Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Samuel 3:7 (New International Version)

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

This chapter in 1 Samuel describes the first calling of Samuel by the Lord, i.e., their first conversation. Samuel was to be a great prophet in Israel, someone with whom the Lord spoke directly.

I am concentrating on the word yet in these two clauses of the verse. Let’s look at a definition of yet:

yet: adverb, up to a particular time; thus far: They had not yet come. (dictionary.com)

In the first clause of the verse, Samuel did not know the Lord – yet. Samuel was smart enough, righteous enough, good enough, competent enough, and all other sorts of “enoughs” to one day know the Lord. Thus far, however, he didn’t know the Lord. All Samuel needed was a little time.

In the second clause of the verse we have a similar situation in that the word of the Lord had not been revealed to Samuel – yet. The Lord was going to reveal His word, and Samuel was going to receive it and live it. This merely had not happened thus far.

People are often impatient with other people. This is one of my main failings in life. When I know something, I expect other people, particularly other people who are above my in some chain of command or other, to know that something as well. I grow impatient when they don’t “get it.”

I have lived a blessed life. Many people I know haven’t enjoyed the same blessing I have. There are many concepts that I understand that they don’t – yet. If that sounds arrogant, it probably is arrogant. I don’t yet know how to express this without sounding arrogant. See, I have granted patience to myself in this respect.

The word yet and the virtue of patience seem to accompany one another. Samuel did not yet know God, but God was patient with Samuel. The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to Samuel, but God was patient with God and would reveal His word in due time.

God, there is much that I don’t know yet; there is much that I don’t do yet. Please continue to grant me patience in these matters. Also help me to have patience with my fellow man. I don’t have patience in full measure yet, but I trust that it will come with your grace and my obedience.