Tuesday 3 December 2024
Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me." (v. 17)
Background
Whereas yesterday’s passage focused on Samuel’s direct encounter with God, these verses narrate the beginning of his ministry as one through whom God’s word is heard.
We read of, to put it mildly, an awkward encounter between the young Samuel and his elderly mentor, Eli. Samuel responds to Eli’s insistence that he relate what he has heard in the night from God, though we note Samuel was not commanded by God to relay the message to Eli.
The previous chapter told of the message of an unnamed man of God who went to Eli and condemned the wickedness of Eli’s sons, prophesying their demise (2:27-36). Whether because of the events of the previous night or because the message is repeated, Eli’s response is resignation. He recognises that what God has spoken is irrevocable; he acknowledges God’s sovereignty; he accepts God’s judgment.
This conversation is a model for a broader ministry to which Samuel is called. In the last part of the chapter, we learn that he becomes someone through whom God speaks regularly and who is recognised as God’s spokesperson. We also see in Samuel the fulfilment of the promise of God (2:35) to raise up a faithful priest. In the Hebrew scriptures, two aspects of the people’s encounter with God are often in tension. There is the worship of the Temple (at this stage at Shiloh), where the offerings that the covenant law requires are made under the ministry of the priests and Levites, and the preaching of the prophets, through which the people are challenged by God’s call on their lives and are reminded of all the responsibilities included in the covenant relationship with God. The prophets often came from outside the cultic structures and were critical of the sacrificial system. In Samuel, though, the ministry of priest and prophet are combined.
To Ponder:
- Have there been times in your life when things have not turned out as you had hoped? Sometimes, we do not realise how much we are invested emotionally in a possible outcome until we know for certain that it is not going to happen. How do you feel about Eli’s response in that sort of context?
- The writer tells us that none of Samuel’s words "fell to the ground" (3:19b). Can you think of a time when you heard someone speaking words that you believe came from God and which made a difference in your life? If so, give thanks to God for that person’s ministry.
Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Jonathan Hustler
Jonathan Hustler is a presbyter who currently serves as the Secretary of the Conference.