READ: 1 Samuel 2:12 – 3:21
One of the major themes found
in 1 and 2 Samuel is that of leadership. We are shown what both good and bad
leadership look like, and the comparisons begin here in chapters 2 and 3. We
are introduced to an example of bad leadership by way of Eli’s sons, Hophni and
Phinehas. Unlike the other tribes of Israel, the Levites did not have an
allotment of land for their tribe. The Levites were the priestly line, chosen
to serve God in the temple. And God’s law outlined how the Levitical priests
and temple servants were to be provided for: they received a portion of the
offerings that the people would sacrifice before the Lord. Eli’s sons, however,
abused their power. They took more than their allotted amount of food and took
it at an improper time (before the fat was burned). By ignoring God’s holy law
they “treated the offering of the Lord
with contempt.” Imagine the scene: a repentant Israelite comes to the
temple to offer a sacrifice for the forgiveness of his sin and is disrupted by
the sinful act of Hophni and Phinehas. Then, to top it all off, these men fall
into sexual sin. They make God’s house like that of pagan gods, turning the
Lord’s servant girls into temple prostitutes. We see in Eli’s sons pride and
arrogance and a serious lack of the fear of the Lord. And then the word of the
Lord comes to the house of Eli by way of a prophet: judgement is coming for the
sin of Eli’s sons and for Eli, who
apparently honoured his sons above God. A sorrowful prognosis is given for all
descendants of Eli.
In contrast to the sons of
Eli, we meet our title character. Samuel is a young man under the instruction
of Eli. We are told that the personal and prophetic word of the Lord was rare
in those days (remember, the books of Moses – mainly the law – was the only
scripture of the time), but that was all about to change on this night. God had
said to Eli through the prophet: “I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest,
who shall do according to what is in My heart and My mind.” And this is exactly
what we see Him doing in chapter 3 as God calls out to Samuel. Samuel had known
about the Lord, but on this night he
met the Lord and began a relationship with Him. As God’s chosen prophet, Samuel
is given a hard task of testing right from the get-go – he must relay a message
of judgement to his own mentor. The obedience he shows sets the ground for the
rest of his life. We are told that as he grew, “the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.” Because
he listened and obeyed, Samuel was a faithful and true mouthpiece of the Lord
for his entire life. What an example of righteousness, and what a contrast to
the sons of Eli!
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. What
differences do you notice between Hophni/Phinehas and Samuel? Examine your own
life: what are some differences you see when you compare your life to the way
that the world lives?
2. Read
3:19 again and think about what the Lord could do through Samuel because of his
obedience. What might God be able to do through you if you choose obedience, or
because you have already chosen
obedience? How can you walk in obedience to God today?
3. What
attributes/characteristics of God do you see displayed in today’s scripture
reading? Think about some of the evils in our world and the hope that we have
because these things are true about God. Thank God that He is who He says He is
and that His plans and purposes will reign victorious.
