A CONSECRATED LIFE
1 Samuel 3
In looking over the facts recorded regarding the early years of Samuel’s life, they seem suggestive of the experiences of a soul that has been born of God, and wholly devoted to Him. We see him-
I. ASKED OF THE LORD (chap. 1Sa_1:20).-Hannah looked upon Samuel as one given from God in answer to many tears and much bitterness of soul (1Sa_3:10), after being mocked and misunderstood by him who should have sympathised and helped (1Sa_3:14). How much do we owe to Christ, to His tears and prayers, and bitterness of soul, for our life from above. How little we think of our being given to Christ by the Father in answer to His prayers. "Born from above" is true of every child of God. We must believe that we are the "given" of God. One of the "All that the Father hath given Me." Our citizenship made sure.
II. CONSECRATED TO THE LORD (chap. 1Sa_1:28).-He is now given back to the Lord, to belong to Him, "as long as he liveth." That which is truly God’s ought not to be withheld from Him. "I live, yet not I, but Christ in Me." This life, then, should be given back to God "as long as he liveth." "Ye are not your own." Keep not back part of the price. Hannah’s conduct with her first and much loved child might seem hard to the carnally minded, but she could say, "My heart rejoiceth" (chap. 1Sa_2:1). Those who surrender all to God can always rejoice. Every child of God ought to be wholly God’s. If we are the gifts of the Father to His Son Jesus Christ, for what purpose is it?
III. MINISTERING BEFORE THE LORD (chap. 1Sa_2:18).-He was but a young minister (being a child). It was but little he could do. It was but little he knew, for the Lord had not yet revealed Himself to him (chap. 1Sa_3:7). But although he was both weak and ignorant, that did not hinder him from doing what he could. He believed although he understood little. Jeremiah said, "Ah, Lord God. I cannot speak, for I am a child" (Jer_1:6). God wants us to be children first, before we are men in service (childlike spirit). But the willing child will become the wise man. It is in our weakness we must come. He gives power to the weak.
IV. WAITING ON THE LORD (chap. 1Sa_3:10).- The Lord had spoken twice to Samuel, and he ran to Eli. He is not the only one who has run to man at the voice of the Lord. Paul says, "Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood." To know His will, we must wait on Him with open ears. Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth. It is a good point gained when we are willing to know what the will of the Lord is, but waiting is willingness in practice. How natural for us to run out and in and serve man, but how different to be silent before the Lord.
V. TAUGHT BY THE LORD (chap. 1Sa_3:11-14).- While waiting Samuel learned what the will of the Lord was. Those who are taught in the deep things of God are those who wait much on God. To be unwilling to wait is to be unwilling to be taught, and just to do our own will. When God teacheth, the ear shall tingle that hears the tidings. The word of the Lord will not be in vain. Paul’s preaching was "in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power." The divinely commissioned will be divinely taught, the Bible is a dry book to those who wait not
VI. WITNESSING FOR THE LORD (chap. 1Sa_3:18).-Though he at first feared (1Sa_3:15) to shew the truth to Eli, yet afterwards he told him every whit, and hid nothing. Could he be a faithful servant and keep back part of the truth? Many Gospel hearers might justly complain that the half has not been told them. The preachers either have no vision (1Sa_3:15) or else they fear to shew it. How can a man be a witness if he has had no vision. He is like a servant out of work; he may busy himself here and there, but he has no reward from his labour. The faithful will know God’s counsel, and will declare it all (Act_4:20).
VII. WALKING WITH THE LORD (chap. 1Sa_3:19).- "The Lord was with him, and did let none of His words fall to the ground." If we are faithful to God He will prove Himself faithful to us. "He dwells with the humble and the contrite" (Isa_57:15). We cannot climb to abiding fellowship with God. It is not the result of our efforts, but the flowing forth of great grace into the depths of the broken spirit. As the waters abide in the deep so will God dwell with the humble.
VIII. ACKNOWLEDGED AS OF THE LORD (chap. 1Sa_3:20).-"And all Israel knew that Samuel was a prophet of the Lord." How did they know? Just because he declared the truth of God. And God was with him. The one that lives in the presence of God will be acknowledged as belonging to God. "They took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus" (Act_4:13), when they saw their power and boldness (see margin, 1Sa_3:20). Faithfulness to God is what all expect from a servant of God. If the world sees not this, the conclusion must be either we are hypocrites, or else there is no God.
IX. PRIVILEGED BY THE WORD OF THE LORD (chap. 1Sa_3:21).-"The Lord revealed Himself to Samuel by the Word of the Lord. The Word is the instrument through which we must know Him. It is the Christian’s telephone, and our ear must be attentive to His Word if we would know His mind and will. We cannot know Himself apart from this. In shutting out His Word we shut the appointed means of communication between our souls and God. "They have rejected the Word of the Lord, and what wisdom is in them?" (Jer_8:8-9).
Autor: James Smith