We begin 1 Samuel, but we are still in the time of the Judges. Eli was a judge in Israel, and a priest at the temple, and Samuel is next in line to become a judge.
Read 1 Samuel 1-3 A Graph of the Levitical Priesthood (Just for fun… note that Samuel is from a different grandson of Levi. Aaron’s family is the primary line of the Priesthood…that’s where Eli hails from. But now, because of Eli’s failure, a descendent from one of his great-uncles will take over. (I think that’s a first cousin…) Aaron’s Grandfather was Kohath, and his father was Amram. Samuels line begins with Kohath, but continues through Izhar (another of Kohath’s sons). So, even though Eli’s family is losing the priesthood, God’s promise to Aaron is still true…his descendents are still the priests.)
Who knows why we think what we do. Today I found myself wondering how we arrived at this part of the story. (that’s why the foray into the priesthood graph)
The last judge that I read about was Samson. After reading about the levite who chopped up his concubine, and then Ruth and Boaz, I almost forgot what time period Israel is in. This is still the time of the Judges, when people are pretty much free to do as they please without any real government apart from the priesthood. During this period there are parts of Israel that are overrun by other countries. There is no national army, every tribe has their own warriors, if they choose to fund them. I suppose it was more like our “minute man” or National Guard setup than the full time military.
There were often breaks between Judges, with no defined leader. Maybe that was the case between Samson, who had recently died an unceremonious death when he brought a building down on himself, and the beginning of Eli’s reign as Judge. We don’t hear anything about how Eli judged Israel, only of his failure to restrain his sons. This whole time period is rather compressed, the whole period of the Judges was only about 350 years…when you think about what’s happening in these chapters, that’s a long way down from where they began.
Hophni and Phineas appear to be a real piece of work. They bully the people, rape the women and desecrate the sacrifices. How they weren’t killed by fire from the Lord escapes me, considering that Levi’s two sons who offered incorrect fire before the Lord were killed instantly. These two are stealing and raping…you have to wonder how they got away with it.
That’s the point, really. They didn’t get away with it. God warns Eli to discipline his sons…which may even mean they should be put to death, I’m not sure about that, but they certainly shouldn’t be priests. Eli doesn’t even remove them from the priesthood, and I can’t help but think that his failure to keep the Lord’s House pure has consequences for the whole nation. If the people see Eli permitting this bad behavior, then what are they to think about the Lord? At the very least they don’t take their faith seriously….I mean, why should they, when the priests are clearly corrupt? This situation is fertile ground for the development of atheists or agnostics.
I am refreshed as I consider Hannah. She has no children, but when she finally has a boy she gives him up, as agreed. That had to be so hard for her. There was no guarantee of more children. And the song she recites as she brings Samuel to the temple…absolutely beautiful and profound. I am reminded that those who make great sacrifices have the larger experience with, and appreciation for God the Father. Out of her poverty Hannah has become a blessing for generations. Out of her feelings of inadequacy and loneliness come words of inspiration and comfort for all. Isn’t it amazing what a relationship with the Creator can do?
Samuel is breath of fresh air in a stale environment. Did you catch that his mother said “his hair will never be cut”? That means he was dedicated to the Lord from birth…a nazarite. The last time we heard about a nazarite it was Samson, and we know how that turned out. This time is going to be so much different…in a good way.
Samuel was raised in the temple, but didn’t know the Lord, because he had never heard Him speak. I wonder if there are people in our church who attend regularly, but don’t know the Lord because they haven’t recognized His voice. They may have heard him talking, but haven’t ever responded.
One other thought… God calls out to Samuel several times, but never introduces himself. God knows full well that Samuel can hear Him, and doesn’t know who he is talking to, but He never says “Samuel, it’s me…God”. Instead, He waits for Samuel to say “speak Lord”. What I mean to say is: God waits for Samuel to acknowledge that he knows he is speaking to God. God speaks, Samuel acknowledges that he hears, and that it’s God who is talking…..and only then does God continue.
God waits for us to respond.
Is there a lesson for us in that dialogue? God is often calling, but perhaps He won’t go into any detail until we recognize Him. Maybe one of the reasons that we don’t receive answers to prayer is simply because we haven’t stopped talking and said “Go ahead Lord, I’m listening”.
Just a thought.
Faithfully,
PR