“And before the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; that the Lord called to Samuel…” 1 Samuel 3:3
Dear Ones:
In one of the most solemn and pathetic pictures in Scripture, we see the moment approaching when the lamp of God, and thus the light of that lamp, would go out. That lamp, in the temple of the Lord was put there in response to God’s commands, so that the people would certainly remember two things, the presence of God in the midst, and the mission and privilege of Israel to be “bearers” of light and truth, to the surrounding tribes of Israel, and to the ends of the earth. The sad moment would approach and come about when the light would go out, a symbol of the extreme restraint of the blessing of God on the people of Israel, and this, because of their neglect of true worship, and the service of God. There was great “profession” among the people, and a use of the sacred things like the Ark of the Covenant, believing that in them they would be saved from the Philistines. But their heart was far from God. Their profession was not accepted before God, as their possession of Him was so little. However, even though the Philistines would defeat Israel, the sons of the Eli the priest would be slain, and the Ark of the Covenant would be taken, yet God had, in a little boy, provided a hope for the people. In a very real way, the “glory” of the Lord had departed, and the lamp had become very dim, and perhaps at that time had gone out, but God in His mercy would again, or “appear” in Shiloh, for, “…the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel by the word of the Lord.” (1 Sam. 3:21)
In the book of Zechariah, we find mentioned “…a candlestick all of gold.” (4:2) We know that this candlestick represents the nation of Israel. God had chosen Israel to be the bearer of light unto the world. This candlestick was furnished with “golden oil,” (4:12), the very symbol of the Holy Spirit. So that, by virtue of God’s sovereign choice and purpose, Israel has been declared to be the candlestick of God, which by the Holy Spirit, would reveal truth and Life to the world. That candlestick was to be housed in the Temple of the Lord, which had not yet been completed in Jerusalem, because of the opposition of the enemy. The vision is first of the purpose and calling of the “candlestick,” then its proper place in the hearts and the minds of the people.
In the book of Revelation, we find another “candlestick.” Actually, in John’s vision, he sees seven candlesticks, each representing a church in Asia Minor. It is to these churches that the revelation of the glorified Christ comes. Why? They, like Israel, have an appointed design, purpose, and power. They are designated by the word, “candlestick,” to be the instruments through which the golden oil of the Holy Spirit, can reveal the light of Christ unto the ends of the earth. So important is this purpose, and means by which it is to be realized, that the Lord tells the church in Ephesus, that if she does not return to the first things of communion with Christ, He will “…remove thy candlestick out his place.” (2:5) True and profound communion with God, walking in the light by the Spirit, is essential if there would be the revelation of Christ’s divine life by the Spirit, and the resulting testimony by word and deed throughout the world.
When the Lord addressed Joshua the high priest, in the days of the rebuilding of the second temple, He made it very clear that two things needed to be understood, grasped, and never let go of, if His purpose through the life of the individual and the nation were to be realized. The Lord told him: “If thou wilt walk in MY ways, and if thou wilt keep MY charge, then thou shalt judge my house.” (3:7)
Father, Teach us Thy ways, committed wholly to Thy calling. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad