For many, this calling of the young Samuel by a voice in the night is a favorite Bible story. Our focus is naturally drawn to this young boy and his response to God's call. I would like us to pause first and think of Eli, the old priest whom Samuel serves.
Eli is the chief priest in the temple. He has been a prophet - that is, God has spoken to him and through him to the people. Eli is a charismatic prophet (no, that doesn't mean he's good looking). This means that he has a special outpouring of the Spirit, a gift (charisma) which is manifest in his speaking for God.
However, the story in 1 Samuel 3 begins by telling us that the Word of God was scarce in those times and there were no visions. For whatever reason, God was not speaking to God's people. Eli had nothing to say.
Why would that be true? Israel could have assumed that God's silence was either 1) everything is OK, continue what you are doing or 2) God was very unhappy with them.
What reasons could we summon? 1) God was gone, busy with other matters. 2) The people had turned 'deaf' to God's voice, that is, totally unable to hear the divine voice guiding them. 3) The people heard God, they just ignored what was being said. [For a prophet to ignore the word of God that comes to him, to refuse to speak that word to the people was considered a very dangerous path. On a couple of occasions God has promised destruction to false or reluctant prophets.]
The story next tells us that Eli was dim of sight, and could not see. Notice how that is a doublet: telling us the same thing twice emphasizes its importance. This all takes place at night.
Add to all this the fact that Israel had strayed far from the path of rigtheousness. The powerful opppressed, took advantage of those who were powerless. This behavior was evident even at the temple where Eli's two sons worked as priests, but were corrupt and instead of giving the fat portions of offerings to YHWH, they reserved them for themselves.
Now you can see that this sentimental call of Samuel to be a servant and prophet of God is set in a time of darkness - literal and spiritual - and the mantle of God's call is being passed from Eli to Samuel. Eli knows what is going on; he has chosen not to rein in his two sons. It is Eli who recognizes the call from God to Samuel and it is he who points the way for Samuel to respond. Eli becomes the light in the darkness, showing the way to a younger person of faith, even knowing that this meant the end for him.
The role of Eli is an important one. Let's talk about how we can encourage, equip, and engage the role of Eli in our faith community.
More later.
Pax
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