June 16, 2009

Be still and hear

As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us (and he passed on), but stand thou still first, that I may cause thee to hear the word of God. (1 Sam. 9:27)

I picture myself in that situation which Saul was in. It wasn’t a really comfortable decision for Saul to make when Samuel asked him to wait back. Saul had to rush back home because he was already very late and his father began to worry for him. Also he was asked to let his belongings and his servants go ahead him back home. Further what Samuel told Saul was to wait for a while which has its root in the Hebrew word meaning ‘a span of hours’, or ‘a day’ etc. So it wasn’t going to be fast for sure.

And what was Samuel asking him to wait for? That he may hear the word of God…! It looks easy and simple at the first glance for Saul to listen to Samuel but that came with some difficult decisions. If we read further, God blessed him for obeying his voice and chose him to be the king of Israel.

I wonder when was the last time I actually waited and was stilled before God’s presence so that  he could speak to me. Today my quiet time lasted for less than 10 min and I can but little call to mind what God taught me today morning. I have my huge list of prayer needs for God day in and out. But it really bothers me because it has been a long time since I last sat and waited upon God to cause me to hear his word.

father child 1God wants us to take out some of our time from the busiest and the most urgent situations in life we are in and wait and listen to his Word. Maybe the answers to our problems may lie in those solemn moments with God or maybe God would want to communicate something totally different to us. But where are we?

It’s not easy you know. Saul had to leave behind his belongings and companions to listen to God’s word because that was what God required him to do. It’s much more important for us to realize that God wants us to separate ourselves from our busy lives so that he can talk to us. Let them pass on ahead us. It’s not that we cannot catch up with them later. God wants us to honor him first. As he says in 1 Sam. 2:30, “…for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”

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