Listening Samuel
Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 3:1-20
Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Hannah had named her son Samuel, which means “heard by God.” When he was weaned, she brought him to Shiloh to present him to Eli the priest for training as a spiritual leader of God’s people Israel.
God called on Samuel to listen to and bring the word of the Lord to his people. God wanted Samuel to dedicate his life to this service. Samuel became a prophet, and he led Israel in that role for sixty years as Israel moved from a loosely organized group of clans to a peaceful monarchy ruled by King David, an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
We live under the peaceful reign of the one true good and just King today. “Peace on earth,” the angels sang to shepherds watching their flocks on the night that King Jesus was born (Luke 2:14). Our Advent peace is found in the birth of this child, who grew up to establish the kingdom of peace over all on whom God’s favor rests.
Do you know this peace? Ask Jesus to rule in your heart and life, and he will welcome you into his kingdom of peace. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can rest in true peace because we know he is our King and in control of all that happens in the world and our lives. This is a peace not “as the world gives” (John 14:27); it is God’s peace, “which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).
Prince of Peace, we hear you call us to give ourselves to your service and your kingdom. Help us to answer your call. Please give us your peace. Amen.
About the author — Thea Leunk
Thea Nyhoff Leunk has been a high school English teacher, a director of Christian education, a pastor of discipleship, and a regional coach for the Christian Reformed Church in North America. She is currently the senior pastor at Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thea has also written courses for teens and young adults on world religions, Christian faith traditions, and science and the Bible. She and her husband have three adult children.
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