THE FIRE MUST NOT DIE!(4).

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*THE FIRE MUST NOT DIE! (4)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

1 Sam 3: 1-4

*And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.*

*And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;*

*And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;*

*That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

The lamp of God must continue to burn, morning, day and night. Morning, daylight and night may cease, the fire on the altar must not.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

1 Sam 3:1 throws another significant light that underscores the importance of the fire on the altar for continuous burning.

The expression of the *"....ere the lamp of God...."* teaches us a few things.

First, the time of the day will not stop the continuous burning of the fire. It burned all day

It was just early morning hours, fairly dark, but before dawn, before the sky begins to lighten up, but the lamp of God was still burning.

While the *".....ere the lamp of God..."* went out because darkness faded away the lamp of God was still lit.

The change in time and the coming of light of the day over its darkness will not affect the glow of the lamp on the altar.

The second most significant of the illustration and emphasis on the ere of the lamp of God is that though darkness and sunlight may interchange the fire of God does not change level.

The illustration teaches us, not only of the dawn coming up and the sky lighting up the day, this physical state of the atmosphere was different from the spiritual atmosphere in Israel at that time.

While the day was breaking physically, it was spiritually a dark time but God's light of hope and presence had not been extinguished.

Third, the *".....ere of the lamp went out in the temple of the Lord..."* must not be interpreted as the lamp of the fire of God itself.

The lampstand with the fire, which

represented God's presence in the midst of His people, must be on and burning for God to show up.

The presence of the fire brings God's presence. The absence of it, is God's absence in the midst of the people.

If the fire was out or dead, God would have had nothing to do with the people.

Fourth, the mention of *".....and Samuel was laid down to sleep;.....* may indicate his priestly responsibility of observing the continued burning of the lamp. It may be one of his services to ensure he did this before laying down to sleep.

The 'fire going out' is not an option nor the remedy to restart it. It must not be extinguished or die.

Re-igniting the altar fire or starting a fresh fire can not be a remedy but any remedy to restart or re-ignite the fire must never be thought of. It must be prevented.

*Remorse corner.*

The fire is mandated and compulsory by continual priestly care.

*Call to Word action.*

While the priest, then, continually ensure the continuous burning of the fire.

Today, the continuous burning of the fire is the individual Christian responsibility.

*The Christian clarion duty.*

While the the thoughts of the fire 'to go out' must never be an option or re-igniting it should not be thought of as a remedy, so also the Christian must never think of the fire going out or the remedy to restart it as an option!

*Prayer.*

Lord, let not Your fire ever go out in me.

Let me never think of losing to gain You back as an option for me. Let me continually keep the fire burning never to go out, in Jesus name.

Good morning all and be blessed as you come into His presence.

God bless you.

Shalom.