Samuel that we must look to see ...
The Availability Of Samuel
When one reads the Call Narrative of Samuel, it appears that Samuel is a sort of passive person who seems very content to remain in the background. By the conclusion of 1 Samuel 3, he will emerge as a prominent figure on the national scene. How does Samuel move from the shadows into the spotlight? He does it by being available to God.
Samuel was being trained to perform priestly duties, to carry out the rituals of temple worship; however, God interrupted Samuel's function in priestly duties and called him to be a prophet. Samuel, as a prophet, functioned not so much as a foreteller of future events, but as a forth-teller of God's purpose and direction for his people.
As the future prophet sleeps near the Ark of God, he is awakened by God calling his name, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel responds, "Here I am," and runs off to Eli, assuming that his mentor needed him. Eli informs his young protege that he did not call him. This scene is repeated twice again.
Eli is perceptive enough to recognize that God was issuing a call to Samuel. The old priest gives young Samuel specific instruction on how he should respond if he hears the voice calling him again. Our Old Testament lesson informs us of Samuel's positive response to the voice of God. Samuel, by responding positively to the voice of God, is making himself available to be used by God for God's greater purpose and glory.
Samuel's story begs the questions, "Does God still speak today? " "What vehicles of communication does God use?" My response to those two questions is, "Yes, God still speaks today." When one says that God speaks to someone it simply means that God is directing his or her thoughts toward something. God speaks today through his Word, the Church, our friends, and the Holy Spirit. God may use only one of these means to communicate to us, or he may choose to reveal his will to us by using all. The fact is, God still speaks! Too often when God speaks, we remain ignorant of the fact that this thought is coming from God, and our response is negative. When God sends us a message, are we available to do what he wants?
There is a story that comes out of the Civil War about General Stonewall Jackson. He was at his camp with his troops, miles from the headquarters of General Robert E. Lee, Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate forces. A messenger informed Jackson that General Lee wished to see him. In the message that Lee sent to Jackson, he told Jackson he could come at his leisure since the matter was not of great importance. As soon as Stonewall Jackson received the message, he had his horse saddled and rushed to General Lee's Headquarters. General Jackson had to ride through a terrible freezing rain. The road was icy and muddy. He arrived at Lee's camp just as he was finishing breakfast. Lee looked out of his tent and spotted Jackson riding through the ice and snow. He hurried out to meet Jackson exclaiming, "Man, I told you it was not a matter of great importance!" Jackson replied, "When my general wishes to see me, my general's wish is my command."
We must make ourselves, like Samuel of old, available to God. Our response must be the response of Samuel: "Speak for your servant is listening." As we make ourselves available to God, we move from passivity to action. In so doing, we honor God, for God is not passive.
It is good for us to pause at times and ask God this question, "Do you have anything for me to do?" Then we must listen for God to speak. If he speaks to us, we must be available like Samuel of old to do as he tells us. If God does not speak to us as we have requested, we must then do what seems to be wisest. The issue for Samuel and for us is that we must always be available for God. The old spiritual gives us good advice when it states, "I'll be somewhere listening for my name." When God calls our name, our response must be the same as Samuel's, "Speak, for your servant is listening." Samuel was available to God, are you? Am I?
From Samuel's availability the text invites us to explore ...
The Resolve Of God
God is a God of beginnings. In the narrative, God asserts that the beginning of Samuel the Prophet's ministry, is a new thing. This new beginning of God is not the figment of an overactive religious imagination on the part of Samuel. The narrative opens with an absence of God's Word and revelation (3:9), but it concludes with Samuel as the proclaimer of God's Word and the revealer of God's new thing.
God is always the God of new beginnings. He is resolved that there will always be new possibilities in spite of failure. God, in his resolve for Israel and for us, gives us the power to dream again.
You remember the cartoon character Popeye the Sailor Man? When old Popeye became frustrated or wasn't certain exactly what to do, he would simply exclaim, "I yam what I yam." Popeye was a simple seafaring man who loved Olive Oyl. He was unpretentious, and yet his story belonged to him. "I yam what I yam."
When you look closely at Popeye, it seems he is saying, "Don't get your hopes up; don't expect too much. I yam what I yam, and that's all." Ancient Israel could say before Samuel, "I yam what I yam." God did not want Israel to remain as she was. Thus, through Samuel, God called Israel to a new resolve, a new beginning. This new beginning was to be characterized by God's Word as it came to Samuel. It became the Word of God for the nation.
God is still a God of resolve who desires to bring to his people a "new thing." God's "new thing" was made available to everyone "when the word became flesh and lived among us" (John 1:14). In his resolve God desired to reveal to us what God was like. In order to do that, he laid aside that which was his right and came to serve, redeem, and love humankind. One day God laid aside his majesty and came knocking on our door. God came for you and for me.
In his resolve, God still calls. I wonder if you are "somewhere listening for your name."
Admittedly, at times all of us have trouble listening. You are watching your favorite football team on Monday night, and your wife is talking to you about something important that happened to her. As she talks, you mumble, "Uh huh." Finally, in exasperation, she says with tension in her voice, "You are not listening to what I am saying."
When God speaks, do we listen to him? As a boy growing up, my mother taught me an old spiritual that went something like this:
When the Savior calls I will listen
When the Savior calls I will listen
When the Savior calls I will listen
I'll be somewhere listening for my name.
I'll be somewhere listening
I'll be somewhere listening
I'll be somewhere listening for my name.
In our Old Testament Lesson for today, we have some examples of the powerful benefit of listening. This can be seen first of all by ...
The Relinquishment Of Eli
God is present in human history. He is in the beginning and the ending of human affairs. When one looks closely at this story, it is evident that it is a story of endings. Judgment has fallen upon the household of Eli, the priest, because of the conduct of his sons. He will lose everything. How will Eli handle God's judgment upon his life and family?
Eli handles the ending of his career as a national figure with a spirit of relinquishment. His is not fatal resignation to "what will be will be." Instead, his relinquishment is with piety and acquiescence. The relinquishment of Eli is that of obedience to God's greater plan and good. He is a model of faith in the midst of very difficult circumstances. Eli gave up his interests to trust the will of God.
This Old Testament text speaks to us at the very heart of our faith. God's will and purpose in our lives is very often a call to relinquish our plans and our dreams for a higher good. Doing God's will often means the giving up or the laying down of something we wanted to grasp or control.
A pastor friend of mine tells the story of his church organist who was very accomplished. An organist moved to the community from another area of the country and was asked to play the offertory. The guest organist was magnificent. After the worship hour concluded, the regular church organist asked for an appointment with the pastor. When they met together, the organist handed the pastor her resignation. The pastor was shocked and asked her, "Why?" She informed him that the guest organist would be attending the church regularly and that she was a much better organist and would do a better job. The pastor tried to encourage the organist to reconsider. She informed him that her mind was made up because someone else could do the job better. She also advised the pastor that she would now sing in the choir on a regular basis and play the organ as a substitute if needed. There was no bitterness, rancor, or self-serving. She had only a spirit of relinquishment.
Yes, Eli had weaknesses. In spite of these weaknesses, he teaches the Church that much can be accomplished when in faith we relinquish ourselves fully and completely to God. Sometimes God asks us to make very difficult choices. Can we, will we, have Eli's spirit of relinquishment? May it be so.
Eli had a spirit of relinquishment, but it is to Samuel that we must look to see ...
The Availability Of Samuel
When one reads the Call Narrative of Samuel, it appears that Samuel is a sort of passive person who seems very content to remain in the background. By the conclusion of 1 Samuel 3, he will emerge as a prominent figure on the national scene. How does Samuel move from the shadows into the spotlight? He does it by being available to God.
Samuel was being trained to perform priestly duties, to carry out the rituals of temple worship; however, God interrupted Samuel's function in priestly duties and called him to be a prophet. Samuel, as a prophet, functioned not so much as a foreteller of future events, but as a forth-teller of God's purpose and direction for his people.
As the future prophet sleeps near the Ark of God, he is awakened by God calling his name, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel responds, "Here I am," and runs off to Eli, assuming that his mentor needed him. Eli informs his young protege that he did not call him. This scene is repeated twice again.
Eli is perceptive enough to recognize that God was issuing a call to Samuel. The old priest gives young Samuel specific instruction on how he should respond if he hears the voice calling him again. Our Old Testament lesson informs us of Samuel's positive response to the voice of God. Samuel, by responding positively to the voice of God, is making himself available to be used by God for God's greater purpose and glory.
Samuel's story begs the questions, "Does God still speak today? " "What vehicles of communication does God use?" My response to those two questions is, "Yes, God still speaks today." When one says that God speaks to someone it simply means that God is directing his or her thoughts toward something. God speaks today through his Word, the Church, our friends, and the Holy Spirit. God may use only one of these means to communicate to us, or he may choose to reveal his will to us by using all. The fact is, God still speaks! Too often when God speaks, we remain ignorant of the fact that this thought is coming from God, and our response is negative. When God sends us a message, are we available to do what he wants?
There is a story that comes out of the Civil War about General Stonewall Jackson. He was at his camp with his troops, miles from the headquarters of General Robert E. Lee, Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate forces. A messenger informed Jackson that General Lee wished to see him. In the message that Lee sent to Jackson, he told Jackson he could come at his leisure since the matter was not of great importance. As soon as Stonewall Jackson received the message, he had his horse saddled and rushed to General Lee's Headquarters. General Jackson had to ride through a terrible freezing rain. The road was icy and muddy. He arrived at Lee's camp just as he was finishing breakfast. Lee looked out of his tent and spotted Jackson riding through the ice and snow. He hurried out to meet Jackson exclaiming, "Man, I told you it was not a matter of great importance!" Jackson replied, "When my general wishes to see me, my general's wish is my command."
We must make ourselves, like Samuel of old, available to God. Our response must be the response of Samuel: "Speak for your servant is listening." As we make ourselves available to God, we move from passivity to action. In so doing, we honor God, for God is not passive.
It is good for us to pause at times and ask God this question, "Do you have anything for me to do?" Then we must listen for God to speak. If he speaks to us, we must be available like Samuel of old to do as he tells us. If God does not speak to us as we have requested, we must then do what seems to be wisest. The issue for Samuel and for us is that we must always be available for God. The old spiritual gives us good advice when it states, "I'll be somewhere listening for my name." When God calls our name, our response must be the same as Samuel's, "Speak, for your servant is listening." Samuel was available to God, are you? Am I?
From Samuel's availability the text invites us to explore ...
The Resolve Of God
God is a God of beginnings. In the narrative, God asserts that the beginning of Samuel the Prophet's ministry, is a new thing. This new beginning of God is not the figment of an overactive religious imagination on the part of Samuel. The narrative opens with an absence of God's Word and revelation (3:9), but it concludes with Samuel as the proclaimer of God's Word and the revealer of God's new thing.
God is always the God of new beginnings. He is resolved that there will always be new possibilities in spite of failure. God, in his resolve for Israel and for us, gives us the power to dream again.
You remember the cartoon character Popeye the Sailor Man? When old Popeye became frustrated or wasn't certain exactly what to do, he would simply exclaim, "I yam what I yam." Popeye was a simple seafaring man who loved Olive Oyl. He was unpretentious, and yet his story belonged to him. "I yam what I yam."
When you look closely at Popeye, it seems he is saying, "Don't get your hopes up; don't expect too much. I yam what I yam, and that's all." Ancient Israel could say before Samuel, "I yam what I yam." God did not want Israel to remain as she was. Thus, through Samuel, God called Israel to a new resolve, a new beginning. This new beginning was to be characterized by God's Word as it came to Samuel. It became the Word of God for the nation.
God is still a God of resolve who desires to bring to his people a "new thing." God's "new thing" was made available to everyone "when the word became flesh and lived among us" (John 1:14). In his resolve God desired to reveal to us what God was like. In order to do that, he laid aside that which was his right and came to serve, redeem, and love humankind. One day God laid aside his majesty and came knocking on our door. God came for you and for me.
In his resolve, God still calls. I wonder if you are "somewhere listening for your name."
