In 1 Samuel 3:1 and 7, we read that Samuel ministered to God without having seen, heard or known (experience, perceive, discern, confess) Him.
3:1 “The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.”
7 “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him” (NIV).
This is usually the state of our relationship with God under the law - weak and limited access and revelation. In Samuel’s case, he had to be in the one place where God dwelt with man on earth, the temple, where the ark of His presence was located.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 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. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel (1 Sam 3:2-4, NIV).
Whether through faith in Old Covenant Law, or through ignorance, unbelief, or even simple neglect of the gift of God’s presence, we can find ourselves like the priest Eli, in a place of weak sight and the lamp of God’s presence flickering in our lives.
Yet today, under the New Covenant, through faith in the doorway of Jesus’ sacrifical body given to God on our behalf on the cross, all who believe in Him have been given unlimited access to intimate communication and communion wtih God:
“18 And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:18-23, NIV).
God the Father desires intimacy with us and has given us both His Son and now His Spirit in order to dwell in us, body, soul, and spirit, as His human temple (see John 14:16, 17, 23; 1 Corinthians 3:16 & 6:19). This is where we now can know and serve Him from.
Let us meet together in small groups in every development in Silver Spring Township and encourage each other with profound and gracious truths as these in order that we can experience His presence together and that others may see the Light of His presence in us and be drawn to Him as well (see Ephesians 2:21-22, Hebrews 10:24-25).
Together in Him,
Dave
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