The Word of God can become rare sometimes. This is usually an indication of the spiritual declension of the time. Apostasy in the church is accompanied by a famine of the Word of God. God withdraws his light when we turn from listening to His Holy Scriptures. Samuel and Eli ministered in the tabernacle daily. They also slept there. It was late at night. The great seven-branched lampstand, the Menorah, which was lit in the evening and allowed to burn out by morning, still burned within the Holy Place. A voice came out of the night—presumably from the direction of the Most Holy Place and the ark of the covenant, for there God's presence was manifested. Samuel thought it must be Eli and went to the old priest, who told him to go back to sleep. Twice more—three times in all—this was repeated until it dawned on Eli that it was God who was calling. And so, Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening'." At that point Samuel was ready to hear the Lord's voice. And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant hears." Many of the great men of the Bible began their careers with a dramatic call from the Lord, including Abraham, Moses, the prophet Isaiah, and the apostle Paul. God speaks to those who care to listen. There has rarely been a day when there is not a greater need for men to be raised up to declare God's Word to the most anxious and fearful generation the world perhaps has known. But the lamp of God has not yet gone out! |
