Saul.
AFTER the feast in the high place was ended, Samuel and Saul came down into the city, and Saul went home with Samuel to be his guest that night. He took him to the top of the house which, in those warm countries was the most suitable place for entertaining. And there Samuel communed with him. They had eaten together at the feast, in the presence of about thirty persons, whom Samuel had specially invited in honor of Saul. But now they were to be alone together, and to speak face to face about things, concerning which we are not told. The fact that we are not told of what they talked about, reminds us of what the Lord Jesus said in Rev. 2:1717He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:17). “I will give him a white stone and, in the stone, a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Dear children, this is not hard to understand, for, if we know what it is to have communion with Jesus, we have a precious secret in our hearts, like the new name written on the white stone, which no one can understand nor know except ourselves.
We have already noticed in an earlier writing that Samuel, as a prophet, was able to reveal to Saul all that was in his heart.
So when we come to the Lord Jesus we find that He knows all about our every thought, word and act. He searches us by His word and leads us to repentance. We believe His word as truth, and know that He loves us. We believe His love, and we come to Him without fear. These are His first workings with us as lost sinners.
But then we come to know Him as our very best Friend and loving Shepherd. We read His word as being His message to us, and we greatly desire to learn more and more of Himself and his wondrous love. We find ourselves at home in His presence, and do not shrink from being alone with Him.
Saul may have felt quite uneasy when he was alone with Samuel, for we all know, dear children, how natural it is to feel timid and afraid when we are brought into the presence of a great man. There is none so great as Jesus, for He is the “Prince of the Kings of the earth.” And is it not wonderful that we are not in the least afraid of Him? I mean, if we have known and believed His perfect love, for His word tells us that His “perfect love casteth out fear,” 1 John 4:1818There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18).
Now just as Samuel communed with Saul, so the Lord Jesus communes with His dear little ones in this world. And He calls all His people little children. The word communion has a very sweet meaning. For it means that two or more persons have common thoughts and feelings in union with one another. The Lord Jesus speaks to us and talks with us through His word, and the Spirit, which He gives to all who believe in Him. And we also speak to Him in prayer and talk with Him, through His Spirit that dwells in our hearts. This is communion.
“A little talk with Jesus,
How it smooths the rugged road,
How it seems to help me onward,
When I faint beneath my load.”
Let us remember, then, children, that we must know what it is to be ALONE with Jesus, if we are to be saved, or, if we are to have communion with Him. As lost ones we may go to Him in secret now and confess our sins and receive eternal forgiveness from Him. And when we have believed in our hearts, we may also confess Him with our lips openly before men.
But, if we neglect to go to Jesus for ourselves now that we may be saved, then we must appear before Him to be judged. And there will be many thousands, who must stand before Him to be judged, and cast into the lake of fire. “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And, oh, how terrible that will be!
ML 09/21/1902