The word of the Lord was precious in those days. It was “rare” (RSV, NIV) because there were “not many visions” (NIV). In the beginning, communion between God and man was quite direct: “the Elohim walked in the garden.” In the days of Abraham and Jacob, angels appeared openly to them bringing special messages. Angels revealed the law to Moses and the Angel of the Lord’s presence led the tribes of Israel in the pillar of fire and cloud. Even in the days of Joshua and the judges, angelic visitations were open when they brought God’s word to men. But during the times of the kings, such incidents were almost non-existent. The times of Samuel are a period of transition. God continued to speak to His people but through special human messengers — the prophets — of which the child Samuel was destined to be one of the greatest.
Today we have neither open visits of angels nor inspired prophets, but we do have something as valuable. We have the record of the angel’s words and the prophet’s message. We have the record of the word manifest in the words and actions of our Lord Jesus. And we have the word through the apostolic messages to the early ecclesias. The question is: how precious is this word to us? Our shelves and tables may be loaded down with Bibles in several different versions, but are we opening them except on Sunday and at Bible class?
We may learn valuable lessons by contemplating what things are considered “precious” by the inspired writer who knew the mind of God. In addition to His word, the “precious” things of God include: wisdom and understanding, the lips that speak knowledge, the thoughts of God, the redemption of our lives and the persecution of God’s saints (Prov. 3:13-18; 20:15; Psa. 139:17; 49:8; 72:14). It may be just as instructive to reflect on the unnamed things that are not nearly so “precious” in the eyes of God.
A voice in the night
One night Samuel was awakened by a voice calling his name, which he could only assume to be the voice of Eli. Running to his master’s side, he responded eagerly, “Here I am.” But Eli, awakened from a sound sleep by Samuel’s coming, replied that he had not called; it must have been a dream. Only at the third calling did it dawn on Eli that, in this holy place, God was now breaking His long silence. The One who had not revealed Himself to Eli for these many years, was now about to speak to the young boy Samuel.
So patient was God that He called a fourth time. Finally the response which He sought was forthcoming as Samuel wonderingly said, “Speak, for thy servant heareth” (I Sam. 3:10).
A fearful message
“And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. ..I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not…the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever” (I Sam. 3:11-14).
Judgment was to begin at the house of Eli, for the house of the high priest bore greater responsibility than all others because of its privileged position. But judgment would only begin there! Its effects would also be felt throughout the nation (cp. I Peter 4:17,18).
To some degree, all the nation had looked the other way when Eli’s sons blasphemed, therefore all the nation would bear consequences of this judgment. But Eli’s house would be judged forever — no sacrifice could purge their sins — because his sons had made themselves “contemptible” (NIV): and Eli, though he rebuked them, had not restrained them. He had warned his sons (2:2325). But it was not enough. “For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the congregation of God?” (I Tim. 3:4,5 RSV).
The message relayed
When morning came, Samuel dreaded to relay the divine message to Eli. But human nature must learn that where God has spoken, it is of no use pretending otherwise.
Eli made no attempt to justify himself, “It is the LORD; let him do what seemeth him good” (3:18). It has been well said that God can forgive any sin, but He can forgive no excuse! Despite his weaknesses, there was in Eli grace sufficient to humble himself and repent and (so we would expect) find forgiveness. The judgment of his house, however, was irrevocable.
A new prophet
“And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. And the word of Samuel came to all Israel” (I Sam. 3:19-4:1).
The Lord was beginning to “bring low” Eli and his sons, and to “lift up” Samuel, even as Hannah had foreseen years earlier in her vision (2:7). Now all Israel, from the far north to the extreme south, knew that the child Samuel was established to be a prophet and that not one of his words would prove ineffective or false. Once again, after a long silence, the Lord was revealing Himself by His word. He was placing His seal upon Samuel.
“And the word of the Lord was precious in those days.” At least it was to people such as Hannah and Samuel. Is his word precious to us? Let us always remember that there is something more valuable, more desirable, than “riches” and “pleasure,” and it is to be found in the house of God. May we say with Samuel, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.”
“Oh! give me Samuel’s ear,
The open ear, 0 Lord,
Alive and quick to hear
Each whisper of Thy word;
Like him to answer at Thy call,
And to obey Thee first of all.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One