Israel needed a new leader. They had no king. Eli, the priest at Shiloh and the one sitting as “judge,” was nowhere near what he should have been. He handed off priestly duties to his two sons, Hophni and Phineas. They were greedy degenerates who abused their position, abused the people who came to them, and abused whatever women they could get their disgusting hands on.

In I Samuel 3:1, “...the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.” It was not that God had nothing to say, but it seems there was no one worthy to be entrusted with His words. God’s words are powerful, but they can also be muted by the unbelief and the sins of the people who claim to belong to Him or speak for Him, like Hophni and Phineas. Eli wasn’t all bad, but he did not stop his sons. He did not rebuke them or strip them of their priestly authority and power. He did nothing to hinder their disgrace.

God would raise up another. One who was trained in the way of the priesthood, who would be a righteous judge for the people, and would be a powerful spokesman for God. He would be the prophet the people needed to hear. The first three chapters tell of the birth and youth of this one—Samuel.

As Samuel slept in the house of God in Shiloh, God called to him. Three times Samuel thought it was Eli calling him. Finally, after the third time, Eli realized it was God calling the boy, who would probably have been no more than twelve years old. Following the instructions of Eli, Samuel responded to the fourth call of God with these words,

“Speak, for your servant hears.”

Before Samuel could become a man of God, he had to hear the words of God. He had to want to hear the words of God. For all of Eli’s failings, he got this one right! He told Samuel how to respond to God when God speaks, “I’m listening. I’m all ears and no mouth right now.”

I have, for a long, long time, recommended that you pray before reading God’s word. Through prayer, confirm that you are waiting for God to teach you and reveal whatever you need for that day in that study.

Let’s add a layer, and it’s right out of the Word of God.

As you begin your daily Bible reading, or any special moment of study (all moments in the word are special), speak the same words that young Samuel spoke more than three thousand years ago. Five words: “Speak, for your servant hears.”

I’m sure God loves to hear His words on our lips as we speak to Him. This particular statement to God reveals that in our hearts we are ready to hear God, no matter the message or the need He will address. It may be wonderful. It may be deeply disturbing. It may affirm our faith. It may challenge our faith. It may reward the righteous choices we make. It may convict us of sins we continue to struggle with.

But through it all, we are His servants. We hear.

“Speak, for your servant hears.”

The first time God spoke to Samuel was not pleasant for the boy. God relayed through him a message to Eli that he and his sons were to be severely judged and punished for their sins as priests. It was such a heavy message that Samuel was afraid to tell the old priest what God said.

The end of chapter three describes how God’s word was renewed among the people through Samuel. He heard God and responded. All Israel learned that God raised up Samuel as the prophet to the people.

And then…nothing. Nothing about Samuel for the next three chapters and 57 verses. He’s not even mentioned. But the spiritual conditions of Israel are described. When Samuel is reintroduced into the narrative, he is a man of God unafraid to speak to the people. He calls them away from idolatry and back to the One, True God.

This man, dedicated to God by his mother before he was born, and willing to follow the advice that told him to say, “Speak, for your servant hears,” saw what the Word can do.

So can we. “Speak, for your servants hear.”