It was a time of political turmoil. For over 100 years Greek refugees called Philistines had been threatening the national stability of the Israelites. The Philistines had settled along the Mediterranean Sea on the south west border of the Promised Land. They organized themselves into a group of five city states called the Pentapolis. Although the land they inhabited was rich in agricultural and commercial potential, the Philistines were not satisfied with such a narrow strip of land. They fought to expand their territory to the north and east where the Israelites had settled. Years of fierce fighting over land and political control of the region ensued. During this time, the tribes of Dan and Judah fought for their very existence.
It was a time of civil unrest. National pride was at an all-time low. Long forgotten were the days of old when the nation traveled as one people through the waters of the Red Sea and the Sinai Wilderness under the guidance of Mosses. Perhaps some of the old-timers talked about how strong a people they once were when they were untied under the leadership of Joshua; how as one untied mighty force they, with the help of God, defeated their enemies and settled the promised land. Unity of a people and solidarity in a cause were but distant memories of a time long past. For a while now the people were splintered into factions and groups. They made decisions and took actions that were beneficial to them personally but cared little how those decisions and actions might affect their neighbors. God describes this time with these words, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.”[1]
It was a time of spiritual apathy. It was not as if the people had built another golden calf to worship. They were not sacrificing their children to Molech, bowing down to Ra, or building temples for Dagan. It was not as though idolatry was running rampant among the people. No, that would take too much effort. The people were too spiritually lazy to worship their own God let alone anyone else’s gods. A prime example of this spiritual apathy was demonstrated by Hophni and Phinehas. These young men in effect stole offerings out of the plate and slept with the lady’s aid. God tells us they did these wicked things because “they had no regard for the LORD”[2]. But boys will be boys, right? That was the attitude of their father, Eli. When Eli hears that his sons are guilty of theft and adultery he says, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear spreading among the Lord’s people.”[3] naughty naughty naughty boys...
It was a time of political turmoil, it was a time of social unrest, it was a time of spiritual apathy. It was the time in which a young woman by the name of Hannah lived. Hannah was loved by her husband. He spoke kindly to her, showed her compassion, and generously provided for her. Additionally, Hannah and her husband had a good relationship with the LORD; the couple was regularly seen in worship. There was only one thing lacking in Hannah’s life, she had no children. “In bitterness of soul Hannah… prayed to the LORD. “O LORD Almighty, if you … give me a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life.”[4]
The LORD heard Hannah’s prayer. Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son and she named him Samuel. And Hannah was true to her word. When her son Samuel was but a toddler she brought him to church. Hannah placed her precious child in the care of the priest Eli. You remember Eli, the father that had so poorly trained his own sons in the way they should go that God described them as “wicked”. I am sure it was not easy for Hannah to place her son in Eli’s care, but she knew, despite Eli’s failings as a father, this was the place where her son would be brought up in the training and instruction of the LORD. But don’t think that Hannah abdicated her parental responsibilities to the preacher. She remained actively involved in her son’s life. Hannah prayed for her son and provided him with the things he needed to “grow up in the presence of the LORD”[5].
It is said that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective[6], so too is the prayer of a righteous woman. The results of Hannah’s prayers are seen in the service of her son. “1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD.” Though he was probably only about 12 years old, Samuel was entrusted with the keys to the church; it was his job to open the doors of the house of the LORD every morning.[7]
One night, shortly before the first rays of the sun streaked across the sky and the oil in the lamp of God had run out, Samuel was awoken by the voice of someone calling his name. Thinking that his master needed him, Samuel “5 …ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Considering his failing eyes and advanced age, it was probably a common occurrence for Eli to summon Samuel to assist him. But this night it was not Eli who summoned Samuel. Eli tells Samuel, “5…“I did not call; go back and lie down.” Samuel returns to his bed, only to hear someone calling his name again and again. Each time Samuel runs to Eli, each time Eli tells him to go back to bed. Little did Samuel or Eli realize, the one calling Samuel was the LORD. You see, even though Samuel had been brought up in the training and instruction of the LORD, he had never before actually heard the LORD’s voice. Even though Eli had served as a priest for 40 years “1… the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.”
Eventually, after the third time, it dawned on Eli that it was the LORD who was calling Samuel. “9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’”” That is exactly what Samuel did and not just that night. For the next 60 years of his life Samuel listened to the LORD’s voice. While everyone around him was saying, “listen LORD, your servant is speaking” Samuel was saying, “speak LORD, your servant is listening.” Samuel listened to the LORD and lead the Israelites to repentance for their spiritual apathy; they fasted and confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.”[8] Samuel listened to the LORD and year after year he traveled throughout Israel settling disputes among the people in order to heal the civil unrest.[9] Samuel listened to the LORD and with the anointing of first Saul and then David ushered in the age of the kings; the glory days for the nation of Israel, a time in which the Philistine were at last defeated and the people prospered. In a time of political turmoil, social unrest, and spiritual apathy the LORD brought political peace, social unity, and a spiritual revival to His people. All this the LORD did through a mother who prayed and a son who listened.
Now is a time of political turmoil. While I am sure there are many around the world who would like to see America lose its status as the world’s superpower, it seems lately our threat is not foreign, but domestic. Sometimes it feels like our politicians are more concerned about gaining political control of the house or the senate than they are about representing the people they were elected to serve.
Now is a time of civil unrest. People are so concerned about protecting their rights and having their opinions heard that they don’t care if their rights infringe or their opinions offend. In these days Americans have no decency and everyone tweets, texts, and post as they see fit.
Now is a time of spiritual apathy. Oh, we are not a pagan people. In fact, in 2019 65% of Americans identified themselves as Christian. With nearly 205 million people claiming to be Christians, America has the largest Christian population in the world. Yet only ~25% of those Christians actually make God a priority in their lives. As a result, subjective truth, relative morality, and misguided tolerance run rampant even among Christians.
Now is a time of political turmoil. Now is a time of civil unrest. Now is a time of spiritual apathy. Now is the time in which you live. Do you think that is an accident; do you think it an unfortunate twist of fate that you were born into a time such as this? Or do you think that maybe, just maybe the LORD knit you together in your mother’s womb and brought forth specifically for a time such as this? Do you think it might be possible that the LORD is looking for another Hannah, that He is giving you the opportunity to come to Him in prayer? Whether the LORD has given you your own children or entrusted another’s child to your care, is it at all possible that the LORD is counting on you to make the necessary sacrifices to ensure that those children grow up in the presence of the LORD?
My little brothers and sisters in the faith, you are growing up in a time of political turmoil, civil unrest, and spiritual apathy. Your parents, your pastor, and your older brothers and sisters in the faith are praying for you. You have been brought here today so that you can worship in the presence of the LORD. Here you are being taught to listen to the LORD’s voice. While everyone else around you are saying “listen LORD, your servant is speaking”. You have been taught to say, “speak LORD, your servant is listening.” As you continue to listen to the LORD’s voice is it possible that the LORD would use you as He used Samuel? It is possible the LORD will use you to bring our country much needed political peace. It is possible the LORD will use you to unite the people of our land together again. I am not sure how probable that is, but it is possible. What I am sure of is, as long as you continue to listen to the LORD’s voice, the LORD will use you. As long as you listen to the LORD’s voice you will know how to defend yourself and teach others to defend themselves from the attacks of the devil. As long as you listen to the LORD’s voice you will know how to have for yourself and proclaim to others a peace that comes from sins forgiven. As long as you listen to the LORD’s voice the LORD will use you to bring more people to the King of kings; the LORD will use you to bring more people to Jesus. My little brothers and sisters in the faith, as long as you listen to the LORD’s voice, the LORD will use you.
I know that these days many of you are unsure and uncertain what the future holds. I implore you to remember what the LORD did through Hannah and her son Samuel. I implore you to see that even in a time of political turmoil, civil unrest, and spiritual apathy the LORD is delivering more and more people from the devil, the LORD is forgiving sin, and the LORD is saving souls. All this the LORD does through people who pray and children who listen. Amen
[1] Judges 21:25
[2] 1 Samuel 2:12
[3] 1 Samuel 2:23-24
[4] 1 Samuel 1:10-11
[5] 1 Samuel 2:21
[6] James 5:16
[7] 1 Samuel 3:15
[8] 1 Samuel 7:6
[9] 1 Samuel 7:16