The Next Chapter
The following blog is by Barbara Westberg.
“All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God,
to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman, fourteen sons and three daughters.
All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the Lord,
with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God”
(I Chronicles 25:5-6).
Come with me to the tabernacle at Shiloh. Samuel had grown into manhood serving God by serving Eli. Then tragedy struck. The Philistines attacked. They carried away the ark of the covenant and destroyed Shiloh. That day Eli and his wicked sons died.
Samuel was left homeless. He returned to Ramah, the place of his birth, and established his home base from which he judged Israel. Because there was no central place of worship, he become Israel’s itinerate prophet, priest, and judge.
Years passed. Samuel’s two sons, Joel and Abijah, were born. Their father was often gone for long periods of time fulfilling his duties. The boys grew up in the home of a highly influential man, who was often an absentee father.
All the days of his ministry, Samuel was blameless. His record was spotless. When he was old, the elders of Israel brought only one charge against him. Only one blight against his record? Amazing! But tragic . . . “for his sons walked not in his ways.” (For this story read I Samuel 7-8.)
Samuel, after all the miles you walked, the sacrifices you offered, and the words you spoke, have you lost your most valuable treasure, your family?
But wait. Turn the page to the next chapter. Back track on the family tree. “Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman, a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel [Samuel]” (I Chronicles 6:33). Joel’s son and Samuel’s grandson, Heman was King David’s seer and music minister, the director of the orchestra and choir in the tabernacle of David. Heman’s fourteen sons and three daughters, Samuel great-grandchildren, ministered in the orchestra and choir.
Samuel’s sons walked not in his ways, but his grandson and his seventeen great-grandchildren did. The seeds of love for the one true God Samuel sowed apparently fell on hard ground in Joel’s and Abijah’s hearts. But they landed on fertile soil in the next generation.
We do not know if Samuel ever held Heman on his lap and told him the incredible story of Noah. Or if he ever took Heman fishing and pointed out the wonderful works of God. But we do know that Samuel’s influence lived on and bore fruit in the lives of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
So, Samuel, on the surface it looks like that while you were busy ministering to God’s people, at home all was lost. But another chapter was being written. Another generation arose. Heman—a prophet, a worshipper, a leader. Heman—the restorer of your family’s broken faith. Heman—the heir of your family’s legacy.
To we parents who have children who have chosen not to walk in our ways, the story of Heman is one of hope. While we continually pray for our straying children and believe that they will return to God, we also look forward to the next generation. Many Pentecostal saints and ministers testify that the prayers and the influence of their grandparents brought them to God. May we remember the power of Samuel’s influence in Heman, as we press on investing our prayers, hearts, and time in our grandchildren.
The book is not finished. The next chapter is being written.
O may all who come behind us
Find us faithful,
May the fire of our devotion
Light their way.
May the footprints that we leave,
Lead them to believe,
And the lives we live
Inspire them to obey.
(by Jon Mohr)
Please listen to this song: “Find Us Faithful” by Steve Green https://youtu.be/MKT5BCmvmq0 May it bless you.