Hearing
What the sound of bad brakes taught me about my hearing.
We all need a reminder to check our hearing
Young Samuel was sure he heard Eli
I am an older man and was sure I heard the sound of bad brakes
In the front of my truck, not the rear, and was wrong
The Lord is calling you
Maybe it is in the cool of the day in the midst of a garden, like Eden
Maybe it is in the temple, in the church where God’s Word is preached
Maybe it is in the wind
Where you cannot tell the direction or see the shape of the Spirit
Take a hearing test today by saying
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” 1 Samuel 3:10
Hearing
I have a dear friend who is in his 90’s
and has lost his eye sight and 95% of his hearing.
I can not imagine a day of life
without sight and hearing.
Imagine, no sounds of music,
no voices of communication.
You may feel the wind,
but you can’t hear it…
A world of silence.
They say as we live life…
Our hearing is affected by loud noises
from both pleasant sounds like a concert and
unpleasant sounds, like loud machines at work.
The other day I failed a hearing test…
No, I did not go to the doctor
and sit in a sound proof box.
I was in my truck.
For some time, I have heard a grinding sound
like metal on metal when I brake.
I knew it was worn out brake pads
eating away at the rotors.
I ordered new rotors and pads on line
and after they arrived…
I jacked up the front end of
the truck to change the parts.
Shortly after starting the job,
I sensed something was wrong.
The rotors and pads were almost new,
there was nothing that could have
made the noise of metal on metal.
I called a master mechanic friend
because I was puzzled.
The first thing he said was are you sure the noise
was coming from the front and I was sure.
I went to another friend who owns a brake shop
to get the rotors turned and he said there is no reason
to turn the rotors and my problem might be
the pad being very aggressive.
So, I went home and changed the pads.
The instructions said break in the pads
by getting up the speed to 30 miles an hour
and brake down to 5 mph, do this 30 times.
After about 15 times the noise was still there.
I decided to put my window down
and listen very carefully.
As I put my head out the window
and tried to hear better…
I realized the sound was not the front brakes
but it was coming from the rear.
Sure, enough after removing the rear tire
it was obvious where the metal on
metal sound was coming from.
Yes, I failed the hearing test.
I don’t drive the truck much,
so when I heard the sound in the fall…
I said I will change the brakes in the spring
when the weather warms up.
All that time I was convinced I heard
the sound of metal on metal in front.
Failing my hearing test cost me a day,
and a couple of hundred dollars in parts…
But failing to hear God can cost much more.
In 1 Samuel 3, we read the boy, Samuel,
heard the Lord call him, but thought it was Eli.
Three times Samuel got up and went to Eli
to answer the Lord’s call.
Whether a young boy, like Samuel,
or an older man, like me…
We must distinguish where the sound is coming from.
I wonder how many times the Lord was calling me
and I did not recognize it was Him
and went to the wrong place.
Jesus gives one of the finest words
of advice in Luke 8…
Therefore, consider carefully how you listen.
Whoever has will be given more;
whoever does not have,
even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."
Luke 8:18
Jesus many times, when He spoke said…
“He who has ears, let him hear”
Matthew 11:15, 13:9: Mark 4:9,23: Luke 8:8,14:35
Eight times in the Book of Revelation we read…
He who has an ear, let him hear
Revelation 13:9
And seven of those times we read…
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says
Revelation 2:7,11,17,29,3:16,13,22
Whether we are young like Samuel
and need to learn how to discern the voice of God…
Or, we are older and at a point of losing our hearing
because of all the loud noises of life that effected
our hearing and need to try harder to hear…
We all need a reminder to check our hearing.
Samuel was sure he heard Eli.
I was sure I heard the sound in the front,
of the truck, not the rear.
The Lord is calling you.
Maybe it is in the cool of the day
in the midst of a garden, like Eden.
Maybe it is in the temple,
in the church where God’s Word is preached…
Maybe it is in the wind where you can not
tell the direction or see the shape of the Spirit.
Take a hearing test today by saying…
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
1 Samuel 3:10
Scripture Reading
1 Samuel 3:1-10 NIV
The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel answered, "Here I am." 5 And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.
But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.
6 Again the Lord called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
"My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
8 The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
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