When God goes quiet on you
1 Samuel 3:1 Now the young man Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.
That is a single sentence but it refers to a period. A period when God was silent. The Word of the Lord was rare in those days and there were no frequent visions.
God spoke to Israel as a nation and He also spoke to people as individuals. When God went quiet on Israel, Israel was defeated. Enemies that were terrified of Israel could defeat them and actually dare to carry the Ark of the Covenant away (1 Samuel 4:11). God could have stopped the Philistines form carrying away the Ark. But God let them. Is there a lesson here? Could it be that when there is a famine of God's Word the Presence of God will go as well?
God spoke to Israel as a nation and He also spoke to people as individuals. When God went quiet on Israel, Israel was defeated. Enemies that were terrified of Israel could defeat them and actually dare to carry the Ark of the Covenant away (1 Samuel 4:11). God could have stopped the Philistines form carrying away the Ark. But God let them. Is there a lesson here? Could it be that when there is a famine of God's Word the Presence of God will go as well?
God also goes quiet on individuals. Has He ever gone quiet on you?
I don't know if you have experienced this. I have. You go to a retreat or prayer meeting - there is powerful preaching, soulful worship, amazing ambience-and we start to feel something... hearts are moved..even tears may flow. And people say it was anointed, that God's presence was there. And it does feel like God's Presence. I don't know. May be it is. But it doesn't last. Often when I am out of that place, it evaporates. The feelings, the presence, the desire for righteousness, the regret over my sins. All of it disappears under the harsh sun light of everyday life. Life returns to normal. There are no angels singing, no goosebumps, no hallelujah chorus.
Was what I felt fake then? Too many times I have and may be you have and may be others have dismissed the experience as just sentiments/emotions. Or is there something I am missing - may be you are too - here? What if we were wrong? What if The Presence of God was there. But it just didn't last. What if that was because the Word of the Lord was rare in those days? Could it be that His Presence will not LAST if I do not have His Word? When I think about it, I realize in that everyday life there was also no Bible reading.
Was what I felt fake then? Too many times I have and may be you have and may be others have dismissed the experience as just sentiments/emotions. Or is there something I am missing - may be you are too - here? What if we were wrong? What if The Presence of God was there. But it just didn't last. What if that was because the Word of the Lord was rare in those days? Could it be that His Presence will not LAST if I do not have His Word? When I think about it, I realize in that everyday life there was also no Bible reading.
Then again, another point. Though the Word of the Lord was rare, The Ark didn't disappear on its own. God did not withdraw His Presence by Himself. He just let the Ark be taken away by the enemy. He wasn't against Israel, He just didn't fight on Israel's side. And that was enough for the enemy to defeat Israel.
The Word of the Lord is rare in these days also. If His Word is rare today in my nation and in my life what do I need to do? He definitely wants to give His Word to me. He has made clear His Willingness in these last days to pour out His Spirit upon all people, to give dreams and visions.
The answer is very simple.
I must read my Bible. Everyday. And then pray and ask Him if He would speak to me, confess and prepare myself and WAIT and HOPE. And hoping in the Lord is good and it doesn't disappoint.
I must read my Bible. Everyday. And then pray and ask Him if He would speak to me, confess and prepare myself and WAIT and HOPE. And hoping in the Lord is good and it doesn't disappoint.
Dear friend, we will perish without His Word. It is bread that we live on.It is strength for our bones and healing for our flesh. It is light and lamp to our way in these dark days. How do we live without light, bread and health? We cant, we will perish. Let us seek the Lord's WORD.
The Word of God is always revealed by God. It cannot be discovered by studies, research, committees and councils. Neither is it revealed to someone because s/he is knowledgeable, wealthy, good looking, popular, or powerful. It is revealed to whoever God chooses to reveal it. And He chooses sovereignly.
May He choose you, may He choose me. In Jesus's Name, Amen.
The Word of God is always revealed by God. It cannot be discovered by studies, research, committees and councils. Neither is it revealed to someone because s/he is knowledgeable, wealthy, good looking, popular, or powerful. It is revealed to whoever God chooses to reveal it. And He chooses sovereignly.
May He choose you, may He choose me. In Jesus's Name, Amen.
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