His Master's Voice

His Master’s Voice – Brief reflections on 1 Samuel 3

There is a famous painting that become an iconic trademark for the music recording industry. It portrays a dog curiously looking into the “trumpet” of an old phonograph. The photo is called “His Master’s Voice”. The original name was “His Late Master’s voice”. The painting is actually based on a true story. After the dog’s master died someone was playing a recording of the master speaking on a recording. The dog walked up to the “trumpet” and looked curiously, recognizing “His Master’s voice.

This is the issue for Samuel in 1 Samuel 3. Samuel has been “ministering before the LORD under Eli.” (Verse 1) But he did not yet “know the LORD” (Verse 7). In 1 Samuel 3 Samuel is “lying down” when 4 times he hears his name called out. The first three times we ran to Eli, the priest whom Samuel was under. Eli sent him back to bed having not called him. On the third time Eli realized that something was happening and told Samuel that the LORD was calling him and the next time it happens to reply “Yes Lord your servant is listening”.

Samuel obeyed Eli and the LORD did indeed call Samuel’s name and Samuel responded “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Samuel then had his first encounter with the LORD. And what an encounter he has. I’ll leave it to you to read the passage (1 Samuel 3:11-21) but there are a couple observations I’d like to share from the first half of 1 Samuel 3:

1. Know your master’s voice. Samuel hadn’t spent time with God, even though he was busy ministering before Him. This passage screams at us to spend time with God – read your Bible and know the God who reveals Himself to us. The Bible is God’s revealed word – we learn so much about Him in his word. Study it, meditate on it, memorize it. You will know God much better then and will be more able to hear His voice.
2. Pray without ceasing. In prayer we have conversation with God. We know His voice when we take time to pray. HE invites us to pray! HE delights to answer our prayers. And during your prayers, try to take time to take a breath and stop talking – listen. Is God calling you?

• For influencers: Are you keeping your leaders and disciples so busy that they are ministering before the Lord but they have had no time to “know God”? Do you take time out in your leading and discipling to help your disciples to pause and listen to God? Do you study the Bible together? Are you helping people hear God’s voice – or are you keeping people so busy that they can’t hear His voice?