20240301

do not disturb

1 Samuel 3:1-9 (JDV)

1 Samuel 3:1 The boy Samuel served Yahveh in Eli’s presence. In those days the word of Yahveh was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread.
1 Samuel 3:2 One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his usual place.
1 Samuel 3:3 Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of Yahveh, where the ark of God was located.
1 Samuel 3:4 Then Yahveh called Samuel, and he answered, “Notice me.”
1 Samuel 3:5 He ran to Eli and said, ” Notice me. You called me.” “I didn’t call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So, he went and lay down.
1 Samuel 3:6 Once again Yahveh called, “Samuel!” Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Notice me. You called me.” “I didn’t call, my son,” he replied. “Turn back and lie down.”
1 Samuel 3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know Yahveh, because the word of Yahveh had not yet been revealed to him.
1 Samuel 3:8 Once again, for the third time, Yahveh called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Notice me. You called me.” Then Eli understood that Yahveh was calling the boy.
1 Samuel 3:9 He told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, because your servant is listening.'” So, Samuel went and lay down in his place.

do not disturb

Samuel learned from Eli that God could call, and he must be wiulling to answer that call. So many of us put our spiritual cellphones on “do not disturb” because we cannot be bothered with a vision from God. Like it was in Eli’s day, the word of Yahveh is rare. We have God’s written word, but we often ignore that. Why should God call us?

But if we pay attention to him, he just might.