God is in Control
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” - I Samuel 3:8-10
19 Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to give birth. And when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth, for her pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer or pay attention. 21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed[b] from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. - I Samuel 4:19-21
19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. - I Samuel 8:19-21
3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” 4 And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them. 5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant[a] who was with him, “Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.” 6 But he said to him, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” - I Samuel 9:3-6
15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel: 16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince[c] over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen[d] my people, because their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.” - I Samuel 9:15-17
10 When they came to Gibeah,[d] behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. - I Samuel 10:10
20 Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot;[e] and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 So they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” - I Samuel 10:20-22
The Burning Question
How can we enter into a new season that God has been preparing?
How We See God Moving
Spiritual
1-3 God speaking and leading through priests to speaking through prophets
National
4-7 The presence of God departing with the Ark
Personal
8-10 The crowning of Saul from a farmer to a king
How God Works Through These Transitions
God was done speaking through the priests for the people
God was ending the season of the judges
God was done with leading them as their King
These are dark days and seemingly ushering in a troubling season for Israel
But as benefactors of reading the story as a whole, we see something different
In the midst of these horrible endings to seasons and times for Israel and people, God was preparing the transition
God is always working things for our good
God is always in control.
Our Response to Transitions
Will we respond to God or will we hide?
What is your response to God in seasons of change and transition?
Will you find yourself hiding from God or will you find yourself postured before God saying, speak Lord for your servant is listening?
How to Move From Hiding to Obedience
Hearing
Many of us are desperate to hear from God, but can I ask you, from what place are you trying to hear from Him.
God will speak from anywhere, but he need only quietly speak.
Are you going to be hiding under the baggage like Saul? Under the baggage of distraction, comfortability, your own safety?
Responding
Servant implies you have a master, who you are obedient to.
When you say speak, for your servant is listening, you are not saying this to get prophetic insight or hey what’s behind door 1, 2, and 3? You are doing it to get instructions.
These instructions are not optional.
So when you say this, know that you are positioning yourself to enter into a place of obedience to whatever the Lord says.
Obeying
In faith even when it doesn’t make sense.
Faith pleases God more than anything.
Reflective Questions
Am I being intentional about hearing God’s voice?
What am I hiding under when it comes to responding to God’s call?
What can I start this week to remove distractions and put myself in a place to hear God, respond, and obey?