 |  |
(2) To receive `the spirit of wisdom and revelation'. For only as we are prepared to
pray that tremendous prayer of Eph. 1: are we able to go on and to `get to know Him'.
There have been, and are, many who have studied the Life of Christ, yet they have never
known Him as Saviour, much less as Head of the Church which is His Body. They have
not sought first the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
(3) To be faithful with an unpopular ministry. This is of first importance,
remembering that it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful. This, surely,
must include the ability to resist demands that he should `popularize' either himself, or
his ministry. This inevitably leads to compromise, and to the adoption of methods his
Lord would not own.
(4) To overcome his fears. One of the greatest fears that can be experienced by the
man God calls, is the fear of men. This was the experience of Samuel, but by the grace of
God he was able to overcome his fear of what Eli would think: and note his fear was, it
would seem, the fear of hurting the old man Eli. But which is the greater hurt: the hurt
of speaking God's Truth, or the hurt which results when the feelings are spared?
Whatever the task to which God has called us, we can be best fitted for it as we say,
and mean, with Samuel: Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.
No.8.
David.
pp. 206 - 211
The immediate historical background to the call of David is the failure of king Saul to
obey completely the commands of the Lord. Through His servant Samuel God had
instructed Saul:
"Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them
not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass"
(I Sam. 15: 3).
At the conclusion of the expedition against the Amalekites, Saul found it necessary to
excuse his conduct of the engagement by saying to Samuel:
"They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the
sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly
destroyed" (I Sam. 15: 15).
Not only had Saul, and the people, brought the `best' of the livestock, but they had
also spared Agag the Amalekite king. It is also significant that Saul speaks to the prophet
of `the Lord thy God'.
God reveals to Samuel that He has rejected Saul as king. This causes Samuel great
grief, until the Lord says to him: