“The man of God” has been defined as “God’s emergency man.” If the divinely established order were working correctly, there would be no necessity for the man of God. In the earliest days of Christianity all was well. But when first love declined and disorder set in, we read of the man of God, and Timothy is the first person thus designated in the New Testament.
What is a “man of God”? Moses is the first servant of God who had this honored title. His life was one of singular devotedness to the Lord. He identified himself with God’s downtrodden people. He pleaded for them with God. His jealousy for God’s holy name was marvelous.
Samuel was a man of God, and rightly so. Matters were critical in Israel when he was born. In the person of Eli, the priesthood had utterly broken down. Although personally a pious man, he permitted iniquity of the gravest kind in those nearest to himself. Then Samuel was raised up by God as a prophet to meet the need where the priesthood had failed.
Samuel’s personal character is an example to us all. His simple and unaffected piety, his blameless administration, his service of intercession, and his faithful reproving of evil in ruler and ruled furnish a delightful picture. We might well aspire to be a Samuel.
W. W. Fereday (adapted)