Articles
Poor, Blind and Naked: From the Garden of Eden to the Assembly of Laodicea: Part 3
Barbara L. Klika, MSW, Undershepherd, Life Coach
April 2023
Samuel and Saul; 7 things YHWH Hates; Assemblies will be covered in Part 4
Orginally written in 2011
Revised March 2023 for Wisconsin Christian Newspaper
Part 3
Poor, Blind and Naked thematic language will carry us from the earliest events in the Garden of Eden all the way through to the time of return to that Garden as recorded in the Book of Revelation. We are in the midst of examining some of those mileposts along the way, beginning again with Samuel and his interactions with Saul.
Concluding Part 2, we had confirmed the status of the young Samuel, even while under Eli’s dim vision.
And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheva knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
1 Samuel 3:20 KJV
A “prophet” can be one who speaks what will happen in the future OR one who delivers exhortations of the LORD to the people. It is often NOT a pleasant message to have to give! Samuel was fairly young when he received these words, I think.
For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
1 Sam 3:13, 15 KJV
Eli’s vision had gone from dim to blindness, meaning his physical and spiritual perception was declining or gone. This is also a thematic connection with being poor in spirit as the Spirit hadn’t been revealing things for a season…until Samuel, the miracle child born to Hannah and dedicated to serve YHWH from before he was even conceived, came onto the scene. Now we see confirmation of the last of our theme here: poor, blind and as a result he had left his sons and Israel naked by not providing appropriate restraint.
The word used of Moshe referring to Aaron’s failure to lead was “para” H6544 while the word used of Eli was H3543 “kaha.” Per Strong’s Concordance and the Outline of Biblical Usage, both are translated quite similarly: failing to restrain-- leading to being made naked and vulnerable to enemies. TWOT associates “para” with letting loose, while “kaha” is said to be more associated with darkened, failing, restraint (of ability.)
Samuel judged Israel for many years, but eventually the people rose up and wanted a human king. YHWH confirmed it was their rebellion against HIM, not against Samuel personally. In his old age, Samuel made his sons judges. This is how Saul came onto the scene as Samuel was led in the selection process. And history repeats…
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
1 Samuel 8:3
So the elders of Israel rose up…
And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
1 Samuel 8:5
The sad story continues as Samuel warns them of what such a decision will cost them. Yet, they prevailed and Yah directed Samuel in the selection of this king. He had all the outward appearance of a goodly man. Samuel carried out a prayerful public lottery process to demonstrate the selection of Saul as king.
When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found….
And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
1 Samuel 10: 22-24
One wonders why they were confident of a man who hid when he was identified to be their king! There follows an interesting story of Saul in battle, apparently guided by YHWH, which further confirms their desire to make him King over them. Samuel makes it very plain that they have erred in all of this, but that he will continue to pray for them.
But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
1 Samuel 12:25 KJV
In our Poor, Blind and Naked thematic language, Eli did not keep his sons and Israel covered while Samuel DID have spirit and vision and he DID attempt to keep the people covered. They refused to follow. When YHWH directed him, Samuel carried out the plan he was given, likely already knowing the outcome, I suspect. Saul made a number of poor choices. How anticlimactic it must have been for Samuel when Saul did not carry out the directions he’d been given and fell from favor with Yah.
Like Aaron, and maybe even Adam, before him, he apparently finally succumbed to the ‘wisdom of the people.” Keep in mind that the name of the seventh assembly, Laodicea, has the meaning of “people ruling.” And note, too, that Saul seemed to think that he HAD carried out Yah’s will, so confirms being poor in spirit and blind in vision, too.
When Samuel confronted Saul, he demonstrated his lack of awareness/vision/leadership….and like Aaron, and Adam, blamed someone else.
And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
1 Samuel 15:20-21 KJV
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearten than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
1 Samuel 15: 22-23 KJV
Thus ends another example of both one who had vision, spirit and exercised authority and one who did not, and was poor, blind and naked.
Saul had every opportunity to walk in righteousness, including the voice of Samuel at his side to speak the Words of YHWH to him. He chose not to do so. The last reference to rebellion and stubbornness is another study in itself, revealing much that we need to be aware of in these last days.( Check our SAM website for more on this...now well on the way to the newly revised site!)
David became king and for the most part DID demonstrate these traits of vision, spirit and authority; established as a man after God’s own heart and a picture of the eternal King and Kingdom to come of our Returning Messiah. His sons did not all walk in his ways of honoring YHWH either. Among them was Solomon who also proved to be less worthy than his father, ultimately succumbing also to human leadings, perhaps prominently through his 700 wives and 300 concubines who worshipped other gods.
Yet, Solomon had prayed for wisdom as he became King, and did demonstrate some of that wisdom through his many proverbs. Through thematic study, this one I see as relevant to our study of being poor, blind and naked.
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV
As we pursue the thematic study of the many things in groups of sevens, we have seen the correlation between them, often in a chiastic structure. So the first listed here, "Proud look," is associated with Ephesus, the first of the seven assemblies listed in Revelation and so forth. The seventh one is our concern here; recognized as wealthy in material goods, the Laodicean assembly is said to be “poor, blind, and naked” and not know it. (Rev.3:15) So the seventh thing that our God hates is “sowing discord among brothers.“
“Discord” is also often translated as “strife.” It is Strongs #4090, medan, which appears to be mostly associated with lies, hatred, and untruths. The difference of understanding, in itself, is not truly strife, but the manner of dealing with the differences certainly can be that.
We must understand that “discord” or “strife” does not refer to just any difference of opinion but to the lack of God honoring spirit and vision that leads to Scripturally unsound use of authority, and finally to vulnerability to the enemy. Of course, a compromise that violates Torah in any way would be unacceptable to those who Honor the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. His righteousness, as He has provided instruction in His Whole Word, is the standard worth contending for in a righteous way! The correct understanding of "discord" has a great deal to do with our sanctification process, maturing toward becoming more like Messiah. There WILL be differences that arise between those who have a simple, childlike understanding of faith who have only understood salvation as a free gift of God and those who understand the need for sanctification that follows.
We understand that there are two major barriers that yet sustain strife among believers today.
- The division between men and women and how they are to function within the body.
- The division between those who honor the western version of Christianity which focuses on the division and separation of the OT no longer being valid and those who honor the Hebraic understanding of the Whole Word. (sometimes called Jew and Gentile, or Judah and Ephraim)
Essentially, the western version of Christianity has been very persuasive and powerful leading many to believe that they do NOT NEED the full Word of God in how they follow Him. (NOTE: I believe our adversary delights in our tendency to keep fighting amongst ourselves without effectively addressing the base of the differences.)
We do see the Laodicean perspective of believing themselves to be rich without the whole counsel of God as a clear example of why they are described as poor, blind and naked in the last days. If we continue in this state by Biblical understanding we WILL be vulnerable to our enemies.
We have heard those who think the OT is no longer valid for today accuse us of “sowing discord” by promoting obedience to His Whole Word. One letter to the editor of WCN even said I was “bewitching” people! By the standard of the Word, anyone that becomes contentious over honoring the Whole Word of God is one that is sowing strife among the brethren. (Messiah’s obedience to make atonement for us brought restoration of relationship with our Father, not rescuing us from relationship with Him as so many seem to think.)
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?
1 Cor 3: 1-3 KJV
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Hebrews 5:12 NKJV.
Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my Spirit that they may add sin to sin.
Isaiah 30:1 KJV
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