Read 1 Sam. 3:1-19
I love the way God gives us tangible signs of spiritual things like: "the word of God was precious", "no open vision", "Eli had laid down", "his eyes were waxing dim and he could not see." In other words, the seer anointing that had been on Eli was being passed down to Samuel.
It even goes on to say that "before the lamp of God went out in the temple". God was doing a shifting of temples from Eli's line to Samuel's. In verses 4-14 Samuel is getting his first lesson in seership. I find it very encouraging that Samuel didn't even realize it was God's voice. How many times has God been speaking to me and I didn't perceive it till much later. I think God had it planned that way because now Eli knew there was a word from God and Samuel couldn't hold it back. Of all things, the first thing Samuel has to do is to rebuke his mentor and spiritual father. I think this was a precursor to what Samuel's ministry was going to be like.
God is about to make everyone afraid by the judgement that comes down on Eli and his house. Judgment begins in the house of the Lord with the leaders going first.
Apparently Samuel didn't have a very good night's sleep and in the morning he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. His ministry was just that: to open the doors of the house of the Lord. He brought back the presence and holiness of the Lord to the Temple.
Even though Samuel didn't want to tell Eli what God had said, because he honored him, he did. So Samuel grew and the Lord was with him, "and he let none of his words fall to the ground." That phrase is spoken of a lot in our house. How incredible to have that prophetic track record that every word you gave someone was exactly right and accomplished its purpose.
Lord, anoint our lips to speak only things that bring life, not empty words that would fall to the ground.
1 comment:
Fabulous title, Ginny. I think that's a miniature lesson in spiritual warfare.
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