Psalm 99:7

Psalm 99:7

They kept His statutes

This verse needs a bit of unpacking! The first question we might ask is, “How did God speak to Samuel from the pillar of cloud? Was not the pillar of cloud a phenomenon associated solely with the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness?” I think we need to understand that the glory of God was in the cloud, and that the cloud of His glory was later seen at times over the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle and also in the Temple. You will remember that, as a young boy, Samuel was actually sleeping close to Eli, the High Priest, in the Tabernacle tent, when the Lord God first spoke to him, “The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was.” 1 Samuel 3:3. There is an association here between Moses and Aaron and Samuel, when the Lord later spoke powerfully to His servants it was when they came humbly before Him, and that meant visiting the Holy Place where His glory was seen and felt. 

The revelations that the Lord gave were, of course, restricted to Israel at that time. Israel was the nation and the priesthood that was entrusted with the statutes and decrees given by God, and there was a massive responsibility placed upon those who were the direct recipients of His commands. Moses, Aaron and Samuel are applauded here for being among those who were trustworthy and obedient when it came to the Word of the Lord.  

In the same way we are the recipients of God’s Holy Word and His laws and statutes. This is a huge responsibility that has not changed over the centuries. God has written down all that He wants us to know. He has revealed His glory through His Word to us and those who seek Him and seek to know His ways, that others may be taught, are especially blessed but also answerable, not only to make His Word known but also to keep it!

 

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