I came across a saying of Goethe today that caught my attention. He shall have said, "There are many echoes in the world, but few voices." In the light of my meditation on the silence of a prophet and on not talking to much, these words made an impact on my soul. I have been reading in 1 Samuel 3 on the Lord calling Samuel to become his prophet. In those days the word of God was rare and there was no open vision.

"Revelation is rare. Inspiration is common. Revelation is unique and original. Inspiration may issue only in an echo to him who listens, but in what is a living and new experience to him who speaks." (j. Clifford)

Samuel did not know the Lord even though he ministered to the Lord under the supervision of Eli. But he cam to know the Lord personally as he revealed himself to him through his word. Only through the word of the Lord revealed to him did he come to know the Lord. God spoke to him, and the speech was a revelation of the speaker. To know God, not so as to define him, but enjoy him, is the gift of the Spirit. To know God, not so as to demonstrate his being, but to live in and by his love and power, this is the gift of the Spirit. To know God, not so as to comprehend him, but to trust and follow him, this is the gift of the Spirit.

No prophet of God can be a frozen pendant, a blind dry-as-dust-person, a galvanized corpse, frantically clutching at yesterday as though it were better than today. A prophet of God will never talk about God as though he had revealed himself as the "I was," instead of the "I am." The breath of the Almighty lifts him out of the darkness of a selfish stagnation and makes him the harbinger of the coming day.

Signs of people living in revelation:

Godly roots in the heroes of faith.

Devout dedication for life to service of God.

Spiritual training

Pre-eminent prayerfulness

Glowing love of God

Unfaltering obedience to the Divine will