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 “As the Lamp Grows Dim”

 

We have begun a new series entitled: “The Inner Ear of the Spirit.” It's vitally important to be able to “hear” – and, in a spiritual sense it means more than just to listen. There were times in Israel’s history when God was not speaking, as in the time when the boy Samuel began to hear the Lord.

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1 Samuel 3:1b And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.

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God was not speaking…. why was that? Because the leadership had failed. Eli was the high priest and his sons were priests; they were supposed to represent God to the people, but the Bible says they were acting like the devil. And a result of that, God was not speaking. But God was choosing someone else who would hear His words.

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1 Samuel 3:2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, 3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was and while Samuel was lying down, 4 that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!”

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I've always enjoyed the imagery in this – “before the Lamp of God has gone out” - there was a physical lamp in the tabernacle - the menorah - the 7 branched candlestick that contained pure olive oil. It signified God's presence and His divine light and wisdom; but there was a time in the early morning hours when it was down to a flicker, in the last moments before the candle went out.

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Eli, the high priest is blind - physically and spiritually - he is blind to the sins of his sons. The lamp is just about out!  It's a desperate and hopeless time, but at the same time, there was still a flame - a small hope that God could turn things around – that His voice be heard.

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A 12-year-old boy by the name of Samuel is about to receive an awesome word from the Lord, it would be a devastating word of judgment coming against Eli for failing to restrain evil in his time. And the result of this awesome Word was that people would hear and understand when they saw the fulfillment of that Word - “their ears would tingle.” God is about to judge Eli and his house; He’s going to vindicate His Holiness; He will receive the honor that is due to His Name.