Originally posted: 11/21/2019
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord yet been revealed to him, (3:7).
These were bleak times for the nation, as “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25); those who had been set apart to lead the people in holiness, truth and justice “were worthless men; they did not know the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:12); and worst of all… “word from the Lord was rare in those days, visions were infrequent” (3:1).
Does it sound beyond help and hope? Does it also sadly sound all too familiar?
And it was into this helpless, hopeless state the LORD stepped in and called a young boy to become His spokesman, that He might Reveal Himself, yet again, to His stubborn, obstinate children.
Consider Him Who Revealed Himself
- He Revealed Himself as He called Samuel again and again.
- that the Lord called Samuel;… 6 The Lord called yet again, “Samuel!”… 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord yet been revealed to him…. 8 So the Lord called Samuel again for the third time….10 Then the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening,” (3:4, 6, 7, 8, 10).
- He Revealed Himself as He pronounced a horrific future.
- The Lord said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle,” (3:11).
- He Revealed Himself as He avowed His intent to carry out His Word.
- “In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end,” (3:12).
- He Revealed Himself by the Word of the LORD.
- Thus Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fail. 20 All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. 21 And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, because the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord, (3:19-21).
How do we respond to Him Who Revealed Himself?
To begin with, are you not utterly amazed; Holy God, Creator of all things, goes to such lengths to Reveal Himself to the likes of us? And yet, He Revealed Himself again and again…
- He Revealed Himself …in His creation.
- The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge, (Psalm 19:1-2).
- The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
- He Revealed Himself …in our hearts and conscience.
- For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, (Romans 2:14-15).
- He Revealed Himself …in His Son.
- God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power, (Hebrews 1:1-3).
- He Revealed Himself …through His Holy Spirit.
- but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words, (1 Corinthians 2:7-13).
- He Revealed Himself …in His Word.
- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, (John 1:1).
- All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; (2 Timothy 3:16).
He has Revealed Himself again and again.
He has conveyed the horrifying future awaiting all who refuse to trust Him for salvation, and has avowed He will carry out all He has spoken; but He has also Revealed His grace and mercy, His love and forgiveness in sending His Son.
Again, is it not truly amazing… that He would Reveal Himself to sinful man? And while He does not Reveal Himself fully, for we could not possibly take in all His Holy Glory, He repeatedly Reveals Himself in so many ways and at so many times. Such grace is really too much to fathom.
But there is coming a day when He will Reveal Himself fully and we will see Him face to face.
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known, (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Until then, let us not lose hope for our nation or ourselves, but let us pray He would again Reveal Himself, and even use us to share the hope we have in His love, grace, and truth.
…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; (1 Peter 3:15).
There is coming a day when we will see Him Who Revealed Himself just as He is, and we will be like Him. Again… way too much to fathom! May we live in faith, hope, and purity until He appears to Reveal Himself just as He is.
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure, (1 John 3:2-3).