Praise the name of the Lord and Savior, the Author of Life, Jesus Christ! Welcome as we delve into God’s Word together.
There will come a time when the lamp of God will be extinguished. Let us respond to God’s call before that moment arrives.
1 Samuel 3:2-4 (ESV)
“At that time Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, ‘Here I am!’”
To understand the significance of the “lamp of God” and the timing of it going out, we must consider the Tabernacle Moses was commanded to build (Exodus 25–27). The Tabernacle consisted of three sections: the Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place.
Within the Holy Place were three sacred items:
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The altar of incense,
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The table of showbread, and
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The golden lampstand (Menorah) with seven branches.
The lampstand’s purpose was to provide continual light inside the Tabernacle during the night hours. God commanded that the lamp be kept burning without fail—“from evening until morning” (Exodus 27:20-21; Leviticus 24:1-3).
This perpetual light symbolized God’s presence, guidance, and covenant faithfulness to His people. When morning came, the natural light of the sun replaced the lamp’s glow, and it was then extinguished.
In 1 Samuel, the “lamp of God had not yet gone out” means it was still night—darkness had not given way to dawn. It was in this spiritual and literal darkness that God called Samuel.
This moment is deeply symbolic:
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The darkness represents the spiritual condition of the people or an individual’s soul—times of uncertainty, waiting, or even crisis.
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The lamp represents God’s grace and revelation shining in the midst of that darkness.
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The call of God is an invitation to respond to His voice, which may initially sound like an ordinary or human voice.
Samuel’s initial confusion—thinking Eli was calling—reminds us that God’s call can come in subtle or unexpected ways. Often, what sounds like a human voice may actually be God’s voice calling us to Himself.
Furthermore, God’s call is urgent. If Samuel had ignored the call while the lamp was still burning, he might not have heard from God again until much later.
This teaches us that God’s grace and opportunity to respond have limits. The “lamp of God” is grace, and there will be a time when it is withdrawn—when God’s patient invitation ceases.
This truth calls us to examine our own hearts:
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Have you received Jesus Christ as your Savior?
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Have you been baptized and entered into a personal relationship with Him?
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Are you living in obedience to God’s call?
If not, now is the time to respond—before the lamp goes out.
Ecclesiastes 12:1 (ESV)
“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’”
May this word encourage you to heed God’s call today—while the lamp of His grace still burns.
Maranatha—Come, Lord Jesus!