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Eli “And ere the Lamp of God went out in the Temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was…” |
In the days of Eli, his unfaithfulness procured a breach of promise for his priesthood, for him and his household (as formerly addressed). Let us look and consider what it is meant for “the Lamp of God” to go out. It was written of this Lamp that, namely, it was “the Lamp of God”. God commanded this Lamp to be burning, always lit, emanating a perpetual light in the holy place. This is emblematic of the light of God’s shining face when it shines upon a blessed generation. It was written, “cause the Lamp to burn always” (Ex. 27:20), and if it would go out, what would become of the Spiritual Light of God’s presence? Indicative of this, it is said of this woeful generation that God “forsook the Tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which He placed among men” (Ps. 78:60), and this was the place, God says, “where I set my name at the first” (Jer. 7:12). It was because of the Tabernacle-forsaking, people-rejecting, wrath of God that then, lo, the Lamp of God went out. It is as if God was exiting, and by this was exclaiming, “Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! For they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men” (Jer. 9:2). Shockingly, God did become as a wayfaring man. He left His people, literally, giving over the ark of God into the hands of the Philistines, so that they, as it were, carried Him away into a foreign land. Seated upon His throne, the ark, God was willingly carried away by unholy hands!
This is a woeful judgment! The same kind is later spoken of: “I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim. Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me; for I will not hear thee” (Jer. 7:15-16). God’s Tabernacle is the ground of all intercessions and prayers, as God said, “My house shall be called of all nations the House of prayer” (Mark 11:17), but now it is emptied of His Majesty. Israel is darkened at the absence of God, and behold, God walks over to a boy, Samuel by name, and abides with him in the time of wrath. Samuel is ordained to be a voice for God in the midst of a Godless nation, so that God can declare His doings whensoever He wills. The very moment the Lamp of God went out, it was then that God walked over to the sleeping boy, Samuel, and graciously called his name! Samuel became the only light of God left in Israel. Darkness was upon the Tabernacle of God, the high priest of God (Eli), the priests (Eli’s sons), and all other ministrations which bore the saving authority of the God of Israel were cast away. The spiritual climate of this day was dark so that, “The Word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision” (1 Sam. 3:1). These marks are those which characterize “days and times” which are given over to deception – “The Deception of God” – thus Eli’s life and generation serve as an introduction to what will be, hereafter, repeated for centuries.
That which happened to the High Priest, the priestly lineage, and the Tabernacle of God, is a direct indicator of the spiritual climate that shall cover the whole land. Think of it! Eli, the High Priest – that was given “the breastplate of judgment” in the House of God, even “the Urim and the Thummim” – even he cannot go before the LORD (Ex. 28:30)! Access to God’s presence was a direct line of salvific grace for Israel, and all the people wept, for it was obsolete. From another angle, now let us consider Israel’s King, King Saul by name. He was given over to the torments and deceptions of demons! And more! He was locked under the silence of God at the hour of his need! Israel too, in subjection to their forsaken leader, did all abide under the spiritual curse of old, “thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass” (Deut. 28:23), and no prayer was breaking through for hope or salvation. Ordered armies did set their feet upon a charted course with their King, marching forward, but Saul was spiritually blind…he was being led by a thick deception, until finally, he and those following him, in all the pomp of their sophisticated marching order – “both fall into the ditch” (Lk. 6:39). “And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets” (1 Sam. 28:6). The high priest Eli, dark and without God, was reduced to hear the Word of God from a child whom God found faithful – little Samuel – and lo, the boy opened his mouth to speak, but what could he say? “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. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, will also make an end” (1 Sam. 3:11-12).
This is a woeful judgment! The same kind is later spoken of: “I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim. Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me; for I will not hear thee” (Jer. 7:15-16). God’s Tabernacle is the ground of all intercessions and prayers, as God said, “My house shall be called of all nations the House of prayer” (Mark 11:17), but now it is emptied of His Majesty. Israel is darkened at the absence of God, and behold, God walks over to a boy, Samuel by name, and abides with him in the time of wrath. Samuel is ordained to be a voice for God in the midst of a Godless nation, so that God can declare His doings whensoever He wills. The very moment the Lamp of God went out, it was then that God walked over to the sleeping boy, Samuel, and graciously called his name! Samuel became the only light of God left in Israel. Darkness was upon the Tabernacle of God, the high priest of God (Eli), the priests (Eli’s sons), and all other ministrations which bore the saving authority of the God of Israel were cast away. The spiritual climate of this day was dark so that, “The Word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision” (1 Sam. 3:1). These marks are those which characterize “days and times” which are given over to deception – “The Deception of God” – thus Eli’s life and generation serve as an introduction to what will be, hereafter, repeated for centuries.
That which happened to the High Priest, the priestly lineage, and the Tabernacle of God, is a direct indicator of the spiritual climate that shall cover the whole land. Think of it! Eli, the High Priest – that was given “the breastplate of judgment” in the House of God, even “the Urim and the Thummim” – even he cannot go before the LORD (Ex. 28:30)! Access to God’s presence was a direct line of salvific grace for Israel, and all the people wept, for it was obsolete. From another angle, now let us consider Israel’s King, King Saul by name. He was given over to the torments and deceptions of demons! And more! He was locked under the silence of God at the hour of his need! Israel too, in subjection to their forsaken leader, did all abide under the spiritual curse of old, “thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass” (Deut. 28:23), and no prayer was breaking through for hope or salvation. Ordered armies did set their feet upon a charted course with their King, marching forward, but Saul was spiritually blind…he was being led by a thick deception, until finally, he and those following him, in all the pomp of their sophisticated marching order – “both fall into the ditch” (Lk. 6:39). “And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets” (1 Sam. 28:6). The high priest Eli, dark and without God, was reduced to hear the Word of God from a child whom God found faithful – little Samuel – and lo, the boy opened his mouth to speak, but what could he say? “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. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, will also make an end” (1 Sam. 3:11-12).