Cleaning Out Our Ears

Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’”

Did you know that earwax plays an important role in our bodies’ health? Like a guardian at an entrance, earwax traps dust and dirt before they can travel further into the ear canal and do real damage. Its oily consistency is a first line of defense against bacteria that cause infection.

Sometimes, however, this amazing little creation of God works overtime in production. Earwax builds up, and the blockage gives you a headache or, worse, begins to obscure your hearing. If sounds are muffled and you sometimes feel dizzy, you might need to clean out your ears.

The priest Eli was one man who had a similar ear problem. Eli served in God’s Temple faithfully for many years. Israel’s sin created a barrier to approaching God’s holiness, so God had appointed Eli to act in their place. Every day, Eli worked in service of the Lord, cleaning the Temple, offering sacrifices, and helping people figure out how to approach the God he knew so well.

However, when we encounter Eli in 1 Samuel 3, it appears his ears are a little clogged. Israel’s repeated sin had led to an uncomfortable silence in their relationship with God. Their senses were clogged by temptations and sinful living, so much so that when God came to speak to the young Samuel in the Temple one night, even Eli couldn’t recognize his voice.

When Samuel heard God speaking in the night, he ran to Eli, and twice Eli sent him back to bed. Only the third time did Eli realize what Samuel was experiencing—a special visit from God. As sin built up in Israel’s “ear canals,” even Eli’s hearing had suffered. He needed God’s persistent communication to break through and clear the blockage to his heart.

The same ailment that befell Eli can afflict us in grief. Sin and sorrow can fill our ears with anger, temptation, and self-pity. As we focus solely on earthly things, we may lose our attentiveness to the voice of God in our lives. We may lament God’s seeming silence, when really it’s our ears that need the cleaning.

In our own distraction and frailty, the story of Eli reminds us that, even when we don’t recognize his voice, God is still speaking. He never gives up on communicating with his beloved children—through his Word, through prayer, and through his church. As you follow God in your grief, be sure to keep your ears—and your heart—open so that his words of comfort, direction, and love can travel deep into your soul.

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry.

A Prayer: God, I confess that I may need to have my ears cleaned. The temptations that come with grief and the sin that I harbor in my heart—these can block my ears from hearing your goodness spoken over me. Today, teach me to listen to your voice. Open my ears to hear your truth in Scripture, in prayer, and in the witness of your faithful people around me. Help me to not only listen but do what you tell me to do. Amen.

An Activity for Today: Some churches use candle lighting as a visual reminder of the prayers that are offered by a congregation. Today, light a candle in memory of your person. Keep your candle lit throughout the day. Burn it at dinnertime. Use it as part of your personal devotional time. As you light your candle, first remember that Christ our Light will never leave or forsake us. He lights our darkness and guides our feet. Next, take time to recall the light your person brought to your life. Remember his or her laughter, smile, or wisdom. Let the quiet flame bring those memories to mind. Before snuffing out the candle, its own symbolic gesture, thank God for the life of your loved one.

A Song to Encourage Your Heart: “Trust in You” by Lauren Daigle