The Perfect Judge Has Spoken

 

JOB 25:4; ROMANS 3:19-28; 5:1

SUBJECT: SALVATION/ JUSTIFICATION

THEME: God on the basis of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection declares believing sinners justified in His sight. Therefore, we are no longer obligated to sin’s penalty, and we are set free from its guilt to live for God’s glory.

Every man, woman, boy and girl stands as a guilty sinner sentenced to everlasting death urgently in need of justification before God. This is the imagery the term justification evokes in our minds. In his epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul presents sinful man in a courtroom on trial for his very life. The deadly charge is sin—high treason against the holy King of the Universe. For every one of us without a singular exception has sinned in desires, thoughts, and deeds (Rom. 3:23). Who among us does not fully subscribe to the statement, “Nobody is perfect”? 

The presiding Judge is the honorable Jesus Christ Himself, the Perfect Judge—He fully understands the Law of God and the human plight. This Judge cannot be manipulated, coned or bought! The Jury is comprised of the uncompromising Law of God—all 10 members are present and ready to fulfil their duty. The millions of honest witnesses for the prosecution are our condemning deeds as fallen humanity. They will accurately make the case against us! After proper deliberation by the jury a just and fair verdict of guilty is returned (Rom. 3:9-20). Then a terrifying sentence is announced—spiritual death, meaning to be forever separated from God to suffer throughout all eternity in the Lake of Fire (Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:11-15). 

The Perfect Judge has spoken, and we are sentenced to the eternal death penalty! In this revealing light, we feel pressed to acknowledge our desperate need for justification before this Perfect God-Judge. How may we fallen guilty sinners be right in the eyes of a Perfect Judge? Can we be made right before God? I AM SO GLAD GOD HIMSELF TOOK OUR CASE!

Bildad the Shuhite asked the question we will seek to answer in this article in Job 25:4, saying, “How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?” Bildad longed for some reasonable way for us to be found innocent before God, but he fully recognized the incredible sinfulness of us all. With every heartbeat, our conscience pronounces us guilty…Guilty…GUILTY!...Guilty! The Apostle Paul explains in detail how it is wonderfully possible to be justified before God, and faith in Jesus Christ is the key. Note carefully what Romans 3:22-26, says,

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: ²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Paul also helps us understand the wonderful outcomes of justification before God through faith in Jesus Christ—peace with God! Again Romans 5:1, states, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is correct..."we have peace with God"--freedom from worry about condemnation for our sinfulness and guilt...assurance our sins were paid for in full...rest in the completed and God-satisfying work of Jesus Christ. Instead of being assaulted by the threat of Hell forever, we can alternatively experience peace with the Almighty because of faith in Jesus Christ. Full deep and rich abiding peace because all is well between our soul and the Savior! With these general observations in mind, it is needful to take a closer look at the clear biblical statements concerning justification.

 LESSON:

I.  What Is The Point of Justifying Sinners? (Rom. 3:24-25)

 Justification is a legal action, a verdict of the Divine Court to save sinners. What is the meaning of justification? Often it is necessary to say what we do not mean before we can say we we do mean. 

         A.  WHAT JUSTIFICATION IS NOT

1.  It does not mean to be Acquitted, that is to successfully defend oneself against all charges. There is absolutely no means of acquittal once a person dies in their sins. It is impossible to develop a defense so compelling that God the Perfect Judge will concede your argument and release you from all obligations to sin’s wages and penalties. Acquittal before the Perfect Judge is an utter impossibility! 

2.  It does not mean to be Pardoned, that is to be found guilty, but given a second chance. I am afraid a pardon is an impossible development once a sinner dies and appears before the judgment bar of the Lord Jesus. Since we are guilty of violating God’s perfect standard of righteousness, His holy Law, He must deal with us according to what we deserve. He is just and His justice demands that sin be punished appropriately and completely. Merely letting guilty sinners off the hook is as great an impossibility as acquittal. There is entirely no hope of pardon and there is zero opportunity for a second chance once we cross over from time into eternity by means of physical death. 

3.  It does not mean to be Paroled, that is to be guilty and set free with certain restrictions. God’s justice system does not employ parole officers. There is no get out of jail card because your crime was not that serious, the prison system is over populated, or because you deserve a chance to prove yourself worthy of freedom. Our high crimes against the Most High are so serious that it will take forever in Hell to pay for them. Why forever? Well, frankly because we still are committing the most egregious sins in the midst of our suffering in Hell. God’s holiness is so high above our most astronomical ideals that any sin is a violent assault against His perfection, glory, and Laws. Merely imposing a few restrictions for our high crimes of sin would be a gross miscarriage of justice on God’s part. Dear friend, God will not violate His holy, just, righteous, and perfect nature…not even for you and me. None of these ideas are similar or equal to justification before the Perfect Judge. All of these strategies are a part of the fabric in our American court and justice system, but please do not expect the Perfect Judge to behave like mere human judges. 

         B.  WHAT JUSTIFICATION IS

1. To justify means to declare AS righteous.  It is a judicial concept and it acknowledges God as the perfect judge.

2. Dr. A. Strong defined it as, “By justification we mean that judicial act of God which, on account of Christ, to whom the sinner is united by faith, He declares that sinner to be no longer exposed to the penalty of the law, but restored to His favor.”

3. Justification is that legal act whereby man’s status before God is changed for the good. The verdict does NOT make the person righteous but it does declare him as righteous.

4. Dr. W. MacDonald says, “The word justify means to reckon or declare to be righteous.  For example, God pronounces a sinner to be righteous when that sinner believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. However a man can justify God (Lk 7:29) by believing and obeying God’s word.  In other words, he declares God to be righteous in all that God says and does. And of course a man can justify himself; that is he can protest his own righteousness (see Lk. 10:29). But this is nothing but a form of self deception. To justify does not actually make a person righteous. We can not make God righteous; He already is righteous. But we can declare Him to be righteous. God does not make the believer sinless or righteous in himself. Rather God puts righteousness to his account.” 

5. Justification does not declare the sinner ‘not guilty’ but “as not guilty.” JUSTIFIED = “Just-if -I’d never sinned.” Justification is a once only act, we are justified for ever. Justification is the act of a Judge. Once the verdict is given we can never again be arraigned as a criminal before the Judge.  Justification is the act of a Judge. Forgiveness is the act of a Parent.

So then, the point of justification is for the Perfect Judge to declare the repentant believing sinner as judicially righteous before the grand court of God. Such an act by the Perfect Judge frees the new convert from any obligations to the penalty and punishment of sin, death, and Hell. This is perhaps shocking for some to realize that God is not primarily motivated to condemn anyone, though He will absolutely condemn everyone who refuses justification through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. No, Christ came not to condemn, but to save. It was the Father’s will for Jesus to be here on earth to execute such a mission. God will not merely pretend we are totally innocent when He knows we are violently guilty. Yes, while He will condemn the unrepentant; He will utterly justify those who trust the Savior. The point of justification is to save fallen sinners on a just basis. Again Romans 3:24-25 says, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God”.

II. What is The Problem with Justifying Sinners? (Rom. 3:26)

Justification is a legal action by a completely just and Perfect Judge. How can God justify guilty sinner and remain free of injustice or a miscarriage of justice? Does not God’s perfect character prevent Him from doing something morally wrong? Romans 3:26 states, “To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

        A.  GOD IS THE CONSUMATLY RIGHTEOUS JUDGE

By justifying guilty sinners and declaring them as righteous, God seems to be less than honest, just, righteous, holy, and uncompromisingly honorable. There have been other occasions when people misunderstood the holy versus loving character of God.

1. Abraham was challenged to acknowledge how God was the judge of all the earth who would certainly do what was right. In Genesis 18:25, Moses records the question of Abraham saying, “That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” The patriarch Abraham was correctly interested in the plight of his nephew Lot and desired that he not be destroyed with the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. He respectfully engaged God in negotiations for the preservation of the cities and especially for Lot and his family living down in Sodom. God accommodated, acquiesced, behaved mercifully, and agreed to save the cities if there were merely 10 righteous people living there. The cities were finally destroyed because not even 10 righteous individuals could be found among them! No, God did not plan to destroy the righteous with the wicked; He had a plan to rescue Lot even before Abraham’s intense and soulful intercessions. However, no amount of mercy would be appropriate without genuine repentance among the sinful people of these ancient cities. Yes, the Judge of all the earth will ALWAYS do right, but His justice does not negate His love and mercy. To do right, God must confront and judge sinfulness within the framework of His perfect timing.

2. Moses sang a song to extol the just and righteousness character of God in Deuteronomy Thirty-Two. He in Himself is the definition of stability of character, his activities can correctly be described as perfect and His ways are judgments. This refers to the fact the God provides the most secure foundation on which to build one’s life. Moses sings of God as truth and free from any iniquity…finally he emphatically declares the Lord to be Just and Right! Consider Moses words in Deuteronomy 32:4, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” Yes, Jehovah is the God of justice and righteousness. No, these statements are not mischaracterizations of the Most Holy One. His work is perfect; just and right is He!

The Bible Knowledge Commentary gives us further insight into the words of Moses stating,

The description of God given in this verse contrasts strongly with the following description of His people (vv.5–9). He is the Rock (cf. vv. 15, 18, 30–31; 2 Sam. 22:2–3; Ps. 18:2; Hab. 1:12). This means that God is stable and permanent. So the only stability in life is in clinging to Him, the great Rock. His works (actions) are perfect (cf. 2 Sam. 22:31) and He is fair (just) in all His dealings with mankind. Unlike the gods of the ancient Near East whose followers believed they were often immoral and capricious, the Lord can always be counted on. He is faithful (cf. Deut. 7:9) and always does what is morally right (He does no wrong).^[1]

 God’s greatness, justice, faithfulness, and holiness contrasts most graphically with our constantly forsaking hearts, disloyalty to His kingdom, and generally sin-riddled existences. How shockingly evident is our gross displays of the most perverse vacillations of wickedness in the brilliant light of the perfect Rock! How exposing in view of His perfections...how accusing are even our mere inclinations and notions of unfaithfulness, unrighteousness, capriciousness, immorality, and unfairness of us all before the Perfect Judge. 

3. Paul, the thoughtful Apostle, called or referred to Christ as the righteous Judge in no uncertain terms. Consider his words in 2 Timothy 4:8 saying, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” Clearly, this is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ and He, like the Father, is described as righteous. He only does that which is right, truthful, and according to perfect justice. Rewarding appropriately committed Christian service is an entirely just act. He can always be counted on to behave like a righteous Judge. There is zero variableness or shadows of change regard His statically perfect and impeccable personality. Such character always produces commensurate actions!

If God the Judge, is without injustice and completely righteous in all His decisions, then how can He announce a sinner righteous? Certainly we understand that we all are sinners! This does not seem to erase my perplexities, but rather confirms them…right?

        B.   WE ALL ARE INDEED GUILTY SINNERS

Romans 3:19, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Israel was placed under the Law of God for hundreds of years. Though they enjoyed special privileges and favor from God as they obeyed Him, they failed miserably to live up to God fair requirements. God gave them the Law to teach them through experience that they were not righteous…that they were essentially fallen sinners in need of a Savior. Since Israel failed under the Law, the rest of humanity must be speechlessly guilty before God also. If Israel failed with special information and privileges from God, then how in the world can we live up to God's holy expectations without these benefits? The simple, but hard to accept answer is...we cannot. We must place our hands over our mouths and accept the charges of guilty. If we speak in this context we will only give more evidence of our incredible guilt before the Perfect Judge. For now acknowledge your guilt before God...please do not meddle in futile attempt to justify yourself...you will utterly fail. Remember, it is God who justifies sinners and the ungodly and not we ourselves. There is hope here, but it is NOT in your defense strategy!  

Yes, without a singular exception…every human being—all the world—is blood guilty before God. We had to be told not to practice idolatry, not to use God’s name in vain, not to worship handmade gods, not to dishonor parents, not to murder our fellowman, not to commit adultery, not to lie, steal, covet, and on the list goes. Why? Because we are naturally inclined to sin against God in these ways. We stand guilty before God as charged, but yet the righteous Judge declares us justified!?  But how is this possible? Is God cheating justice to exercise mercy? It appears obvious that we all deserve condemnation and not justification. After all…the murderous heart of a Hitler, Stalin, and Mao Tse-tung beats in our chests also!

        C.   GOD IS JUST AND THE JUSTIFIER!

How can God be just and then justify the ungodly sinner? If every person stands before God guilty, then God has basically three options as to what He could do with us.  

1.  He must condemn us.

2.  He could compromise His own righteous nature and character to receive us as we are—fallen guilty sinners.

3.  He could change our legal status to that of righteous people. If He chooses to exercise this third option then He can declare us as righteous or justify us. This can only be done if some perfectly righteous—therefore, fully acceptable person voluntarily take our condemnation upon himself. This of course is where the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-Man came into the picture as the only individual who has the capability of satisfying God’s fair demands that all sinners be condemned. He took our condemnation and punishment for us! Through faith in Christ, righteousness can be credited or imputed to those who believe in Christ (2Cor. 5:21; Rom. 4:4-5). As for the second option, God is absolutely just; therefore, He cannot compromise in his activities toward sinners. Justice is not merely what God does it is also who He is!

4. God remains just while justifying believing sinners!

Romans 3:26, To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Rom 4:5, But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Job 25:4, How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

The honest answer to Bildad's inquiry is, God is the Justifier! Yes, a man can be justified with God when He declare us righteous because of our faith in Jesus Christ! Yes, this idea is problematic in our reasoning, but in the economy of God, He already had a solution…even before the foundation of the world. In the most comprehensive and profound manner…Jesus is the Answer! For the lost fallen sinner…Jesus is God’s Answer for you. Justification before God is through faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior. God declares believing sinners righteous when we repent believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Trust Him; therefore, before it is forever too late. God still will justify us when we acknowledge our great need for His forgiveness for our sins and repent believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ--it was Christ who voluntarily died in our place taking our punishment for our sins. Jesus has already paid the awful price for our sins, and God will grant us credit for Jesus’ perfect righteousness when we believe on Him. 

Since you have not yet believed on the Lord Jesus for forgiveness, do it now. Why put this weighty decision off? You are not promised another opportunity to be saved at a later date…so, do not neglect this one singular chance to be saved. Repent of your sinful unbelief, acknowledge your sin to God, ask the Lord Jesus to save you and receive Him as your personal Savior and Lord. Believe that Jesus died for your sins and in your place to pay for your sin, believe that he really did die because He was buried, and believe that Jesus rose again the third day exactly as the Scriptures predicted He would. Trust this living Savior who conquered death, the grave, and Hell on your behalf. Understand there is absolutely no other means to be justified. When you believe, God the Perfect Judge will declare you as righteous. His word is final!               

So it is with every problem or challenge we face today’ God still has the answers or solutions. But we Christians must be willing to view life God’s way—the precious guiding Scriptures. We must trust Him to provide the solutions in His good timing. Don’t even attempt to resolve problems in life with the world’s answers. Look to God for His answer! As Christians take these familiar warnings to heart. Abraham should never have gone in to Hagar, he should have waited on God’s answer. Jacob should never have deceived his father Isaac, he should have waited on God’s timing to give him the birthright. Eve should never have eaten the fruit, she should have waited acknowledging the instructions from God. Cornelius of Acts Chapter 10 did wait on God to provide him the answer—the missing link in his quest to understand salvation. The Almighty and merciful God of grace sent Peter to preach unto him salvation in Jesus Christ. As a result, Cornelius was gloriously saved along with his family members and household! Look to God for His answers and leave the timing to Him!

---

^[1] Deere, J. S. (1985). Deuteronomy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 318). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

When God Works the Night Shift

God Can Use the Night for Preparation

1 Samuel 3:1-3

One of the most difficult things we face as Christians is to admit mistakes, especially those that have negatively impacted our families. It’s tough to say, "I’ve failed!" All of us can identify with that struggle. But down deep, we also know that honesty is the only way to handle our failures. Everyone admires a person who faces reality. (Dr. G. Getz, Men of Character: Samuel: A Lifetime Serving God)

Darkness and night in the Word of God often denotes seasons of general ignorance about God and His Word (Matt. 4:16). Sometimes it refers to episodes of judgment because of pervasive moral and spiritual decay in a country or an individual’s experience (Hos. 4:1-8). These are precisely the conditions we find in this account in the life of young Samuel. It is a season of darkness and night in the land. Yet, this chapter reveals that God can still take initiatives of mercy and grace…even in the night. While we must live with the consequences of our past actions, we can respond correctly to the Lord because He remains our real hope during the night.

Remember, an important part of responding to God correctly involves recognizing that He can even use dark times and long periods of night to prepare His people to embrace His Word, will, and call. Let’s see what we can learn from this passage to help us respond appropriately to the Word of God.

God Can Use the Night as Preparation.1Samuel 3:1-3

God was not about to leave himself without a witness and mouthpiece and He was preparing Samuel for future service and ministry.

A.  PREPARATION UNDER PROTECTIVE CARE. 1 Samuel 2:11; 2:26; 3:1

While Eli's sons continued their evil practices and descent into a mire of sin, “the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men.” (1 Sam. 2:26). This is truly amazing—and encouraging! We have a clue as to how this happened when we read that “the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli” (1 Sam. 3:1). (See also 2:11). (Dr. G. Getz, Men of Character: Samuel: A Lifetime Serving God)

So, what were some developments that facilitated Samuel’s positive development in less than favorable times? Are we hopelessly victims of our environment with zero chance of rising above the status quo? Will faith in Christ make a difference? Will biblical instruction matter in the end? Does spiritual mentoring hold out any promise?

  1.  Eli Sought to Protect Samuel.

Though this young impressionable lad rubbed shoulders with Eli's evil sons, Hophni and Phinehas, this old priest must have “built a hedge” around Samuel, becoming his protector. Eli knew all about his sons’ sinful behavior (3:23). This active and intentional role of mentoring, protecting, guarding, and shaping Samuel’s perspectives was integral to his preparation for God’s calling on his young life.

  2.  Eli Accepted His Failures.

Eli was a great man, but he failed to correct his sons—“because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.” But what made Eli an even greater man is that he accepted full responsibility for his actions. We see no excuses, no rationalizations, no sidestepping, and no placing the blame on others. Though he “reaped what he had sown,” he did not depart this life shaking his fist at God!

He also knew that he had not dealt with this situation properly, even participating in their sin by eating “the chiefest of all the offerings” or ‘the best and choice portions’ of the meat offered by the children of Israel (2:29). Certainly, Eli knew he and his sons would suffer the consequences of these failures and poor choices (1 Sam 2:27-36). He apparently sought to shield Samuel from the same mistakes or complicity. This is why I believe he faced the situation head-on, warning Samuel not to be influenced by their sin. Eli perhaps shared his painful regrets quite honestly with Samuel as warnings and admonitions to live righteously before Jehovah.

  3.  Eli Nurtured Samuel Spiritually.

Though God is certainly able to protect innocent children from bad adult influences. He normally uses people to do it—particularly parents. God has also used many bus captains and bus workers, Sunday school teachers, and youth workers to nurture and encourage inner city children who had very little positive spiritual influence at home.

Consequently, Eli must have taken Samuel under his “wing” and carefully nurtured him in the Word of God without actually removing him from the evil environment in Shiloh. Samuel would have been exposed to living lessons in discerning between evil and righteousness…making judgments about right and wrong behavior and what God expected.

   4.  Samuel Listened to Eli.

What Eli had failed to do for his own sons, he could now do for Samuel. Though Hophni and Phinehas would not listen to his warnings (1 Sam. 2:25), Samuel did. He opened his heart to his elderly friend and mentor and must have determined not to follow in the footsteps of Eli’s wicked sons. Samuel’s personal decisions are paramount! We are the sum total of our personal choices; personal responsibility is a choice we all have and we live with the consequences of those choices. Here Samuel rejected the rebellion of Hophni and Phinehas and listened to the wise counsel of Eli, the high priest.

   5.  Eli Received a Second Chance.

A principle is in play here that needs to be highlighted; God is gracious even though He is truly just and righteous. Though we “reap what we sow,” even in the midst of utter failure, God has unique ways to give us a second chance.

       A.  God Did this for Eli.

What Eli could not redo for his sons, he was able to achieve in Samuel’s life. Though it must have been very painful to use his own sons as negative examples, nevertheless, he must have often warned Samuel to never follow in their footsteps. 

And so it is in our lives today. As parents, we may have failed our own children in some regard. The damage may even seem irreparable. But we must never give up on our children, particularly in terms of praying for them. Remember that "under law" no divine and perfect mediator existed to intercede before the Father. When earthly sacrifices and offerings were rejected by the Lord, even the high priest in Israel could not intercede (2:25). But "under grace," and in light of the "new covenant," the great High Priest, Jesus Christ, is interceding for us moment by moment (Heb. 7:26; 8:1-2). He has provided a “new and living way” into the presence of God (Heb. 10:20). The only thing that ultimately separates anyone from God is a hardened heart and final unbelief. There is always hope while our children are on this side of eternity. (Dr. G. Getz, Men of Character: Samuel: A Lifetime Serving God)

       B.  God Could Give Us Such a Chance; so, Look for Your Opportunity.

What can we do while we pray and wait? Here we can learn a great lesson from Eli. You, too, can find a “Samuel,” a “Timothy”—a young person who has no father who will respond to a loving and sensitive father image. Our modern culture presents may opportunities with thousands of single mothers struggling to raise families alone. Because of the multitude of broken homes in our culture, and the many deployed fathers of our community there are thousands of young people who each need a mentor—someone who can demonstrate the realities of the Christian Faith on a personal level.

God may be giving you an opportunity to do with other boys and girls what you may have failed to do with our own children. It’s a gift…a second chance; go ahead and seize the opportunity for the glory of God. As I write these thoughts my mind cannot help but think about my pastor and his very effective work with young men in need of a positive Christ-centered influence in their lives. Though he has been an effective parent with his wife to their own children, he has brought a number of young men into his family to influence them for Christ sake. I have noted this on a number of occasions and have praise God multiple times for how these young men became pastors and Christian workers as a result of their time with my pastor.

B.  PREPARATION UNDER POOR CONDITIONS.

1 Samuel 3:1, And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

Perhaps we would appreciate the preparation of Samuel for his calling as a prophet and ministry as a priest in Israel more if we understood better how difficult this was. The conditions were less than ideal and even mitigate against anything good coming out of these spiritually dark circumstances. The odds of a positive climate and culture changing return to God as a nation does not seem possible at this point in the account. So, let’s look closely to recognize how dark this night truly was.

   1.  God Was Silent. 

Truly all hope of truly positive change and outcomes that are helpful live or die on where God is taking initiative.   However, for a period he allows the darkness to multiply and persist. This was a time when God stopped speaking to His people. No messages of guidance, hope, inspiration, assurance, support, or rebuke…very little was communicated by the Lord outside of what was written in the Law. We’re not told Samuel’s age on that awesome night when God spoke directly to this young man.              

However, several years must have gone by after “a man of God” pronounced judgment on Eli's household (1Sam. 2:27). In fact, after this revelation from heaven, God had stopped speaking directly to His people on a regular basis. We read that in those days “the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.” (1Sam. 3:lb). Because of the darkness of the night and the general corruption of this time, it was a very rear thing for the Lord to communicate with His people. God may withhold His priceless and precious Word from people who demonstrate by their conduct they would have nothing to do with it.

Sin will keep you from the Bible or the Bible will keep you out of sin!  God was limited by the wicked wills of sinful man. The spiritual unfitness of people and leaders in Eli's day to receive more and frequent “visions” was the direct development of their own wicked wills. The calamity of being left without direction was the result of their failures. Sin is a blinding power, and is also a creator of great spiritual decline and increases the darkness of the night. The natural results of moral decline is that it renders people more indifferent to the value of God’s truth and its sanctifying influence! 

    — We can become incapable of appreciating and discerning it in its purity;

    — We can become more prone to wrongly interpreting it when we are exposed to it; and

    — We can become predisposed to denying its divine origin. How is it that the unholy person always welcome objections to Christianity and the Bible? It is ever true, “sin lieth at the door.”

Proverbs 29:18, Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Hosea 4:6-7, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.⁷ As they were increased, so they sinned against me: Therefore will I change their glory into shame.^[1]

Though the prophet Hosea is referring to a different time in the nation of Israel’s history, the conditions and the consequences are similar. So this is worth noting to gain some perspective relative to the seriousness of no communications from God. Now note carefully what Dr. R. B. Chisholm, Jr. says in The Bible Knowledge Commentary about this Hosea chapter 4 passage,

The Lord held these leaders responsible for the people’s lack of knowledge (cf. v. 1). The priests in particular had ignored their duty to communicate the Law of … God to the nation (cf. Deut. 31:9–13; 33:8–10; Mal. 2:7). So they would be severely but justly punished. Because of their part in the people’s moral ruin mothers would be destroyed. This judgment, though unusual, appears elsewhere (cf. Jer. 22:26). In this way the source of the priestly line would be eliminated. As punishment for their rejection of knowledge, the priests themselves would be removed from their office by the Lord. Also because the priests ignored the Law, the Lord said He would ignore their children, apparently meaning they would not inherit their fathers’ office (cf. 1 Sam. 2:27–35). In this way the future of the priestly line would be cut off.^[2]

Dr. McDonald agrees adding clarity to the devastation of sin if left unchallenged during dark seasons in a nation adding,

God contends with Israel because of the people’s unfaithfulness, unkindness, irreligion, swearing, lying, killing, stealing, adultery, and murder. Five of the Ten Commandments are summarized in verse 2. Violations of these commands were the reasons for the condition of the land. Even the wildlife would waste away because of the coming judgment.

Both priest and prophet are blamed because of their willful lack of knowledge. God’s people were destroyed for lack of knowledge; they had forgotten the law of their God.^[3]

Beloved, it is no small inconsequential matter when God is silent in a nation, in a state, in a church, in a family, or in a heart. Darkness breeds moral and spiritual devastation.

   2.  Samuel Was Growing (3:1).

This is a rather positive development, but it also helps us recognize that several years have passed in this same condition of darkness and night. Samuel is referred to by the term “child,” but he was very likely in his early teenage years at this point in his life. The Hebrew word for “child” was used to describe a person from infancy to adolescence. J. MacArthur agrees adding, “Samuel was no longer a child [then] (2:21, 26)…he was probably a teenager at this time. The same Heb. term translated here “boy” [child] was used of David when he slew Goliath (17:33).”^[4] Perhaps he was approximately the same age as Mary when the angel Gabriel announced that she would become the mother of God’s special Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 1:26-38).

Is God interested in preparing and using young people in significant ways? What may we learn from Samuel, David, and young Mary? We know God often used young folks…teenagers! We learn that the contributions of young people can have a national and even worldwide impact. We learn that God can use youths in the most significant ways if He so chooses to do so. Each young person must decide to be faithful to God for the entirety of their days on this earth, but make that all important decision in your youth. Ecclesiastes 12:1, Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them^[5]

The Bible Knowledge Commentary reminds us of the import of Solomon’s familiar statement,

The command Remember your Creator means to revere God, to keep His laws faithfully, to serve Him responsibly, remembering that because He created people, everyone owes Him his life.^[6]

Dr. W. W. Wiersbe says in his Commentary, Be Satisfied,

How easy it is to neglect the Lord when you are caught up in the enjoyments and opportunities of youth. We know that dark days (11:8) and difficult [evil] days (12:1) are coming, so we had better lay a good spiritual foundation as early in life as possible. During our youthful years, the sky is bright (11:7); but the time will come when there will be darkness and one storm after another.^[7]

Yes, God still uses young people and He wants the entire lifespan of our young people. The time for each youth to decide for Christ is now…in your youth acknowledging God, the Creator’s, claim on each of our lives. While there are many potential distractions, decide to live each day in a way that recognizes God’s ownership of it—we must steward life as managers and not owners. Each life is far more valuable in the hands of God; each contribution will be significantly more impactful in positive ways when that life is used and empowered by the Lord. Consider the possibility of ministry as your future…entertain the idea of serving God as a missionary. Why not look at the needs in the world and ask God to use you to fill those needs for His glory?

   3.  Eli Could Barely See.

1 Samuel 3:2, And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

We are given another clue that a substantial period of time had passed. Eli had aged. His eyesight had deteriorated to the point he could barely see. There is a picture of Israel’s spiritual condition that is very instructive. 

               – Night seemed to rule and reign over the land,

               – The light of God in the Tabernacle had gone out,

               – The High Priest had no vision or could not clearly see, and

               – Young Samuel was asleep. 

Yes, asleep like so many today who are not careful to remain in tune to the Lord and alert to hear from Him. God’s light should be valuable to every believer, one of the worst things that could ever happen is to be without divine guidance.  To be without spiritual light is to live in spiritual blindness and be subject to all the dangers, evils, traps of Satan, and sin.  It is a great calamity for anyone to be without spiritual light!

Psalm 119:105, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:130, The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

God has sent the Light in Jesus Christ and we must faithfully share the light and carry the light to the darkest recesses of this world. Matthew 4:16, The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. ¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.^[8]

2 Corinthians 4:4-7, But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: ⁴ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. ⁵ For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.^[9]

   4.  God Wants to Speak.

Again there is an obvious principle here looming for honest acknowledgement. God, wants to speak clearly and regularly to all of us through the Holy Scriptures.

Though Samuel’s experience was unique. God wants all of us to approach His Word by saying, “Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth” (1 Sam. 3:9).

Think for a moment what we know about God’s will that Samuel never knew. Today we can even know more about God's eternal plan for our lives than most of the apostles of Jesus Christ. The reason is pure and simple. We have God’s final and complete revelation as it is contained both in the Old and New Testaments. And every time we approach the Word of God and read it or hear it taught, we should ask the Holy Spirit to speak to us and to help us apply God's eternal truth to our lives. With the Psalmist of old, we need to pray, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” (Ps. 119:18). When we do, God will speak directly to our hearts. (Dr. G. Getz, Men of Character: Samuel: A Lifetime Serving God)

Again an important part of responding to God correctly involves recognizing that He can even use dark times and long periods of night to prepare His people to embrace His Word, will, and call. What can we learn from this dramatic account from Samuel’s life that will help us face the night seasons as mature Christians?

If you feel that you have failed God as a parent—or in some other role—are you looking for opportunities to do for others what you may not have been able to do for your own children? At this point you may have guilt and a sense of condemnation that God wants to remove from your heart. Remember the words of John, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  (1 John 1:9).

Are you blaming others for your own mistakes and sins? You may need to think about this question carefully and prayerfully since it’s easy for all of us to rationalize and deceive ourselves. As you reflect on this question, read David’s prayer in Psalm 51.

Do you read the Word of God regularly, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the Scriptures? As you reflect on this question, meditate on the following verse of Scripture: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb.4:12).

 

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^[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ho 4:6–7). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[2] Chisholm, R. B., Jr. (1985). Hosea. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1389). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[3] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1099). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[4] MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 381). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.

^[5] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ec 12:1). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[6] Glenn, D. R. (1985). Ecclesiastes. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1004). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Satisfied (p. 131). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[8] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Mt 4:16–17). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[9] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 2 Co 4:3–6). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.