Empty Things That Cannot Deliver
The Hebrew word
translated as “empty” in this verse is “tôû.” This word comes from an unused
root, meaning “to lie waste.” It
literally means “empty; void; hollow; worthless.” Samuel, here, exhorts the Israelites to be
careful about turning their lives over to empty things that cannot profit or
deliver. Tragically, it is a symptom of
the human condition to seek after anything that will fill the empty longing in
our hearts. Even if that “thing” is
empty, void and hollow.
People have been
known to seek fulfillment in personal pleasure, philosophy, popularity, relationships,
riches, education, fame and other vain pursuits. But the truth of Scripture is that none of
these things can (or ever will) bring satisfaction and contentment to the human
heart. None of these empty things can
make us complete. True contentment can
only be found in the LORD! It is only
when we turn to Him to satisfy the longing of our hearts that we discover the
Holy Spirit and the thirst in our soul is quenched by His living water.
There is only one
place to find “completeness” for your human heart. And that is in Christ. “For in Him [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the
Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him,
who is the head of all principality and power"(Colossians 2:9-10). Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big
words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless
arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the
empty traditions of human beings rather than pointing you to Christ, who
is the Only One who can fill the emptiness of the human heart.
In
today’s chapter, Samuel is addressing the people of Israel and exhorts them not
to turn aside after “empty” things. They
cannot profit or deliver. Worship and
serve the LORD heart and soul! Don’t chase after false-gods. There’s nothing to
them. They can’t help you. True
fulfillment and spiritual rest come only through the true and living God.
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