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The Lamp of God Had Not Yet Gone Out
The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the
Lord was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so
weak he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 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.
Then the Lord called Samuel (1 Samuel 3:1-4).
Israel had fallen to their old ways. The worship in the
Temple of God was far from being a true worship. The religious leaders were more
interested in self gain than carrying out the duties of their office. And the people had
given themselves over to false hopes, false gods and false morality. Israel was far from
God, and because of that they no longer knew God's protection, provision or power. And so
they fell hard to their enemies. But "the lamp of God had not yet gone out."
In these first few verses from 1 Samuel 3, we see a picture of Israel. We see a people out
of touch with God. We see a religious leader who "could barely see." Eli's
physical sight impairment was probably representative of a religious leadership who had
become blinded to God's ways. However, we see as well the hope for redemption, for their
was one who was near to God--Samuel. And though the Light of God was difficult to find in
Israel, we are told that "the lamp of God had not yet gone out."
The world has once again become a dark place to live within. God's Light is difficult to
find, as we look around us and see most who seek the pleasures of this age; and many who
claim to seek God who, instead, appear to seek the pleasures of this age. We are a people
who are blinded, led by blind leaders--and some of those, religious leaders. We are a
people out of touch with God. We have lost sight of what it means to truly sacrifice our
wants for the sake of God's purpose, or to truly give up our lives to follow Christ. For
many, their Christianity is a pretense--nothing more than a mask they wear to make them
feel that they are in the right, while they seek the lifestyles that are wrong. We claim
God in the one hand and hold tightly to the world in the other, not willing to grasp the
meaning of Jesus' words, "you cannot serve to masters." And yet, perhaps there
is hope. For "the lamp of God [has] not yet gone out."
There is hope. For there are still few that follow God's ways to the best of their
ability. They are churches and individuals who simply seek to follow God as best they
understand, and to do so according to His guidelines. They are the type who are ready to
forsake life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in this world, so that they might bring
glory to the next world. They are those who do not get caught up in endless battles over
petty issues, or split churches because things are not as such that they hold to their
personal desires. They do not fight over building projects, carpet or hymnal color or
structure of worship--whether to sit or stand or kneel, raise hands or keep them down,
shout "Glory!" or say nothing. Their hearts are aligned with God's purposes and
they have no time for petty indifferences. For they do not pursue God's Kingdom according
to their own safe and predetermined plans, but they follow Him, knowing full well that
what that means is that they may often be like Abraham--going where God leads without
knowing where it will take them. And they do so because they hope in Christ, they trust
Him, and they will persevere because "the lamp of God [has] not yet gone out."
We live in desperate times to be sure, yet their is hope. And we have a choice, just as we
always have--we can be part of the problem, or part of the solution. We can be living like
those in the darkness, chasing after the pleasures of this age, or we can sacrifice all to
be near to God, allowing His light to be reflected in our eyes. And this so that the world
will see, that "the lamp of God [has] not yet gone out."
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will
serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the
flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we
will serve the LORD
(Joshua 24:15).
http://www.daybyday.org
I started Day by Day in 1998 in response to what I believe was God's
leading. It is my primary devotional site. Reflections was added later,
simply as a site to place more of my work.
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