Mark Somerville, Associate Pastor
El Dorado Family Worship Center
Matthew 6:6
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly!
One of my favorite stories in the Bible, is the early life of Samuel. In this true story, his mother prayed for him so that she would have a son to give back to the Lord. We know that the Lord had heard her prayer and give her son. ( I Samuel 1:26-28.) The word “lent” means “granted”
Lets pick up the events in Samuel’s life in I Samuel 2:18-21. Lets read these verses carefully because they lead to what happened in chapter 3. If one rushes through these verses in chapter 2, we will miss something very important that sets the stage for chapter 3.
Chapter 2:18 high lights two important facts. First, Samuel ministered before the Lord while wearing a linen ephod. It was simple apron or loincloth worn by these priests attending to the sacred duties. It signifies that he was where the Lord placed him. In verse 21, we see that he continued to grow before God.
Now move to chapter 3 and begin to read at verse 1. We see that Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli the High Priest. While Eli’s family continued to fall apart and turn a blind eye to the sin in their own lives, Samuel continued to serve the Lord. Like today, there was no word from the Lord because of sin.
The results, like the nation of Israel, Samuel did not know the Lord in a personal or direct way. Eli was growing blind, both spiritually and physically. The results is seen in verses 2 and 3. The Amplified reads, “the lamp of God had not yet gone out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of the Lord was.” Eli did not want the lamp of God to go out completely.
There in the silent of the night, Samuel laid ready, to ensure that the lamp would go out. It was quiet all around him. There in the silent of the night,, the voice of the Lord speaks to him! Read on in verses 4 through 10, as the next events take place.
What truths can we draw from the silent of the night? First, Samuel was where God wanted him so He could speak to him directly. You may wonder why am I here and heaven seems silent. Second, the Lord is looking someone who is silent before Him, so He can speak to them directly. So enter your secret place, get where the Lord wants you and listen for the still small voice of the Lord.
