In the Jewish tabernacle they used to have a lamp which burnt continually. God said to Moses: “thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always” (Exo.27:20).
Notice that it was to be PURE OIL! I read somewhere of how impurities in oil can affect the lighting it produces. And talk about LIGHT, we have all sorts of light today! Over in taverns and pubs there are lights with blue, purple and red in them. That is not light. It is an excuse for light! Isnt this what has happened to Christendom today, having a dim and dark compromised Gospel in place of the Glorius pure Light of God’s Word?
For the light in the tabernacle to burn continually, priests were dedicated to tending the lamp. The practice went on from generation to generation. However, one day there arose a priest who served for so many years, he grew old and could no longer effectively tend to the lamp. Just how many believers have served God so long until they have become so used to it, thereby foregtting their work to tend the lamp? As for Eli “his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see” (1 Sam.3:1). Well, God’s Word is the lamp onto our feet. We have to yield to it prayerfully. We have to sit under the blessed pure anoining of the Spirit to keep the Word burning in our hearts.
But Eli could no longer see “and the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD” (1 Sam.3:3). Just in how many assemblies (‘temples’) today has the light gone out and people gone to sleep? The trouble is, when eyes are getting dim and the light is going off, one may not notice that it is getting dark….
Let us wake up and tend our lamps. Be in prayer. Fellowship with believers. Always pray with your wife and children together. Let us keep the lamp on!
Have a blessed day!
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(Preached at the Zambia Revenue Authority Lunch Hour Fellowship)
amen