Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” 1 Samuel 3:8-9.

I read the above Scripture in Hearing God by Dallas Willard. At the end of the page it recommended reading further. What struck me were these passages: The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions…The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called to Samuel…Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him…The Lord came and stood there, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”…1 Samuel 3:1, 3, 7, 10. Can you imagine? Samuel slept where the ark of God was and yet he did not yet know the Lord though he was ministering before the Lord under Eli, the High Priest. And then, the Lord came and stood there with Samuel calling to him! It helps to go deeper and read with intent to imagine what it would have been like. How can we not be filled with wonder? How many children today do not know the Lord? How many adults? How many nations? Do I…Do you?

And I confess when I read our psalm, Psalm 112, it didn’t have the same impact as the Scripture verses read above. It sounded too much like a “health and wealth” doctrine that we can “get”. So I read it again trying to dispel my prejudices. Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands…Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous…Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever…They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord…v. 1, 4, 6, 7. And yet, we are all of us human and fears come that shake us to our core. The true blessing for us comes as we trust in the Lord. It takes time. It takes longing for Him and asking Him to help us understand. It takes listening in quiet expectation and hearing His thoughts in our own. I left out the verses I can’t quite relate to because I keep thinking about Samuel. He did not yet know the Lord…The Lord came and stood there…how can we not long to know the Lord? Are we not like young Samuel with our ideas about our Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, attending our respective religious services or feeling close to God in private study or not giving Him any thought at all…and yet…Do we trust God? Do we believe Him? What if God were to come to you or me and call our name? Samuel had Eli to tell him what to do. Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”. Our psalm also speaks of wealth and riches…and of the wicked seeing and being vexed, v. 3, 10. Do you want true wealth? Draw near to our God and wait in quiet expectation. He will lift you out of the darkness of not knowing Him and bring you into the light of His love and truth where you will delight to be with Him.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.

It is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV.

God’s word is too good not to share! God’s love and Presence is too wondrous not to experience! Faith and experience of God’s love go hand in hand and are both given by our God who loves us and longs for us to draw near to Him for our good with Him. He is the One who lifts us out of the darkness of not knowing Him. He is the One who brings us into fellowship with Him and with one another and it is Good!