We are a bit over two weeks into the new year, so how are we doing with our New Year’s Resolutions? I know that I have messed up on both of mine, but that was in part because I was sick this week and just could not exercise. But one thing that we have manage to stick with is our new message series, “Defining Moments” so welcome to Resurrection Parish as we start our third week of the series.
     We have noted that most people evaluate an experience or period of their life not by the whole experience or period but rather by a moment or two that comes to represent the whole thing. This is why two people who went on the same vacation can have very different memories of that vacation, because they each have their own moment for the vacation. These moments become something of a lens through which we understand the experience, ourselves, our relationships, the world and our place in it, and even God.
     Defining Moments are brief experiences, so brimming with meaning that they bring definition and clarity into our lives. When it comes to faith, they matter for three reasons. First, God uses moments in our life to reveal his purpose and plan for our life and to encourage us to grow in trust of him. Second, Moments are also key for understanding ourselves. Some of our greatest fears or deepest hurts can be traced back to a few moments, which hold us back. By recognizing and understanding those moments, God can help us break free from their power over us. Finally, we can leverage moments to love others.
     Today we are looking at a defining moment of Samuel, a hero from the Bible, and how it applies to us. Samuel lived about 1100 years before Jesus, during a period of Israel’s history known as the time of Judges. After their 40 year sojourn in the desert, the Israelites had entered into the Promise Land. They were more a confederation of tribes than a nation, and they were held together by heroes called Judges.
     Samuel lived in a period of crisis and transition. There was a great leadership vacuum that was felt throughout the nation. Samuel stepped into that vacuum, and he transitioned the nation from a tribal culture to a united kingdom eventually under the leadership of Israel’s greatest leader of all, King David.
     The passage we are looking at today is the defining moment that launched Samuel
into his great and historic role. A moment long before he knew fame and influence. Samuel grew up working for the priest Eli who was the high priest at the time, in a sense the spiritual leader of the nation, and we are told, “the word of the Lord was scarce and vision infrequent” (1 Samuel 3:1).
     This is a commentary on Eli’s leadership. While he was not a bad man, he was a weak one, and lazy too. His poor leadership began with his own family. His sons, abused their power, and were an embarrassment to him they did a lot of very bad things. Yet Eli couldn’t lead them out of trouble any more than he could lead the nation to be faithful to the Covenant.
     “One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see” (1 Samuel 3:2). Again, Scripture subtly tells us of Eli’s poor leadership. There was no vision for the nation because Eli could not see what was going on or what was ahead.
     “The lamp of God was not yet extinguished and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was. The Lord called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli answered, “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep” (1 Samuel 3:3-5).
     So Samuel is asleep in the Temple of the Lord. This “Temple” would have been more of a tent than the permanent structure. The story continues, “Again the Lord called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But he answered, “I did not call you my son. Go back to sleep.” Samuel did not recognize the Lord, since the word of the Lord had not been revealed to him” (1 Samuel 3:6-7).
     Samuel at this point in his life does not recognize the voice of the Lord. Even though he spent all his time in church, he didn’t recognize God when he encountered him, he didn’t know God when he heard him.
     After going back to sleep and being called third time, it is Eli who finally gets what’s going on. At which point he gives Samuel a little piece of advice. A piece of spiritual advice that forever changes his life.
     And do you know what? This advice could possibly change our life too. If we put this piece of advice into action in our lives, it could be a defining moment in our relationship with God; bring more purpose and significance to our lives. Just by putting this principle into practice many of the aspects of our life might come into focus and start making more sense.
     Before I tell you what Eli said to Samuel, let me warn you, this advice is incredibly, ridiculously simple. It is so simple that you might be tempted to dismiss it out of hand. But don’t. This is one of the basic challenges of the Christian life. We often fail to experience God because it is so simple and not at all complicated.
     So here is the groundbreaking advice Eli gives to Samuel, that changes his life. Eli tells Samuel “go back to bed.” But that not the advice I mentioned. The advice is, wait for the Lord to call you and when he does, then say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3.9).
     Samuel does exactly as he is told and Scripture tells us that God then reveals to Samuel that there is going to be a change of leadership in Israel, Eli will be out and Samuel will be in. God reveals to Samuel his vision and plan for his life, what he planning on doing through him.
     “Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to go unfulfilled” (1 Samuel 3:19). Samuel learned to tune into God so well that when he spoke, God’s words never return to him void but was always effective.
     The Christian life can contain moments of incredible impact and significance, power and grace. But it doesn’t begin there. Bold deeds and historic achievements are instead the fruit of simple obedience and the humility to listen.
     To hear God speak we have to listen. How do we do that? We listen by establishing a daily quiet time, even if only 5 or 10 minutes a day. Make it the same time and place everyday and you’re more likely to stick with it. You can do it in your car or walking your dog. We listen by seeking zones of silence in our days, apart from technology and noise and clutter of our culture. We listen to God by reading God’s word, by spending time with Scripture.
     Our relationship with God will change the moment that we recognize that God wants to communicate with us, that he has basic and practical advice he can share with us on a daily basis, to help us, to lead us, to guide us.
     It’s that simple. God wants to speak to us, but we have to believe he wants to speak to us. We have to believe that so much, that we are willing to invest time in it. “Speak Lord your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9).
     Pray it every day. It could be your defining moment.