“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (1)
The Lord speaks to us in different ways. Most of them are not audible as we understand hearing. When you read scripture, the words resonate with your spirit. This is the Lord conversing with you. Or stand at the foot of a mountain range amidst a field of wildflowers and you’ll see His creative, spoken word displayed in our natural surroundings. Genesis recounts seven days of God speaking our world into being, including us!
Thus, we see God’s words as having powerful consequences. They create life; and they can move mountains, instruct armies, and comfort our weary souls. Our words need to reflect His Spirit that lives within us. Many ungodly things in our culture shout at us every day. We would be wise not to listen.
The story of Samuel touched me this morning. Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, grieved in her spirit because she could not bear his children. She pleaded with the Lord for a son, promising she would dedicate him to the Lord. That is a promise whose fulfillment would be possible only if she loved the Lord more than her husband or son. The Lord honored her request. She conceived and gave birth to Samuel. Immediately after she weaned him, Hannah brought Samuel to Eli, the priest, to serve the Lord all his days. Hannah knew her God was faithful. She knew this in her spirit, even though her flesh was exceedingly sorrowful.
The verse that resonated in my heart and spirit from this passage came next. “The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up and let none of his words fall to the ground.” 3:19 (2)
As I meditated on these words, several thoughts came to mind. First, Jesus, the Word, was already speaking with Samuel at a young age. God called out to him three times one night. This may be how Samuel first learned to discern the Lord’s voice. God “revealed himself through his word.” The story continues by saying, people soon considered him a “prophet of the Lord.” (3)
Second, Jesus never wastes His words.
“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Don’t you just love these words? Such a promise for us!
There is precision and direction and purpose in our Lord’s words. When we read scripture and ask for the words to penetrate our spirit, we are learning from the greatest teacher for all time. The words are an encouragement, direction and guidance for believers. We never have to worry about what is coming or what to do now. Jesus is the Word. As with Hannah, He will faithfully provide.
And finally, this next passage inspired me to share the story with you. “And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground” (4)
Don’t miss it. None of the words spoken to Samuel “fell to the ground.” That means Samuel stored them in his heart and spirit. They didn’t roll off him like rainwater, nor did he disregard them. He received them into his spirit. The Lord watched over him and made sure of it.
What does this mean for you and me? As we read the precious words left for us, listen as the Lord speaks to the Holy Spirit within you. Because Samuel listened to the Lord, the words became part of him. This is what we want. There is much reward in a life filled with His words. It’s a life with the Father, the Holy Spirit, and with Jesus, the Word.
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV
- John 1:1-2 ESV
- 1 Samuel 3:20-21 ESV
- Isaiah 55:11 ESV (capitalization mine)
- 1 Samuel 3:19 ESV
