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Word from Scotland

    by Sandy Shaw

Speak to Our Heart - Enable Us to Hear and Pay Attention
Date Posted: October 7, 2024

I Samuel Chapter 3 will be very familiar to many – and there are lessons here which God wants to teach us in these difficult dark days.

Samuel had no idea what lay in store for him - he was a boy of around 10 or 12and in a routine in the Temple or Tabernacle at Shiloh – in a setting that was not very accommodating to spiritual growth - but the Lord God overrode that.

Samuel was lying beside the Word - which was in the Ark, which signified the Presence of God. Where we are is important.

The Ark was a chest - four feet by two and a half by two and a half. This chest contained the Ten Commandments – a jar of manna - and Aaron's Rod that budded. ( Exodus 25 verses 10 to 22 give us the details.)

There was also Noah's Ark - and the Ark Moses was laid in - and for them it meant refuge - shelter - safety - preserving life. The Ark would preserve the basic Word of God for the People of God. Within the wood was gold and within the gold was wood. The top was the Mercy seat - and once a year blood would be poured onto this. At each end were two cherubim - angelic creatures.

There is nothing here but God!

It was the Word of God and the Voice of God, which shaped Samuel.

Samuel received the first of many messages He is the first prophet since Moses. We are reading of how he first heard the Voice of God – in a day when the Word was scarce - even in Shiloh. God had not been speaking to, or moving among, His people and that was not His fault – but theirs.

Samuel receives a clear word indicating the seriousness of his role - his life is going to count - it is going to matter - and it going to be serious.

People need leaders and God knows that - Joseph - Moses - Joshua - the Judges - Samuel - the kings - the prophets - Peter and Paul. People need leaders and the people of God need leaders.

Verse 3 – The lamp had not yet gone out - the oil had not run out. That verse spoke to me a few years ago in the middle of preaching in Elgin.

Speak Lord – and in this place of solitude God spoke - and Samuel surrendered.

God is not going to speak to Eli - because of Eli's inaction - and because of his failure as a father. God is about to do something new.

Samuel is about to become God's mouthpiece.

A young man came home after his first six months training in the marines and his father asked him what he had learned - and his first reply was - "I know what NOW means". It used to be - clean up your room - meant anytime convenient.

God was about to shatter the spiritual silence. This was a NOW WORD!

Eli's house is about to be wiped out - there was corruption and contempt at the heart of the worship. Eli had appeared powerless or unwilling as a father to do anything about what was going on - he had lost touch with his two sons. He was soft on sin.

His sons were not just taking advantage of people, but offending GOD.

The family line was going to be wiped out. Eli had begun well - but had let things slip. Samuel was chosen to bring God's Word to the nation.

God speaks - that is clear - we see it through the Scriptures - Adam - Noah - Abraham - Joseph - Moses - Samuel - Isaiah - Jeremiah - Zechariah - Mary - men by the Lakeside - Paul time and time again - Peter on a rooftop in Joppa. The evidence is overwhelming.

My sheep hear My Voice. When Jesus speaks, He never contradicts the written Word.

Psalm 46 verse 10 - Be still and know that I am God. The closer we get to the shepherd the louder and clearer will be His Voice. It comes through Intimacy - cultivated with discipline and a little effort.

There was desperate need for the Word of God.

Two men in from the country were walking just off Times Square in New York. One said he heard a cricket - you cannot - yes - they saw a bush and there was the cricket. One said - "That is amazing hearing you have" - NO - watch this - and he took some coins and dropped them - and 20 heads turned around. It all depends what you are listening for."

Verse 10 - Give God permission to speak - tell Him you are listening.

Verse 11f - God told that young boy things that we might not want a young boy to know.

Verse 19 - Samuel caught all God's Words. Samuel became known throughout the nation - as a prophet of the Lord. This revelation continued.

“Lord God – loving Father – enable us to give time to be quiet and listen – so that we can hear Your Voice. At this time, as we look around our nation – and our world – and see the plight and suffering of so many – have mercy and speak to those of us who are prepared to listen – and who want to hear Your Voice. You are a God who speaks – and we have two ears – help us to use them responsibly – we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

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Biography Information:

Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!

Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.

Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.

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