Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Samuel 3:19 (English Standard Version)

And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

I love the phrase here about words falling to the ground and how God prevented this from happening with Samuel. Other translations use the phrase that Samuel’s words were reliable.

Samuel was a prophet in the Old Testament use of that term. God told Samuel what was to happen in the future. Samuel repeated God’s words. What Samuel said would happen did happen. His words were reliable in that what he said always happened.

I can see a person’s words falling from their mouth to the dusty ground and being trampled underfoot. I can see a person’s words flowing from their mouth into the hearts of others. I have known persons whose words did both of these. Yes, it is easy to guess the persons whom I respected.

Please God, let none of my words fall to the ground. Let me love my fellow man enough so that I choose the right words that flow into their hearts instead of under the concrete of the 21st century sidewalks.