"IT IS THE LORD!" -- Monday:
"And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, IT IS THE LORD: let him do what seemeth him good." (1 Samuel 3:18) "Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, IT IS THE LORD." (John 21:7)
It is one thing to receive a word from the Lord, it is another to recognize it. The two texts before us provide some insight concerning two great men of Scripture, Eli and John the beloved. One was a priest, and one was an Apostle. One lived during the reign of Law, one lived in the blazing light of the Sun of righteousness and the day of salvation. One was old, and one was young. One received a sorrowful word, and one received a gracious one. One received a word when messages from God were sparse, the other when Divine doctrine was dropping like rain. But both were sensitive to the Lord and yielded to His word and person.
Eli the priest was given a word from the young intern, Samuel. The message delivered to him was not a joyful one, and was given a young boy who did not yet know the Lord. When God called to Samuel, the lad did not know it was the Lord, but thought Eli was calling him. Three times the Lord called him, and three times he appeared before Eli saying "Here I am, for you called me." The explanation for Samuel not recognizing it was the Lord is given: "Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him" (1 Sam 3:7).
When the message was finally given, it was one of judgment. "In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever" (3:12-14). And what was Eli's response to such a message? Did he doubt it was the truth because it was spoken by a lad? Indeed not! He was sensitive to the Lord, and instantly knew the source of the word. "It is the LORD: let Him do what seemeth Him good."
John the beloved was with the other disciples, forlorn and discouraged after the death of Jesus. They had returned to fishing, and were in the midst of the sea with empty nets, having spent a heartless and fruitless night on the deep. The future looked mighty gloomy. Suddenly, the risen Lord shouted out to them from the shore, "Children, have ye any meat?" Confessing they had spent a futile night fishing, and not knowing it was the Lord, they heard Him say, "Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find." You remember the occasion. The multitude of fish was so great they could not pull it in. Immediately, John, sensitive to the Lord, knew who the unexpected visitor was. "Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord." The morning proved to be one most blessed!
It is always an advantage to maintain a sensitive heart to the Lord; one that is able to recognize Him who "is speaking from heaven" (Heb 12:25). Many a soul has been rescued from despair because they were able to see the Lord in their circumstance. How often His love is confirmed by some ordained means, assuring He is there to bless. Also, often the wayward path is averted by a word of judgment from the Lord. For whatever reason a message comes to you, may you have grace to say, "It is the Lord." If you have ears to hear, hear!
PRAYER POINT: I thank You for still teaching Your children as You promised. In the name of Jesus, grant me grace to always know when it is You that is speaking to me.