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Ricci Wilson

Remember, the Word of the Lord was scarce in the days of Eli. It was so scarce that as we read on, 1 Samuel 3:2-3 says, “And it came to pass at that time when Eli was laid down in his place and his eyes began to wax dim that he could not see, and ere the lamp of God went out of the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep.”

The lamp of God had gone out in the temple. We talked a few months ago about Moses; we talked about the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land, remembering how the fire of God fell by night to light their path, warm the people and protect them from the animals. The cloud was present in the daytime to provide shade from the desert sun and guide them on their way. When it was time to move, if it came in the daytime, the cloud moved, if it came at night, the fire moved. They followed, or they perished in the wilderness. This was a very visible presence of God which they followed. Within nine months, the ark was built and when the sacrifices were made, God descended upon the ark in the same fashion as when Moses entered the tabernacle. This was the holiness of God, it was a light, a fire, a cloud; it was present and visible to the people of Israel.

The instruction to Moses was that the Light was to never go out in the temple. Where the ark was, the presence of God was supposed to be, that was His plan. But here we, are four hundred years later and the light has gone out, why? Because of the corruption and the sin that was in that church. Eli's sons had been very promiscuous with the ladies who served the temple; when the people came in, they were stealing from the people. Corruption. Eli knew what was happening, yet he failed to correct his sons. It appears that the fear of man was very prevalent instead of the fear of the holiness of God. Sacrifices were done in vain by this priest and his two sons and the only reprimand that occurred was when Eli warned his boys that the people were telling him what they were doing. Why didn't Eli see it? Because he had blinded himself to the truth. Instead of light, there was a darkness in the temple and the presence of God was rare in those days. But alas, God had a plan!

Enter Samuel. 1 Samuel 3:3-8 says, “Ere the lamp of God went out of the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep: that the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou callest me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time.”

I am going to stop there a minute. Why had the Word of the Lord not been revealed to Samuel? He was being raised in the house of God by the high priest who was put in place to commune with God. Eli was the high priest. Why is it that Samuel, having been in the temple for five or six years at this point, just now is hearing the voice of God? And why is it that Samuel had to go in to Eli three times before Eli recognized that it was the voice of God calling the boy? Why is it that there is so much darkness in the House of God and it takes a boy to bring forth the light?

1 Samuel 3:8 “And the Lord called Samuel the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he calls thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone that heareth it shall tingle.”

I will do a new thing in Israel. What is the new thing? The voice of God is returning to Israel! The voice of God is returning to the Church; the voice of God is returning! Consider that for a moment, the word of the Lord was scarce in those days. Hannah prays earnestly for a child which she then dedicates to the Lord. Her continuous prayer over her son: “Keep him secure in the midst of the corruption of the temple.” He, a young boy, he pure in heart, receives the word of the Lord, his very first message, and it is a word of judgment on Eli and his sons. Historians figure he was maybe ten or eleven years old by this time; this must’ve been a tremendously difficult thing for Samuel to convey. However, his fear of God superseded his fear of man and he understood that the presence of God, the light of God, had gone out of the Church. Whether he understood how crucial his call was at this point or not, the Bible is not clear, but here is a young boy with a destiny to bring forth the Word of the Lord into the Nation of Israel!

To be continued next week…
Blessings & love,
Ricci Wilson