I Samuel 7:1,2
“From the day that the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, the time was long, for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.”
Israel missed the Lord. They had fallen from Him. Thus they lost to the philistines. In the loss, the Ark was captured. They quickly returned it. On it’s return, many in a particular village were treating it as an object of interest, by looking within. Many were struck down by their sacrilege. So, they left the Ark with a caretaker for 20 years. He was blessed. Which brings us to today’s verse, they “lamented after the Lord.”
We’ve all had prodigal seasons. Some leave Him and His Word, while others leave in heart. Something lures us away. It may be forbidden fruit, disappointment from circumstances, busyness, interference from the devil and so on.
Just as in the Prodigal parable, we grow dissatisfied. Proverbs 14:14 says, “The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied with his.” The prodigal saw his pitiful state and “came to his senses”, (Luke 15:17). This is Israel’s present state, “they lamented after the Lord”.
We’ve got it very good with God. We don’t comprehend all that the Lord does for us (I Corinthians 2:9). We’ll stray due to some sort of dissatisfaction. He allows us to test this. In time we become empty. We too “Lament after the Lord”.
We need to seize that yearning, as it’s there. It’s a gift that aids us in drawing near to God. We also must learn to stay close to God when there is no feeling. That’s a different lesson in faith. But to respond to ‘God yearnings’ is learning to practice one’s spiritual senses. Hebrews 5:14 says, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.” To ignore it is to harden the heart.
God yearnings and the demonstration of other spiritual senses arrive occasionally. It’s easy to think, “I’ll attend to this later.” The next time, our hearing is more faint. Until we can no longer hear it. Quick obedience is to be the response.
The Hebrew passage speaks of “solid food”. That’s the bible. God’s Word is described as seed. As it’s read, the Word is planted and begins to inform our thoughts, emotions and impressions. It’s these that we practice with, to test if they are of the Lord.
Lord, thank You for how You’ve created us. Help us to respond to You.