Spirit Breakfast 🍞☕ 16/5/2020
Topic: Lessons from the Tabernacle during Eli's Time (Part 3)
Text: 1 Samuel 3:1-4 (New Living Translation)
[2]One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed.
[3]The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God.
Yesterday, we looked at the compounded woes of Israel as a result of the blindness of the spiritual leader Eli.
One would think that's all the issues they had, however, we see yet another fault in the life of Eli the priest. It's so subtle you'll miss it if you don't examine the text carefully.
I call it the error of spiritual slumber.
If you look at the latter part of verse 2 that tells us that Eli had gone to bed, you might not see anything wrong therein.
The shocker lies in the first part of verse 3: "The lamp of God had not yet gone out". If you read it from the KJV ("And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD") you might be confused and think that the lamp had gone out, but this wasn't the case.
The lamp in those days were to be lighted from evening till break of dawn in the morning. Exodus 27:20-21 shows us this: [20]“Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.
[21]The lampstand will stand in the Tabernacle, in front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the lord’s presence all night. This is a permanent law for the people of Israel, and it must be observed from generation to generation.
The status of the light in the lamp was mentioned to signify the time of the night: It was close to dawn. We know this because the lamp was always filled with enough oil to last the night. It was when it got close to dawn that the lamp would go off.
The Priest was required to be up early to ensure the Tabernacle is ready for the activities of the day. However, while it was close to dawn, we see Eli still asleep like any other man.
One of the hallmarks of leadership is sacrifice. And one of such sacrifices is sleep. This is especially true for spiritual leaders. If spiritual leaders are asleep just like their followers, danger isn't far away.
The shepherd while in the grazing field with the flock understands that dangers are lurking around. So even when he sleeps he is still alert to any noise and sound.
Spiritual slumber is a state where you are oblivious to the happenings in the realm of the Spirit. Eli didn't know it was close to dawn and he at first could not discern what was happening to Samuel.
Spiritual slumber when we ought to be awake will cause the enemy to gain access and foot hold into our lives.
Eli was supposed to be awake at that point to command the morning on behalf of Israel. Job 38:12 _"Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;"_
This is the duty of leaders, fathers and anyone who has people entrusted in their care.
We slumber less so that the flock under our care might be safe.
I pray that God reenergize us to stand in the position He has placed us in Jesus name.
Have a graced day...
#SpiritBreakfast™
#SoothingSaturday™
#PastorMuve™
Text: 1 Samuel 3:1-4 (New Living Translation)
[2]One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed.
[3]The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God.
Yesterday, we looked at the compounded woes of Israel as a result of the blindness of the spiritual leader Eli.
One would think that's all the issues they had, however, we see yet another fault in the life of Eli the priest. It's so subtle you'll miss it if you don't examine the text carefully.
I call it the error of spiritual slumber.
If you look at the latter part of verse 2 that tells us that Eli had gone to bed, you might not see anything wrong therein.
The shocker lies in the first part of verse 3: "The lamp of God had not yet gone out". If you read it from the KJV ("And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD") you might be confused and think that the lamp had gone out, but this wasn't the case.
The lamp in those days were to be lighted from evening till break of dawn in the morning. Exodus 27:20-21 shows us this: [20]“Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.
[21]The lampstand will stand in the Tabernacle, in front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the lord’s presence all night. This is a permanent law for the people of Israel, and it must be observed from generation to generation.
The status of the light in the lamp was mentioned to signify the time of the night: It was close to dawn. We know this because the lamp was always filled with enough oil to last the night. It was when it got close to dawn that the lamp would go off.
The Priest was required to be up early to ensure the Tabernacle is ready for the activities of the day. However, while it was close to dawn, we see Eli still asleep like any other man.
One of the hallmarks of leadership is sacrifice. And one of such sacrifices is sleep. This is especially true for spiritual leaders. If spiritual leaders are asleep just like their followers, danger isn't far away.
The shepherd while in the grazing field with the flock understands that dangers are lurking around. So even when he sleeps he is still alert to any noise and sound.
Spiritual slumber is a state where you are oblivious to the happenings in the realm of the Spirit. Eli didn't know it was close to dawn and he at first could not discern what was happening to Samuel.
Spiritual slumber when we ought to be awake will cause the enemy to gain access and foot hold into our lives.
Eli was supposed to be awake at that point to command the morning on behalf of Israel. Job 38:12 _"Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;"_
This is the duty of leaders, fathers and anyone who has people entrusted in their care.
We slumber less so that the flock under our care might be safe.
I pray that God reenergize us to stand in the position He has placed us in Jesus name.
Have a graced day...
#SpiritBreakfast™
#SoothingSaturday™
#PastorMuve™
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