The Unknown Man

I Samuel 2:27 states, “And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord…”

As we look at this account, we see that this truly was a man of God. He made a prophecy and it came to pass. God even repeated this message through little Samuel. The message was for Eli. What I want to consider now is the man himself. He is simply called, “the man of God.” We don’t know his name. He is never mentioned again. The important thing was that the message God gave him was true and he was God’s man of the hour. He was faithful to his job.

I had left the school on my afternoon route. A Gideon was handing out New Testaments on the curb outside the school. Before my first stop, one of the kids in the back of the bus threw one of these Bibles to the front, hitting the windshield. Before I could do anything, a little girl said, “Don’t do that. That is the Word of God.” There was nothing else to say. That was powerful. I don’t know which girl it was. She spoke up for God. The girl was soon lost track of, but her words still ring in my mind over twenty years later.

The unknown man of God in Eli’s day spoke for God in dark times. The word was precious; there was no open vision (I Samuel 3:1). Eli the priest was not keeping the lamp of the Lord burning day and night, as God instructed in Exodus 27:20-21. We see this in I Samuel 3:3. Actually, Eli’s household was a mess. How many churches today are in the same mess? 

When God spoke in this dark hour, He used the unknown man of God. Anyone can say, “Thus saith the Lord.” If God didn’t say it, they stand in danger of judgment from God. 

We live in dark days. What does God want to say in our day? We have the precious Word of God. The little girl on the bus could see that. There are many that throw it around carelessly. God wants the Word proclaimed. Those that get acclaim (even money), for speaking God’s truth today, miss the reward of the unknown man of God.

In Matthew chapter six, Jesus talked about giving alms, praying, and fasting. These are all good things. Declaring the truth is a good thing. Prophesying is a good thing. The question is the motive behind them. If it is to be seen of men, there is an earthly reward. This might satisfy some. What about the secret service of God? God knows His own. Heaven’s reward awaits the unknown man of God!

Lord, I pray today for the students at Asbury Theological Seminary that want more of You. I believe You will do a mighty work in their lives in the days to come.

I am reminded of a chapel service at Northwest Nazarene College many years ago. I don’t remember the speaker, or the message. I do remember the Lord spoke to my heart. There may have been an altar call. I do remember that after the sanctuary became empty, I found myself kneeling at the altar. Begging God for forgiveness, the tears ran down my face. I finally got up. I felt so clean and free. I didn’t care that I was late for class. As I walked outside, the sky looked so blue. The leaves on the trees stood out like I had never noticed them before. I didn’t hurry to class. I just walked in the beauty of God’s world. 

I have found the altar to be a place the Holy Spirit so often pours Himself out upon me. Praise God for the altar, for the Holy Spirit, for the unknown souls that will one day shout with the millions around God’s throne, “Salvation to our God” (Revelation 7:10).