January 15, 2012
Tingle Talk
- 1 Samuel 3:1-20
- Rev Ruth Chadwick Moore
For the next few weeks Teri and I are going to be preaching about ways we can come to know God. Today we are going to be talking about how we get to know God through God’s voice.
When I asked the Tuesday morning bible study group if they had ever heard God’s voice the answer was no. But they did say they had felt God’s presence and God’s direction in their lives. When I asked them what they thought God’s voice would sound like they said and I quote, “I think it is a male voice. It is a firm but loving voice. It is an authoritative voice. It is a tender and compassionate voice.” When I was a child I imagined God’s voice sounding like the senior pastor of my church. Now I imagine God’s voice would sound like John Coleman’s voice or Mike Boris’ voice because I have heard them be the voice of God in dramas and scripture readings here at Northminster.
Our scripture passage from 1Samuel this morning doesn’t tell us what God’s voice sounded like to Samuel, but I do think it is worth noting that is didn’t seem like Samuel was afraid of it. In fact he hears it as a familiar voice and is convinced that it is Eli who is calling him. Now I have not heard God’s voice directly. I have not heard God speak to me personally. But I do know people who have. My youth minister when I was growing up believes he heard the voice of God. One time when he was camping and went off by himself he very clearly heard God’s voice telling him to be a minister. Now this man is one of the most down to earth and normal people I know and if he says he heard God’s voice then I believe he heard God’s voice.
Lots of times when someone says they have heard the voice of God most of us are pretty skeptical. I am one of them. But think about it this way. If you tell people you’ve been talking to God they don’t have a problem with that. That is what we call praying. But if you say that God talked to you, then they think you’re crazy. Isn’t prayer supposed to be a conversation with God? And in a conversation don’t both parties talk?
Of course there are people who make false claims about hearing God’s voice. Some of them are mentally ill. Some of them are confused. Some of them claim God told them to do something violent or horrible. And what I find equally appalling is the minister on television who says, “God told me to tell you that He wants you to send me a faith donation of $100.” All sorts of people make claims about hearing the voice of God.
And it is hard sometimes to believe that God still talks to anyone anymore. “The word of the Lord was rare in those days,” says the writer of 1 Samuel, “and visions were not widespread.” Perhaps we hear those words today and say to ourselves, “Well, things haven’t changed much since Old Testament times.” But I bet if we asked around we might learn that God has spoken to many of us – maybe its just that we didn’t hear a specific voice or we haven’t wanted to talk about it. There are plenty of people out there who have had life-changing and even mystical experiences with God. My bible study ladies have felt God’s presence and guidance when they have had to make decisions or when they have reflected back on certain experiences in their lives. But we’re embarrassed to share these interactions with others because people might think we’re crazy or a religious freak or something.
Does God not speak to postmodern 21st century people or have we simply lost the ability to hear and see when there is a word or a vision from God? From the very beginning of time God has spoken. “And God said, ‘Let there be light.’…” And what about the bible telling us about the times God spoke to Abraham and Moses and all of the prophets? And what about, “The Word become flesh and dwelt among us.”
From the very beginning of time God has been a talker, so why do we have so much difficulty believing that God still speaks today? Do we think God has fallen silent all of a sudden or could the problem be with us and not with God? Perhaps we have just stopped listening. Is the word of the Lord rare in our day and are visions not widespread, or are we just not listening because we’re afraid of what we might hear?
What does God say to Samuel? He says, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle.” God is going to do a new thing so big that it will make us tingle. How can we not listen if it will make our ears tingle?
Don’t you just love that word – “tingle”? This is the only time that word is used in the entire bible. And since it is a word we don’t use very much I was curious about it. I’m not sure I remember the last time I felt a tingle in my life. How about you? But this story of an old man and a young boy who collaborate to hear God’s vision for a new Israel, is something that is supposed to excite us – or to put it another way – it is giving us notice that God is going to give us pins and needles and use a child as the delivery system. The story sounds very similar to the one we just celebrated in December.
Are you ready to hear the voice of God? Do you want to experience that tingle? Don’t answer too quickly because you might hear something you don’t want to hear. What Samuel heard from God was not something warm and fuzzy – he heard a word of judgment about Eli and his sons. Eli’s sons had been eating the sacrifices laid upon the alter of the Lord and they had been lying with vulnerable women who came to the temple to worship. These were heinous sins in Israel’s moral universe. Some judgment is on the way. But it is this judgment that brings about renewal for the people of Israel. Samuel will take over for Eli and he will go on to become a wise and respected prophet. He will help the people choose their first king to lead them in a new and different way.
Just like in the story of Eli and Samuel, the voice of God may require you to hear something you do not want to hear. It may call you to do something you do not want to do. It could require you to do something with people you wish you did not have to be around.
On Monday we will remember the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King had not intended to be a national civil rights leader – he had looked forward to a life as a professor and a pastor. But then he heard the voice of God telling him, “Martin, you do what’s right. You stand up for justice. You be my drum major for righteousness. I will be with you.” He heard his name called and he knew what God wanted him to do. And his life was forever changed and through him the world was changed.
Our New Testament lesson for this morning is another call story. Nathanael hears God’s voice in the person of Jesus Christ. Philip tells him to come and see and Nathanael came. He listened. He heard a unique voice. And in responding to the call it changed his life. Samuel and Dr. King heard God’s voice calling them to see and do. Nathanael heard God’s voice to see and follow. What is God calling you to do?
But let’s go back to the tingle. When was the last time you felt a “tingle” in your life? When was the last time you felt a “tingle” about the word of God to you? Have you ever felt that way? When was the last time you experienced hope kicking into high gear, or forgiveness offered so freely that it made you tingle all over your body because you were so excited? When was the last time you felt like you were called to do something new and different?
Sometimes we make decisions because we have experienced the tingle of fear. We hear the doctor say our cancer is back or our pension has been eliminated. We hear that our child is not doing well in school or our spouse doesn’t want to be married anymore. Or we were so scared at how close we came to hitting that car that we had to stop and rest a minute until our body stopped shaking. There are times we tingle with fright.
But what this 1 Samuel passage recommends to us is that we begin to make decisions based on the tingle of hope. And while this passage says that what God is going to do will make both of our ears tingle, I believe in being realistic. So I say let one ear tingle with fear. Fear is spiritually legitimate. A lot has gone wrong and more could follow. But listen also with the other ear. God tells us that he is going to do a new thing, which will make our ears tingle. So give one ear to God, let it tingle.
Allow that ear to tingle, and get excited and start to imagine what God wants to do and how you can help make it happen. Imagine a world where things are fair, where you are well, and where those you love are doing well. Imagine a world where all children can play outside safely, where economic consumption is gone and decent salaries for all replace it. Imagine a world where there is no more war or senseless violence. Imagine good things and then believe they are coming. God has plans, already executed in Jesus, to do good things. But God is going to need your help. God is still talking to us, still calling us to see and follow and do. Even though it may seem that the word of the Lord is rare, God is not silent. God is constantly speaking, creating, and calling. And sometime when you are just sitting there minding your own business or better yet when something makes your ear or your body tingle, there is the voice or the presence or the vision. You hear your name, you recognize the voice and you respond and you go out to see and do.
The way to tingle is to open your eyes and look around and to open your ears and listen. Be open to God’s voice and guidance in your life and let the tingling begin. Amen.
Resources:
Feasting on the Word, Year B Volume 1. Second Sunday After Epiphany.
Sermons.com, “Conversation or Monologue?” by Johnny Dean.
Sermons.com, “The Voice” by David E. Leininger.