....and word from the Lord was rare in those days and visions were infrequent. It's easy to see why if you flip back a few pages and read the last sentence in the book of Judges: In those days there was no King in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own eyes.
Israel knew God, He had revealed Himself to them in signs and wonders and in His Law. They knew His greatness yet they would not bow to Him as their King preferring instead to do their own thing. This is the human condition - this the truth of the human heart, that even though men know that God exists, though they know the truth still they want to be in control, still they want to go their own way - still, in the words of our time they continue to 'do it my way'.
Now fast forward to 2016 and make the comparison to what is called 'the church'. What do you see? You see a vast organisation full of people who refuse to bow the knee to the Lord as their King. Why? Because every man does what is right in his own eyes......and wants to do it 'my way'. We see an ineffective witness, a light that has been covered, a Jesus who has been brought down to the level of man, a Word from the Lord that is rarely heard because those who are supposed to speak it are instead embracing the futile speculations and philosophies of man. You see a group of people intent on meeting their own needs or at best the needs of their neighbours at the expense of loving God with all their heart, soul, strength and mind - you see an organisation that has the name 'church' but not the heart for God, an organisation but not a living body.
And then, just as I began to feel discouraged, I remembered - the Lord God set His plan in motion before this world began; His purposes will never fail, He will accomplish it all in His own perfect time and He knows those who are His. He has promised that those who seek Him will always find Him, that He will complete what He starts, that nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from His love that is found in Christ Jesus. I remembered that those who believe in the Lord Jesus, those who have been born of His Spirit, those to whom He has given a new heart and a new name will never perish, that He will honour those who honour Him, that they need never be anxious or afraid but instead can cast all their cares on Him because He cares for them. I remembered that He is protecting them through faith ready for a glorious salvation that will be revealed in the last time - when the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will return to rule and reign and all His holy ones with Him. Oh what joy - what absolute amazing joy - that believers, that you and I are a part of the living body of Christ - that we will be with Him for eternity - that one day there will be no more pain or sorrow or tears and that until then we can be salt and light on this planet, we can represent Him, we can lift up His name and live for His glory and as we do angels rejoice and He is rejoicing over us with shouts of joy!
1 Samuel 3:1 NASB
[1] Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.
