October 18, 2025 - 1 Samuel 7:1,2 - "A Spiritual Eclipse of the Son"

1 Samuel 7:1,2

"And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord. And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord."

We have here a great illustration of a spiritual eclipse of the Son. The Ark of the Covenant, a type and picture of the work of the LORD Jesus Christ, was taken by the Philistines, according to God’s purpose. He struck them with plagues, and they brought it back. There was great rejoicing among the remnant, those that the LORD had preserved by His Grace. They saw the importance of offering up that great sacrifice, cutting up the wood of the cart and offering the cows that brought the Ark back, a picture of Christ’s offering of Himself.

Yet some of the Beth-shemites took the Ark for granted and became curious. They approached it, and the LORD smote fifty thousand, three score and ten. The people lamented, a great wailing in the face of God’s judgment. But lamenting is not repentance. Many may wail over judgment, but that’s not the same as turning to the LORD in faith. They said, “Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God?” That is the question of every true soul whom the LORD has awakened. We cannot stand based on our works. We can’t approach without a Mediator.

The Ark was the representation of the LORD Jesus Christ, the mercy seat, the Ark of the covenant. Sinners are either saved or condemned in relationship to this Ark. We are either in that Ark—where the blood of the LORD Jesus has paid our debt—or we are outside. There’s no in-between. This judgment has already been settled. Those who were the LORD’s He preserved alive, and the rest who approached in their own way He struck dead.

The men of Kirjath-jearim came and fetched up the Ark of the LORD and brought it into the house of Abinadab, whose name means a willing father. They sanctified his son Eleazar, meaning God has helped, to keep the Ark of the LORD. What a picture of the willing Father, God the Father, willing and able to save to the uttermost those that come to God through His Son. He brings them. The LORD was directing it all.

For nearly twenty years the Ark abode there in the house of Abinadab. The time was long, and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. It was a silent season. The Ark was resting, but no sacrifices were being offered upon it. It was in the hands of Levites, yet in essence sitting idle. The glory was not shining forth as in the days of the tabernacle. It was an eclipse of the Sun, S-O-N.

Why does the LORD do this? He causes us to appreciate the light all the more. As Amos 8 declares, there is a famine in the land—not of bread, but of hearing the Word of the LORD. The LORD removes His hand to make His people cry after Him. When you get hungry and thirsty enough, you pant after help. So it is with the soul that longs for Christ, the Bread of Life, the Water of Life.

For twenty years the LORD hid His face, yet all the while He was working. He was raising up Samuel, a type of Christ—a Prophet, a Priest, and a King. When the glory seems hidden, the LORD is not absent. The Ark may rest in a private house, but the LORD is preparing His purpose.

Even creation declares His glory. The firmament speaks. When the sun is darkened or the moon turned red, we are reminded not to take the light for granted. The LORD’s not at our beck and call; He will cause us to hunger and thirst for Him alone.

In Luke 1, Zacharias prophesied, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people.” Between Malachi and Matthew there were four hundred years of silence, yet God never forgot His covenant. “The Dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

So the LORD hides the light for a season that we might know our need of Him. When He shines again, we see the glory of Christ, the true Ark of God, the Light of the world, the very mercy seat by which we draw near.

May we never take Him for granted. Though there be shadows and darkness, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings. Come, Thou long-expected Jesus—born to set Thy people free.