i photograph, therefore i am

The Fear of the Lord (part 2)

As i was reading 1 Samuel the other night, i had a revelation from God.

1 Sam 2: 12
"Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD.
1 Sam 2: 22
"Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting."

During the time where Eli the priests were judging Israel, he had two sons who did not fear the LORD. They even "lay with women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting." They are men of 'boldness'. Just right at the front door of God's dwelling place on earth they dare to commit such audacity. To put this in modern context, it's as good as going up to the president's house and dump your human waste right at his doorstep.

But yet, at a time like these, there is a person who was not like them.

1 Sam 2: 18
"But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod."
1 Sam 3: 19
" Then Sameul grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground."

In those times where the sons of Eli the priest practiced lawlessness and disregarded the tabernacle of God, Samuel even as a child ministered to God. Now what hit me was, when Samuel was ministering to the LORD, the sons of Eli was still in the tabernacle. So since young, Samuel must have known what the sons of Eli was doing. They were in the same Tabernacle serving God! Yet, he was not influenced by them and joined in their wicked ways. What's the difference between them? What set them apart? or rather what set Samuel apart? It's the fear of the LORD.

Another revelation just hit me as i'm writing this; No matter how many years you've been in church, no matter how many years you spend serving in a ministry, no matter how much you gave your offering; It's your fear of the LORD the separates you from those who might be attending church and cg faithufully but yet are still sinning willfully!

Pro 14: 27
"The fear of the LORD, is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death."

posted by Alvin Lim @ 2:08 PM